BY PAUL HALLORAN
LYNN — Prospects for a new Pickering Middle School took a big step forward this week when the Massachusetts School Building Authority approved the selection of an architect as part of the feasibility study.
Raymond Design Associates, the firm that served in the same role in the construction of the new Thurgood Marshall Middle School, was chosen over three other companies by the MSBA’s Designer Selection Panel, which included Superintendent of Schools Dr. Catherine C. Latham, Inspectional Services Director Michael Donovan, Jamie Cerulli, chief of staff to Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy, and chair of the Pickering Building Committee.
The selection of Raymond Associates and its principal, Gene Raymond, was met with widespread approval by the Lynn contingent.
“We’re thrilled,” Latham said. “Working with Walsh Brothers (contractors) and Lynn Stapleton (project manager), Raymond has brought the Marshall project in on budget, ahead of schedule and without a single change order. We couldn’t want for anything else (with Pickering). The Marshall design is beautiful and speaks to the program that we feel will inspire and motivate our students. That design will influence the Pickering design with the intention that all middle school students in Lynn will have access to the same programs and the same opportunities.”
Donovan said Raymond is charged with exploring six options for Pickering: build a new school with capacity for 1,660 students; build two new schools with total capacity of 1,660; build a new Pickering and renovate Breed Middle School; renovate the existing Pickering building; renovate and build an addition; renovate and build a new middle school.
Donovan said the three options that include renovating Pickering will likely prove not to be feasible due to the poor condition of the building, a situation similar to what was encountered at Marshall.
“They have to look at all the options, but once you get a close look at the school, renovation would seem unlikely,” said Donovan, who added that there doesn’t seem to be much appetite for a 1,600-student building, either.
The City Council approved a $750,000 expenditure for the feasibility study, which is expected to take 12-18 months, according to Donovan. The total estimated budget for the building project is $132 million, which will include building capacity for more than twice the number of students than those currently attending Pickering, and will address future space issues. If the option with the Breed renovation is chosen, the cost of those repairs would be included in the total budget.
“The goal is to determine what is in the best interest of the city,” Donovan said, “and fit that into the estimated budget.”
In addition to exploring the various options, the feasibility study will include public meetings and site selection, as was done during the Marshall project. Ultimately, the School Committee will have to approve the preferred option, followed by the MSBA. Voters will likely be asked to authorize a bond to cover the city’s share of the cost of the project.
“This is a very positive step in a process that is thorough by design,” Kennedy said. “We have the benefit of having gone through the process for Marshall in the very recent past, and we are very pleased to be working with the same companies and individuals that have helped make that project an overwhelming success.”
The $750,000 for the feasibility study includes $450,000 for the architect, $225,000 for the project manager, $50,000 for environmental and site testing and $25,000 for other expenses.
“The feasibility really delves into the options and costs them out,” Latham said. “It gives us a very clear look at all the options.”
The Designer Selection Panel included a dozen members appointed by the MSBA as well as Donovan, Latham and Cerulli. Among the reasons cited for the selection of Raymond Associates were: excellent middle school experience and past performance with Marshall Middle School; only firm that included a HAZMAT consultant acceptable to the city; good conceptual ideas and middle school cluster development; same project management team as Marshall; credibility with the city and school district; and familiarity with the city and district.
