Timing is perfect for building a new school | Letters | May 15

Published 11:47 am Friday, May 15, 2009

The economy has made the cost for construction come way down; the average cost of school construction was about $300 per square foot of building area, now it is about $225. Here are some new school construction bids that have occurred this spring: A middle school in Federal Way had an estimate of $21 million and the low bid was $16 million; a Bellevue elementary school’s estimate was $22 million and the bid was $16.6 million; Issaquah High School’s estimate was $85 million and the bid was $62 million.

The economy has made the construction industry very competitive. Two years ago there would be two or three bidders per school project, now there are 10 or 12. Since there are few new projects starting for retail, commercial or housing projects, the few projects that are bidding (mostly schools and other public projects) have lots of motivated bidders.

It will take at least a year before the Bainbridge School District project will be ready to bid (it takes that long to plan, design and permit a new school), so will we get these great bids? Yes, it is very likely we will. There are few projects on the drawing boards for architects, so there will be a small number of projects ready for construction next year. Because of construction lags, contractors will still be hungry a year from now even if other parts of the economy are coming back.

If we approve the bond issue, Bainbridge could benefit as one of the few that taking action in this bidding environment. That means we homeowners will pay very little in the next few years as we climb out of the recession. Most of the taxes will be spread out in later years, after the economy has recovered.

Great schools help keep our property values up on Bainbridge. It is a reason why many people live on the island, and why others will want to buy our houses in the future. Other proponents of this bond will tell you how the school projects are great for the kids and community. That all true, but I’m just trying to appeal to everyone’s business sense.

Sooner or later we will be rebuilding our schools, so let’s be smart and do it now while we can buy a school at a discount. If we wait, we will be in line with all the other projects that were put on hold and we will pay top dollar.

I am a resident of Bainbridge and an architect who specializes in school design and construction; I have not worked with the Bainbridge Island School District and will not personally benefit from this project. I just know this industry and I believe we have a chance to get a good deal.

Kevin Flanagan

AIA, managing principal