According to Manchester-Essex Superintendent Pam Beaudoin, the Manchester Essex Regional School District and the School Building Committee have selected Dore & Whittier as Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) for the Essex Elementary School Building Project.
Dore & Whittier’s selection was approved by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) at its Board of Directors meeting on Monday, April 7.
Dore & Whittier, with offices in Newburyport and in Burlington, VT, has been providing owner’s project management services for more than 30 years. The company has supported dozens of construction and renovation projects such as Pine Grove School in Rowley, and West Parish Elementary School and East Veterans Elementary School in Gloucester.
Dore & Whittier is consistently ranked in Architectural Record’s Top 300 Architecture Firms in the U.S. and ENR’s Top 100 Green Buildings Design Firms.
“We are excited to be working with Dore & Whittier,” Superintendent Beaudoin said. “They bring an extensive background in construction, architecture and educational programming to our project, and understand the uniqueness of Cape Ann. Their experience with MSBA-funded K-12 building projects will be invaluable as we move forward.”
A contracted OPM is required by state law for all MSBA-funded projects. Dore & Whittier will provide project management services including advice and consultation with respect to design, value engineering, scope of the work, cost estimating, scheduling, construction and more.
As the District continues through the Feasibility Study Phase, a designer will be selected for the project. The OPM and selected designer will then document the educational programming, generate an initial space summary, document existing conditions, establish design parameters, develop and evaluate alternatives, and recommend the most cost-effective and educationally appropriate preferred solution to the MSBA for consideration.
Timeline
- The School Building Committee will develop a request for design services by April 22.
- The District will hold kickoff meetings with Dore & Whittier on April 22-24.
- Architect proposals are due on June 18.
- The District will meet with the MSBA Designer Selection Panel on July 15 and select the architect no later than July 29.
About the Essex Elementary School Building Project
In November 2022, consultants Habeeb & Associates publicly shared its needs assessment of both Essex Elementary and Manchester Essex Middle High School. The study identified that Essex Elementary, which opened in 1957, has passed its useful life and requires about $9 million in capital investment.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) admitted MERSD into the Eligibility Phase of its grant process in 2023. Being accepted means Essex Elementary has been identified as being one of the neediest schools in the state, and close to being out of options to address its structural issues.
Participation in the MSBA program allows MERSD to work with MSBA experts to determine solutions for providing a renovated/rebuilt facility that enables a 21st century education.
For more information about the Essex Elementary School Building Project, click here.
For a full overview of phases as part of the MSBA process, click here.
