Council approves funds for new high school design work
NORWALK — Money will be taken out of Norwalk High School’s capital budget account for design work for the new building — but that doesn’t mean a school is guaranteed.
The Common Council unanimously approved spending up to $50,000 with JCJ Architecture, PC, for “limited architectural design work” for the new high school construction project. Barbara Smyth, a teacher at the school, recused herself from the discussion and the vote.
“It enables us to get a good estimate for the cost of a new building,” District E Council Member Tom Livingston said. “It does not obligate us to use this firm for any other project. It doesn’t obligate us to build a high school.”
Livingston said the work will help get a better estimate on the cost of a new building. Current estimates have been based on general costs and student enrollment.
Alan Lo, Building and Facilities Manager for the city, said the design plans would ideally be presented to the Common Council for March 1, leaving about six weeks to put something together.
“This is a very tight time frame,” Lo said. “It’s very complicated . ... Once we get the number approved by the council, it’ll eventually get approved by the state on June 30. We’re locked into that number. Anything above that is the city’s responsibility. To get the best number we can get is very important so this money is well-spent.”
Cost estimate services will be provided separately, in order to provide the basis for the budget for the potential project. The majority of the costs would be funded by the state.