Richer Elementary School
The city of Marlborough has selected Daedalus Projects, Inc. to provide owner’s project manager services for the feasibility study of the Richer Elementary School. The decision was approved by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) in late 2016. The city will weigh options for the renovation and expansion of the existing school against plans for the new construction of a larger building.
The Richer Elementary School is a comprehensive K-4 school serving approximately 550 students in the diverse and rapidly growing community of Marlborough. The current school is a 66,000sf building that was constructed in 1965 and is located on a site with significant topographic challenges.
The city of Marlborough was invited into the MSBA eligibility period in January and awarded a feasibility grant in July. Feasibility studies typically take around 20 months to complete, and will inform the MSBA’s decision about whether to provide funding for the construction of this project. Fifty-four percent of the cost of the feasibility study will be reimbursed to the city by the MSBA. Total project costs are expected to range from $30 million to $50 million.
In particular, the city aims to expand the Richer School’s facilities for its robust English language learning and special education programs, and to combat the overcrowding that has become a serious issue in recent years. Leading Daedalus’ team for this project is Tom Gatzunis, P.E., C.B.O., who will serve as senior project manager.
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Gatzunis has over thirty years’ experience in development and construction; most recently, he spent eleven years as the Commissioner of the Commonwealth’s Department of Public Safety, where he personally directed and coordinated the Inspectional Services Division and eleven Boards and Commissions, including the Board of Building Regulations and Standards and the Architectural Access Board.
Since joining Daedalus in 2015, Gatzunis has worked extensively on the John Hannigan Elementary School in New Bedford; the J. Henry Higgins Middle School in Peabody; the Stoughton Public Library in Stoughton; and the Chester C. Corbin Public Library in Webster. He is a Massachusetts Registered Professional Engineer and Certified Building Commissioner and holds multiple certifications with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and FEMA. Gatzunis is also a Licensed Construction Supervisor and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Massachusetts Building Commissioners and Inspectors Association.
