The 31,000-square-foot facility is going up next to the current station, which was built in 1964 and has become obsolete for modern police work.
Artist's conception of new Northampton police station.NORTHAMPTON – The new police facility is on course to come in on its $17.6 million budget, according to a preliminary review of the bids for subcontracting services.
Police Chief Russell P. Sienkiewicz, the co-chairman of the Building Committee for the project, said that the bids for services such as masonry, roofing, flooring and electrical work appear to be in line with the projected cost of the facility, although the process has not yet been finalized. The bids were opened on May 27 and represent virtually all the work on the building, minus the foundation and some other site work.
Barr & Barr., Inc. of Framingham, the construction manager at risk, is still reviewing the bids and will present its report to the Building Committee on Wednesday, according to Sienkiewicz. By the terms of its contract with the city, the construction manager at risk assumes responsibility for the final cost, once the figures are locked in. Arcadis of Middletown, Conn., the project manager representing the city, has also been involved in the review process along with the architect, Caolo and Bienick Associates, and some other consultants.
The 31,000-square-foot facility is going up next to the current station, which was built in 1964 and has become obsolete for modern police work. The project was on the cusp of breaking ground in 2008 when it fell apart amid the financial collapse that shook the country. Last year, voters approved a $10 million debt exclusion override of Proposition 2½, and the facility was back in business. The estimated cost has fluctuated to as high as $19 million. Sienkiewicz said it has taken some bargaining to bring the project back to the $17.6 million cost promised to Northampton taxpayers.
“There has been active negotiation among all parties to close what was a gap,” he said. “Everybody had to shave a little.”
On the city side, it sacrificed features such as the sophisticated air-handling system, going with a less computerized but equally effective model. Bidders have also looked for ways to cut costs on items such as light fixtures, Sienkiewicz said.
The original plan called for a firing range inside the building. That feature was eliminated, then reintegrated into the project. As it currently stands, Sienkiewicz said, the cement pill-box for the range will be built as part of the basement, but the project lacks the money for the $80,000 cooling unit that goes with it. The unit could possibly be added later, if there are leftover funds.
The Building Committee is putting 2.5 percent of the budget in a contingency fund for unexpected problems. Those problems are most commonly encountered during excavation. After breaking ground on May 12, crews have dug to within 10 feet of their target for laying the foundation. Should the rest of the excavation go smoothly, Sienkiewicz is hopeful he will have some money to spare.
“Once you’ve got the hole dug and you’ve started to do the building, it’s all fixed costs,” he said.
The project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2012. The current station will be demolished as part of the plan, which also includes a two-level parking garage.