New architect to take over Saugus middle school building project

SAUGUS – Even though the Belmonte Middle School?s architecture firm has closed its Boston office, a top official of the company restated its commitment to the building?s repair project.Mike Marcinek, managing partner of architecture firm Fletcher Thompson, said the Belmonte project will remain “our highest priority.”?We know the importance of this project to the town of Saugus ?” he said at Monday?s Belmonte Middle School Building Committee meeting. “It has our highest priority and will be maintained as a high priority. We do apologize, but it?s a business decision we had to make, and we feel we?ll be able to maintain our responsibilities we were contracted for.”Marcinek said two members of the Boston office will be retained to “follow this project to its completion,” but noted architect Michael Fazio will be replaced by John Campos for construction administration issues.?John has construction administration experience and has been supporting the project in our office under Mike Fazio, and is therefore intimately familiar with the Belmonte Middle School construction administration issues,” said Marcinek in a letter to Town Manager Scott Crabtree. “He will be involved in the day-to-day management of the project and will attend the job site as well as the Building Committee meetings.”Marcinek also said anyone from the firm?s offices in Rhode Island or Connecticut can be available at a “moment?s notice.”Committee Chairman Wendy Reed noted the project?s architect was already replaced once and said she was “very disappointed.”?Wouldn?t it be smoother if we kept the same architect on board ?” she asked. “It?s just baffling that you make this decision at this time of the project. It?s a poor decision. It really is. As far as I?m concerned you?re walking away and just dumping it on the guy who?s left.”Skanska Builders USA Project Manager Jim Dowd said it would be a “detriment to the project” to have Fazio leave, but Marcinek said Fazio “wants to focus his attention on” finding a new job.?I cannot force Michael to stay on board,” said Marcinek, who noted Fazio will be able to help when needed.School Committee member Arthur Grabowski said he was “really impressed” with Fazio, who put a lot of “thoughtfulness” into the project.Dowd said Fletcher Thompson needs to provide a plan as to how the transfer will go forward.?How the knowledge will be transferred, how the emails will be transferred,” said Dowd. “I spent 45 minutes on the phone with the (Massachusetts School Building Authority) and they want to know all of this ? It should have been provided Friday.”Dowd also said there will be an “additional burden” put on Skanska to get the new architect up to speed.?Michael (Fazio) is the one strong shoulder we?ve had to lean on for this project,” said Dowd.In his update to the committee, Dowd said the project is “proceeding well” with $12.9 million spent so far as of May of the project?s $18.9 million budget.?We have a very planned, difficult summer ahead,” he said. “We knew that was coming up. It?s going to be a very busy summer ? (Construction manager) Consigli has been working diligently to plan to get everything in for Sept. 1.”Dowd said the completion date for the project is Aug. 24.The committee also discussed nearly $70,000 in additional change orders, including $24,500 for foundation upgrades near the auditorium entrance, $18,000 to relocate a wheelchair lift and replace a slab to support it, $11,000 for added domestic piping in the utility tunnel and $3,000 to move the “Belmonte Middle School” sign from the entrance canopy to the wall of the building.So far $243,000 remains in contingency money with $180,00 in potential change orders estimated.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].