The first phase of the closely watched $2.75 million windows project at South School—removing part of the original 1955 glass block, long porous and out-of-code, with caulk that has PCBs—has been completed on time and budget, district officials say.
The work wrapped up Aug. 8, leaving the gym, “café-torium” and some inner courtyard spaces such as the library for the second phase (to be completed next summer), according to Nancy Harris, interim secretary of the South School Building Committee and interim director of finance and operations for New Canaan Public Schools.
The original South School building dates to 1955. Photo from a Feb. 4 district presentation to parents on the school windows project.
“At this point in time, I have to tell you that from a personal perspective, as you look at where the glass block was, it’s covered in plywood, covered by Tyvek, covered by a rubber membrane and boards so that it’s weather-tight, it actually looks neater and less jarring than the original glass block, and now you can see the comparison between the gymnasium and the Tyvek covered space so it was really a success,” Harris said at Monday’s Board of Education meeting, held in the Wagner Room at New Canaan High School.
The glass block system and original windows at the school need to be replaced, and building expansion joints and caulking and trim in the windows repaired, Shelton-based engineering and environmental consulting firm Tighe & Bond and SLAM Construction Services of Glastonbury have found.
Hazardous building material testing has found that: interior and exterior widow caulking contains 7 to 10 percent asbestos; lead paint is above recommended levels on upper story exterior trim and interior window frames at the bus platform; and lead was detected in one soil sample above the current remedial standard.
Board of Ed Vice Chair Scott Gress thanked the South School Building Committee for its work, including fellow school board members Penny Rashin and Gene Goodman. Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi additionally thanked Harris for her leadership on the committee.
Harris said credit also goes to town officials for their collaboration, including Health Department Chief Sanitarian Jennifer Eielson, Fire Marshal Fred Baker and Chief Building Official Brian Platz.
“There was an inter-agency collaboration and again, Fred and Jen just dropped everything for us when they needed to, and that was so much appreciated,” Harris said.
The committee next meets with a design team on Aug. 28, Harris said.