1994 JAN-JUN-HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

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site may become a difficult site. Janice likes DRA. She felt comfortable with them. She likes their ideas and hopes to see the Bridgewater State building. They can 't be judged only on Sandwich High School , it was built in another time by a group with strong ideas of what they wanted. The building did want they wanted , when it opened. Some architects would not allow this Committee " in '" and we must not let that happen . Paul said in their interview DRA showed us items that were and will be helpful to us. They showed they could listen. The 3-D video they provided is an important tool for showing the designs to the community. They tried to do their best effort in the site selection study. They now know of the traps of this town , they have a history with that and it could help the process . Everyone we talked to had high regard for their buildings. The janitor in one building had a complaint but his office was taken out and your can't hold the architect responsible for a building committee decision . They are a responsible firm and will do a good job. Bill Martiros thinks they started off on the wrong foot with their lack of presentation . Fall River is a poorly designed school , halls created long distances. The assistant principal offices were scattered. Lowell school was overbuilt in the same way. If there is money they spend it on the flair. Vaulted ceiling in the cafeteria is spending money for nothing. The floors are being replaced because of cracks in the cement and the school is only open a short time . There was not enough cafeteria storage so they took it from the janitor. There is an exit through his office. The glass in the cafeteria has to be replaced , it wasn 't thought out. We got sucked in with their presentation, you have to see their buildings . Paul asked Bill if he followed up on the comments made by the staff at the site visits? He spoke with the Superintendent and they did not want the janitor to have an office. There was an alternate, for bullet proof -glass, but the town did not take it. Joan Tavares has serious concerns about subcontractors. There are tradesmen in this town who cannot get jobs . The committee explained she is talking about subcontractors for the construction contractor, not architect. For the contractor, the lowest bid gets the job and the Committee has no control over that. Joan did not really like DRA. Joe said he does like DRA. He thinks they have creativity and imagination and an ear to listen to what we want. Fall River was a very difficult site and it took tremendous imagination and creativity. There were things he did not like about it but they may be due to cost or choices by people in authority. Materials were used well . The auditorium was adequate . The janitor at Sandwich High school took Joe around and did not have a bad word for that school . The people at DRA now did not design Sandwich High School . They may have had problems with the site search , but they had a good come back; he was impressed with their presentation. They should be considered . Steve Greelish said the Mashpee Middle school was built at the same time as Sandwich so he is familiar with what they were doing. DRA had a blank check. It was built 15 years ago for $27 million. Their orders were build the best you can . Fall River school architecture was good considering their constraints . The detail was rotten, the flooring is a problem. He gives them bad marks for attention to detail in Fall River. 4