A proposed $2.5-million renovation project at Dover Bay secondary could increase the school’s capacity by upwards of 100 students.
Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools recently passed its capital plan bylaw for 2020-21. It faces a B.C. Ministry of Education deadline of Aug. 1 for submission of a project draft concept plan for the north-end Nanaimo high school and the ministry has not yet given approval.
According to school district staff, the work will have an estimated price tag of $2.5 million. The district told the News Bulletin the work is in the early stages of design, but the internal renovation will involve space inside the school that will be converted to classroom space and the school footprint will not change.
“The project is expected to increase the nominal capacity of the school by 75-100 students,” noted the district in an e-mail.
The draft plan will consist of compiling information the district has at its disposal to submit to the ministry and updating its budget for further approval, it said.
According to a staff report, about $71,034 has been set aside for supplemental items, which the district said are for project elements it knows are required, but at this early stage can’t quantify, and $277,152 has been set aside for economic adjustment, which the district said is money that can be applied to the project based on escalating construction costs between the time of the cost estimate to the closing date of the tender.
The district said the construction budget is estimated to be $1.3 million and it has also set aside $194,955 on unexpected items that may arise during construction. In addition, $623,734 has been set aside for items such as reports, designs, permits and project management fees.
According to the report, Studio 531 will work on the plan with the help of the district.
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reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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