ANN ARBOR, MI – Almost $ 63 million in capital loans for air conditioning and lighting upgrades in several school buildings, as well as architectural and engineering contracts for future projects, have been approved by the Ann Arbor School Board.
The board of directors approved the proposals for improvement 6: 1, with Trustee Jeff Gaynor voting against three separate proposals, noting that there was insufficient community engagement for these projects.
The board approved $ 3.3 million for air conditioning and LED lighting upgrades at Angell and Burns Park elementary schools, $ 8.99 million for Community High School, and $ 893,000 for additional work at Scarlett Middle School and $ 20.65 million for Tappan Middle School.
All total renovation offers include a 10% contingent fee. The renovation work is expected to take place in the summer of 2021 and 2022.
Additional architectural and engineering services contracts have been approved by the board of directors for Stantec of Farmington Hills and Fishbeck of Novi to plan further renovations for projects that will take place in the summer of 2022 and 2023.
Each company charges a professional fee of 4% of actual construction costs, which is estimated at $ 15 million for Stantec and $ 14 million for Fishbeck to plan these projects:
Pioneer High School: LED Lighting Upgrades (2022 and 2023)
Clague Middle School: Air conditioning, LED lighting and fire fighting (2022 and 2023)
Forsythe Middle School: Air conditioning, LED lighting and fire fighting (2022 and 2023)
Allen Primary School: LED lighting (2022)
Bach primary school: air conditioning and LED lighting (2022)
Eberwhite primary school: air conditioning and LED lighting (2022)
Pittsfield Elementary School: Air conditioning and LED lighting (2022)
Wines primary school: air conditioning and LED lighting (2022)
All lighting and air conditioning projects were identified as early priorities in a series of “pledges” made by AAPS during its campaign for the US $ 1 billion bond approved by voters in 2019.
In February, the board approved around $ 15 million to improve lighting and provide air conditioning in five of its school buildings, with the loan funded for the project.
This includes $ 10.5 million for LED lighting upgrades and replacements for the existing heating and ventilation systems at Scarlett Middle School. The board also approved a second part of the Scarlett project, which includes $ 893,000 for fire protection, windows, steel and aluminum glass painting, and glazing.
The projects will ultimately help the district save energy costs while reducing its carbon footprint, said Emile Lauzzana, AAPS executive director for capital projects.
“Obviously, when you introduce air conditioning, it uses more energy, which increases its carbon footprint and overall fund spending,” Lauzzana said. “We compensate for the additional burden or the additional electricity costs by implementing LED lighting and solar energy.”
CONTINUE READING:
AAPS approves $ 15.5 million for air conditioning and lighting upgrades in 5 schools
Ann Arbor school district voters OK $ 1 billion bond, largest in Michigan since 1994
Ann Arbor Public Schools are drafting the first phase of a $ 1 billion bond
