Repairs to Lynn Classical slated for early June

LYNN – More than $1 million in repairs to the building envelope at Classical High School are slated to begin the first week in June.The city has chosen Boston-based architectural/engineering firm CBI consulting to oversee repairs and will pay G.V.W. Incorporated of East Boston $1.1 million to do the work.CBI Consulting worked on renovations for the school in 2009, when new mini-piles were installed in the school’s Administration wing and drywall partitions, suspended ceilings, masonry partitions and additional finishes were completed in an effort to match the original construction of the building.Inspectional Services Chief and Building Commissioner Mike Donovan said GVW was the low bidder on the job and the firm has proven to be reliable in the past.”They had previously worked at Classical on the slab repair project and are very familiar with the building,” he said. “We had a positive experience when we worked with them before. They were able to meet deadlines in a productive manner.”The work being done is expected to stop water intrusion in the building.”We are working on the academic wing and we are replacing flashings at the shelf angles, window header flashing, the louvers on the unit ventilators, the flashing around those and some minor roof repairs on the three-story section of the building,” Donovan said.”In addition, because of the water leaks, we are going to be going into a number of the classrooms and removing wet wall board and replacing it, and paint the areas we worked in.”He also said there will be repairs to the faux stucco of the exterior of the single story portion of the building and spot repairs to control joints, which will need to be dug out and replaced. Windows will be wet- glazed to stop water infiltration. Donovan said the work is scheduled to be completed, barring “punch list items that take longer,” by Aug. 20.”We will not be doing the disruptive work while school is in session,” Donovan said. “Summer classes have been moved out of the school, except for football camp, and student athletes can use the weight and exercise rooms.”The city was paid $2.1 million as a result of the lawsuit against Classical designers and builders in February 2009, which will pay for this summer’s building repairs.Leaks during rainstorms have been attributed to workers who ignored temperature requirements while sealing the joints that separate the stucco exterior wall from its insulation layer. Additional leaking occurred as a result of airflow grills being improperly installed above and below the windows.