The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Study: Schools in need of updating
OLD LYME — All LymeOld Lyme schools but the high school are in need of upgrades and renovations, according to a facilities study conducted by QA+M Architecture.
The Center School, Lyme School, Mile Creek School and Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School were last renovated between 2001 and 2003. The high school was built within the last 10 years. The average lifespan for a public building, especially a school, is about 20 years, according to QA+M.
“Not only do we want to address the existing conditions and what the deficiencies are, we also wanted to look at education as its impacted by those existing conditions,” firm principal Rusty Malik said while presenting the findings to the Board of Education Thursday night, according
Building features that need work include replacing finishes and millwork, replacing or renovating rear portable spaces, accessibility, code and minor repairs, renovating rooms for appropriate uses, security updates, and adding toilet rooms per program needs.
to the videorecording.
Malik said that the big issues with the buildings surveyed were HVAC systems, accessibility and code compliance, safety and security, acoustics, classroom finishes, millwork, technology, parking and site safety, parity of facilities, 21st-century and future-ready learning environments and use of space.
Some goals set forth are to increase energy efficiency of the buildings, bring more fresh air in, and enhance comfort levels within buildings, Malik said. The energy efficiency portion is a major goal, as the school board voted to convert all Region 18 buildings to 100 percent clean energy by 2030.
Malik shared an example of accessibility issues schools are facing, noting that at Center School, a door at the main entrance used for security was at one time accessible. He pointed out that the school needs to boost both its accessibility and security.
Since the school facilities were last updated in the early 2000s, Connecticut has introduced acoustical standards, Malik said.
Mechanical equipment must be so quiet that they can be barely heard, he said. As equipment gets older, it gets louder, and, both due to age and standards, needs to be replaced, he added.
During past renovations and projects, not everything was completed. In some cases, objects such as windows were not replaced. This study looked at all the interiors of the four schools and all their technology to determine next steps, he said.
Center School
The first building discussed was Center School. Q+AM is recommending that rooftop equipment and hot water heaters be replaced, and the system converted to include central air conditioning and new controls.
Malik also said the school’s
Lyme Street entrance drive should be modified, parking should be added in the rear of the building, accessibility improved, and minor repairs made.
Building features that need work include replacing finishes and millwork, replacing or renovating rear portable spaces, accessibility, code and minor repairs, renovating rooms for appropriate uses, security updates, and adding toilet rooms per program needs.
Lyme Consolidated School
Lyme Consolidated needs the same mechanical system work, along with the replacement of exhaust fans, boilers, the heating system and eliminating unit ventilators, Malik said. A fire suppression system also made the list, and, if it is not required by code, still may be added.
The firm is also recommending repairing or replacing aging exterior components, upgrading technology and security, replacing finishes and doing accessibility, code and other repairs.
Mile Creek School
Mile Creek needs the same mechanical system work as the other facilities, including the fire suppression system. Lighting in the school also needs to be upgraded from fluorescent to LED, something that was has not been completed, Malik said. The public address system also needs to be upgraded and tied into the phones.
The grounds need the least work — minor repairs, such as replacing aging exterior components, updating security and accessibility, and replacing finishes.
Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School
Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School also needs the same mechanical system works as all the other schools, and needs accessibility, code and security updates. Recommendations include modifying the school’s Lyme Street entrance and replacing pavement and markings around the school.
Next steps
A meeting will be held to determine what the district wants the buildings to look, feel and function like in the future. Then Q+AM would develop educational specifications for the projects, and the Board of Education would determine if it wants to submit the specifications to the state Department of Education and Office of School Construction Grants.
After this, a meeting with the state would occur to discuss options for the project. The state will determine what it does and doesn’t approve, something important when it comes to reimbursement, Malik said.
The 2021 reimbursement rate for the school district is 36.43 percent, and changes yearly. Not everything is eligible for reimbursement.
Two options will be evaluated — maintaining or updating the existing facility, which will limit state reimbursement, or new renovations and alternations, which would allow for reimbursement of 36.43 percent of the eligible cost.