THE ECONOMICS OF RE-CREATINGEDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS

HOW TO ACHIEVE HIGH PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS

How can the WAY you plan, design and construct your facilities positively affect the economics of your School District?

Would you believe that IT can help you increase Average Daily Attendance?

. . . and, that IT can decrease Teacher absences?

. . . and, that IT can increase Teacher Retention?

. . . and, that IT can increase Test Scores?

. . . and, that IT can increase parent morale and participation?

. . . and, that IT can improve the environmental quality of your schools to create better learning environments?

. . . and, that IT can promote healthier, more environmentally conscious habits in students, teachers and the community?

. . . and, that IT can decrease your maintenance costs?

. . . and, that IT can decrease your water bills?

. . . and, that IT can decrease your electrical bills?

. . . and, that IT can also facilitate the sharing of construction, maintenance and operating expenses with other public entities?

. . . and, that IT can create better, more cost effective learning environments for our children?

IT is already being practiced by many School Districts, Cities and Private Companies.

In fact, in the near future, regulations and codes will require you to do

IT.

What is IT?

For a School District,

IT

is a Holistic approach to Planning, Design and Construction - that starts with a commitment to achieving – High Performance Schools.

What is a High Performance School?

HIGH PERFORMANCE CLASSROOM

What is meant by Sustainable?

What is considered Green?

Does IT work?

The State of Texas thinks so . . .

So does the rest of the country . . .

PICKLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL / ST. JOHNS CENTER

This was the only project that was completed under budget during the 2000 Bond Projects for Austin ISD

PICKLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL / ST. JOHNS CENTER

Passionate buy-in of the design philosophy

Day lighting = higher attendance

Sustained overlooked neighborhood

Neighborhood pride

City’s art in public spaces

Using current energy costs, and the 31% energy savings at Pickle ES, vs. a conventional school facility:

A High Performance 650 student Elementary School in Region One, would use $41,500 less energy this year than a conventional one.

A High Performance 950 student Middle School in Region One, would use $77,500 less energy this year than a conventional one.

A High Performance 2000 student High School in Region One, would use $155,000 less energy this year than a conventional one.

Projected Energy Savings

Using a projected 1.8% increase in ADA (based on national data and experienced at Pickle ES) and the current (Region One) average allotment of $4,951 :

A High Performance 650 student Elementary School in Region One, would receive an additional $57,926 in funds based on unweighted ADA.

A High Performance 950 student Middle School in Region One, would receive an additional $84,662 in funds based on unweighted ADA.

A High Performance 2000 student High School in Region One, would receive an additional $178,236 in funds based on unweighted ADA.

Projected Funding Increases based on ADA

Do High Performance Schools cost More to design and build?

How do you do IT ?

IT begins with a commitment.

IT takes a process:

PlanningEvaluationDesignExecutionVerification

STEP 2A/E

SELECTION

STEP 3DESIGN

STEP 4CONSTRUCTION

STEP 5INITIAL OCCUPANCY

EVALUATION

STEP 1PRE-PLANNING/PROGRAMMING

• Create/update long range plan• Conduct Facilities Needs Assessment• Establish overall project timeline • Test the Needs Assessment – present to public

(conceptual at this point) • Create partnership with community (PTO’s, Rotary,

municipality)• Set requirements for and adopt high performance,

energy efficient and/or sustainable design via facility standards.

• Identify “Scope of Work” • Create Project Program - Create list of spaces

needed; i.e., rooms, sizes, # of persons served in those spaces, relationships between spaces, furniture and/or equipment requirements, special requirements, and site requirements

• Establish total cost for building area and site needs for entire project.

• Approve project program and proposed budget.

STEP 1: PRE-PLANNING/PROGRAMMING

Design

Pre-Planning /Programming A/E Selection

Occupy

Construction Administration

General Contractor

Construction

Cost Expenditure Curve Influence Curve

Architect/Engineer

PROJECT MANAGEMENT LIFE CYCLE

       • Establish selection criteria based on the District’s Program and develop Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

• Prepare draft Owner / Architect Agreement

• Organize Selection Committee (Consultant, District Architect, and M & O Director)

• Advertise Request For Qualifications

• Receive, evaluate qualifications and develop a short list of most qualified firms

• Interview the short listed firms and establish a ranking order

STEP 2: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SELECTION

       

•Request Board authorization to negotiate agreement with firms in order of ranking. Finalize agreement with successful architectural firm

Typical conventional A/E fee break-down 6% fee of total project cost 1%: Structural 1%: MEP 1%: Civil 3%: Architect

Typical High Performance A/E fee break-down 8% fee of total project cost 1%: Structural 1.75%: MEP 1%: Civil 4.25%: Architect

• After contracts are approved and signed, architect begins design work.

STEP 2: ARCH./ENG. SELECTION (CONT’D)

       

• Evaluation of program in relation to budget (From Steps 1 and 2)

• Modify the Program or Budget as needed (can be time consuming process – important to get it right in previous steps)

• Undertake Schematic Design (The functional arrangement of spaces and volumes in response to program)Get Administration / staff inputArrange spacesDevelop Circulation (how do people move within the design)

STEP 3: DESIGN

STEP 3: DESIGN (CONT’D)

       

Develop Site Access

Accommodate efficiencies (Location of utilities, public ROW)

Accommodate technologies / energy saving strategies / Green Technologies (Clearances, etc. - High Performance)

Accommodate Future additions / adaptations

Evaluate Schematic Design for conformance with Program, Budget and Schedule

Modify Budget or Schematic Design as needed

Present for Board Approval

STEP 3: DESIGN (CONT’D)

       

Undertake Design Development

Get Admin / staff inputSelect Materials, Equipment and Systems to satisfy requirements of Approved Schematic Design (MEP, Structural, Building envelope, conservation, solar energy, etc. - High Performance)Develop schematic Design utilizing these systems and materials and programmed future adaptationsEvaluate for ConstructabilityEvaluate Developed Design for conformance with approved Schematic DesignPresent for Board ApprovalModify the Budget or Developed Design as needed

STEP 3: DESIGN (CONT’D)

       

Undertake Construction Documentation (CDs)

Using selected Materials, Equipment and provide drawings and specifications that will allow project to be competitively bid and constructed

Evaluate Construction Documents for Constructability

Evaluate Documented Design for conformance with approved “Developed” Design & Budget

Evaluate Construction Documents for conformance with Budget

• A typical 6% fee structure does not allow for the A/E team to undertake this level of detailed and comprehensive design process

STEP 3: DESIGN (CONT’D)

• Conduct pre-construction and partnering sessions prior to start of construction

• Review and approve material submittals

• Provide construction observation services: on-site visits to review work-in-place, job progress, and compliance with the project manual

• Respond to General Contractor’s Requests for Information (RFI’s)

STEP 4: CONSTRUCTION

• Review, evaluate and certify applications for partial payment

• Provide a final walk through and develop a punch list in preparation for acceptance of substantial completion / certificate of occupancy

• Provide final inspection & acceptance of completed punch-list and certify General Contractor’s request for final payment and release of retainage.

• Prepare timeline for review of issues that may arise during first year of occupancy

STEP 4: CONSTRUCTION (CONT’D)

• Provide final inspection & acceptance of completed punch-list and certify General Contractor’s request for final payment and release of retainage• Coordinate training for Maintenance & Operations personnel responsible for operating and maintaining the facility• Review contractual and warranty obligations, including the issuance of all maintenance and operations manuals• Generate a tickler file for warranty deadlines for the project• Coordinate reviews of warranty items with General Contractor after a thirty day and six month period• Provide a post occupancy evaluation of the project prior to warranty expiration

STEP 5: INITIAL OCCUPANCY

THIS presentation and links for High Performance Schools will be available at www.lrgvaia.org.

FURTHER REFERENCES