Planning & Design Meetings 10/26/2009 - Minutes11/02/2009 16:26 FTP
PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL
Palo Alto Unified School District
FACILITIES STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
DATE: 26 October 2009, 3:15pm-5:00pm
SUBJECT: Palo Alto HS Facilities Steering Committee
ATTENDEES: See attached sign -in sheet
The following are the highlights of the meeting:
1. Principal Jacquie McEvoy (JM) called the meeting to order.
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2. Erwin Lee (EL) gave an update of the progress of the Classroom and Media Arts
buildings. He shared that DLM had met with both groups to review floor plan
refinements and the interior elevations and indicated that the next milestone would
be a presentation to the Board of Education (BOE) in December for the approval of
the schematic design. The major developments for each building were:
Classroom Building:
• Investigated options to relocate the conference room in order to provide
circulation around the skylight opening for the second floor. In the end, it was
decided by the math department that the conference room was fine where it
was originally shown and that circulation around the opening was not desirable
given the trade-offs.
• The front of the classroom will vary from room to room. Markerboards placed
on adjacent walls is preferred.
Media Arts Building:
• The focus of the discussion was the expansion in the program and area and its
impact to the budget. Since some of the program elements in the Media Arts
Building were originally proposed for the Career Technology Building (CT), the
CT Building will now be smaller and therefore less expensive. The dollars
originally set aside for this program in the CT Building will be reallocated to the
Media Arts Building to fund the additional program elements. JM and Tom
Hodges will review the reallocation of funds and present to the FSC at the next
meeting.
3. The new buildings update led to a discussion of the Information Technology (IT)
needs and what will happen in the new projects. Aimee Lopez (AL) shared that a
meeting was held last week with the IT group to discuss the needs for the new
buildings. The following comments expressed:
• Rachel Kellerman (RK) suggested that the IT group should be highly involved in
the process.
• Stephen Pond (SP) asked if the infrastructure was currently in place or if it is
budgeted as a part of the Master Plan to be installed to support the IT needs.
Palo Alto HS FACILITIES STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
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TH indicated that the Master Plan project budget will pay for the infrastructure
and individual building needs. However, cabling, equipment and active switches
will be part of the technology budget. TH said that he will meet with the IT
group to get a better idea of the IT needs and budget.
JM suggested that the IT group be invited to the next meeting to hear the
concerns of the site. She wanted to make sure that the IT group understands
what is necessary to operate the school.
EL suggested that the departments determine how they interface with
technology and what they want it to do. It will be easier to tell the IT group what
is desired and let them figure out how to achieve it.
4. EL indicated that a Paly Community Meeting was held on 10/22/09 to update the
public and status of the projects. The presentation showed the conceptual design
as they were approved by the BOE and introduced the companion landscape
master plan effort. The main comments from that meeting addressed construction
logistics, tree protection, overall coordination, drainage and support for making the
campus a comfortable student environment. Mary Gordon (MG), who attended the
meeting, added that they were very supportive of an organic and human
environment.
5. EL shared that a Landscape Subcommittee had been formed which will provide
input to the Landscape Master Plan effort. In addition to community and staff
members, students from the Paly environmental club and `green team" participated
at the meeting with much enthusiasm. The Landscape Master Plan team also met
with the District's Sustainability Committee to discuss their interest and concerns.
6. An update was given from the theater subcommittee meeting. The .meeting
focused on the program which was presented by the theater consultant in a format
that compared the consolidated program interests of the theater subcommittee with
that of the design that was generate for funding purposes via the CTE grant
submittal. The highlights from the theater subcommittee meeting were:
• The subcommittee recommended that the theater have a full fly
• Consider a seating configuration with balcony. This configuration allows for a
more intimate arrangement and allows for smaller performances to feel that
they are not in front of an empty house. The balcony configuration will also
allow more programs or functions to be placed in the same building footprint.
The FSC had no objections with the balcony configuration.
• Stuart Berman (SB) added that a recital hall/small lecture hall was discussed to
augment the music venues. JM reminded that the Haymarket Theater future
still needs to be determined and that it might become the recital hall or "black
box" theater.
• Concern that the performing arts program may require more area than currently
contemplated in the 100 Building. JM indicated that she will meet with the
performing arts group to discuss the specific concerns.
7. EL updated the progress on the relocatables and that the documents have been
submitted to DSA for plan check review and comments. AL indicated that a
logistics plan and schedule is being studied by Gilbane, the construction
management group, and that a plan will be presented at the next meeting. The
concerns and comments regarding the relocatables:
Palo Alto HS FACILITIES STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
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• JM indicated that she had polled the site and the consensus was that they
would rather have more relos and the construction done over a shorter duration
than have fewer relos and extend the construction duration.
• JM shared that the classroom utilization plan will be revisited to determine if the
number of relocatables can be reduced.
• TH added that at the last FSC meeting, direction was given to DLM to add the 8
relos to the documents so that the documents would be approved and permitted
for 17 relos allowing flexibility in planning. However, the decision has not been
made yet if the relos will in fact be moved and the classroom and media arts
buildings constructed simultaneously.
• Jerry Berksen (JB) asked what impact the construction and relo move will have
on future rental opportunities. The impact will need to be reviewed and
coordinated with the logistics construction plan.
8. A brief update on the Central Plant study was given. Members from the
District's Facility group visited a two-story school with a similar installation to
that being proposed for the classroom building. The installation demonstrated
that the noise level to adjacent classrooms was not a problem and practically
imperceptible. TH indicated that the decision remains to be made and is
pending completion of the cost study. Relocating the central plant to the
proposed classroom building will require reallocations of the Master Plan
budget.
9. JM gave an update on the bleacher project. The bleacher project has been
postponed in an effort to examine the entire stadium as a comprehensive
project including not only the bleachers but the restroom and concession facility,
track upgrades and entry. JM said that the current process was becoming a
series of isolated projects and that an overall plan needed to be considered
before any construction commences. However, this decision means that the
bleachers will not be ready for next season as originally planned. Other
concerns regarding the stadium project:
• Capacity of stadium to be 2,200-2,400 total for both home and visitors.
• SP suggested that the District have an arborist review and determine the
health of the trees within the vicinity of the project.
• JM requested that a clear path of travel to the visitor's side be delineated
that prevents the public from walking on the track in the end zone areas --
possibly by installing fencing.
• MG added that the entrance from Churchill will not change regardless of the
stadium design proposals and it will remain a primary entrance and must be
reviewed with this in mind. The campus circulation needs to be considered
in its totality.
• The visitor's side bleachers will be reduced to five rows as an interim plan to
meet DSA requirements.
10. The next FSC meeting is scheduled for 30 November at 3:15
END
Prepared by Erwin Lee of Deems Lewis McKinley. Please advise if you feel that any of the above items
are inaccurate or need further clarification or detail.
cc: Attendees
File
Palo Alto HS FACILITIES STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
Palo Alto Unified School District
26 October 2009
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0
PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL
Palo Alto Unified School District
SIGN IN SHEET:
DATE: 26 October 2009
Facilities Steering Committee Schematic Design Meeting No. 2
Name Email Department
END
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