What Comes Next For The Rocky Hill High School Renovation Project?

After a number of roadblocks at the beginning of the process, Town officials say the Rocky Hill High School renovate as new project is "right on target."

The project was passed last June 6, 2012 by a three-to-one margin and will cost approximately $45 million. 

The state is expected to reimburse the town about 44 percent of the project's cost, leaving Rocky Hill taxpayers to pay the remaining $28.55 million.

In late March, 2012, the 30-year-old building , but was placed on a warning list by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges Inc. Commission on Public Secondary Schools. The project that was approved is expected to address all the concerns in the which included increasing the number of science labs, making the school ADA complaint and updating the HAVC system.

"At the present time we are awaiting approval from the State Board of Education," Town Manager Barbara Gilbert said. "Once we get that we will be able to work on the full-fledged construction materials and then go out to bid. We are hoping that all of that will remain on target and work will begin in summer of 2014." 

O&G Associates of Torrington was chosen as the Construction Manager for the project. Town officials bickered about picking an architect for the project. 

Friar Associates was chosen as the architect for the Rocky Hill High School renovation project. The firm won out over firms with more experience in such undertakings.

Friar has conducted only three high school renovations, compared to at least a dozen by rival Kaestle Boos and 22 by Fletcher Thompson. But the Farmington-based firm's extensive knowledge of the school's design, acquired through its four years of working to shepherd the renovation referendum through to eventual passage, led to its selection by the Town Council for the contract.

"We are right where we planned on being," Gilbert added. "It's a renovate as new project. The first order of business is to construct the addition and that space will then be used as swing space while the rest of the school is being renovated."