Next Community Forum: Monday 8/21

Please join the Andover High School Building Committee and project team on Monday, August 21st at 7:00 PM in the Memorial Hall Library for our next community forum.

The forum will focus on the following:

– Project Goals & Existing Building Deficiencies

– Overview of Past Studies & Project Options Considered

Overview of Project Scope Under Consideration (with a strong focus on sports lighting)

– Introduction of Building Massing Models

The project team and Committee will be available to answer any questions from the public as it relates to the project. Additionally, an updated model of the site and building massing will be there for the community to view.

We hope to see you there, and look forward to hearing your thoughts on the project!

Updates from 8/8/2023 Building Committee Meeting

The AHS Building Committee met on Tuesday August 8th beginning at 7:50AM. The meeting began with a discussion and vote on a warrant article requesting an additional $1.3M in Schematic Design funds, with a recommendation for the Select Board to call a Special Town Meeting to consider the warrant article. Chairman Mark Johnson also informed the Committee that the Town Manager and his staff are on track to share their financial analysis this upcoming September.  The remainder of the meeting was comprised of a discussion of the site plan design and continued discussion and votes regarding potential scope adds/deducts related to athletics.

Wayne Puglisi, Andover’s Athletic Director, gave a brief overview of existing conditions and of the desired athletic program to be supported by the project. Mr. Puglisi detailed the utilization of the existing fields (week and weekend), space limitations (lack of space for practices including for the marching band), and the potential benefits of adding sports lights to project. Mr. Puglisi was complimentary of the Town’s field maintenance staff, and discussed the use of the field house and rental of off-site space for existing programs.

In regards to the lights, Mr. Puglisi clarified that current September sports activities are limited to the hours of approximately 3:15PM (after school) to about 5:30PM, and this becomes earlier as winter months approach and daylight diminishes. Field lighting would allow more time for field use, and allow all AHS sports activities to remain on site, versus taking place off the high school campus current. (For example, the boy’s soccer program uses Wood Hill fields because there is not enough field space on the AHS campus.) Mr. Puglisi explained the various benefits that would result from expanding the plateau field and utilizing artificial turf, including expanded playing time and use uninterrupted by weather and need for field rest.

After discussion, the Committee unanimously voted to:

  1. Maintain artificial turf in the project for the multi-sports field along Shawsheen Rd. (as currently reflected in base scope)
  2. Expand the plateau field to a competition-sized field with artificial turf (estimated add of $2.435M)


The committee decided to revisit the topics of sports lighting and the skate park at the next meeting, allowing for additional public input, including at the 8/21/23 community forum.

Cathy Offenberg of Arcadis Group, the landscape architect for the project, and Sam Gregorioof TEC, the traffic engineer for the project, gave a joint presentation to the Committee outlining existing conditions and the preliminary site layout. James Liebman of HMFH kicked off the conversation by emphasizing that site design is an iterative process, and the diagrams shown are in no way final. Cathy outlined the various design principals (example: separate bus & car traffic) and feedback received from stakeholders to date.

The meeting was adjourned earlier than anticipated to allow participation of additional Committee members, so these conversations will be continued at the next AHS Building Committee meeting scheduled for 8/24/23.

The full meeting presentation can be found here. The community is encouraged to review the materials and send feedback to the Committee at andoverhighbuildingproject@andoverma.us.

To watch a replay of the meeting, you can find the AndoverTV recording in their meeting archive.

Next Building Committee Meeting: Tuesday, 8/8/23 at 7:50 AM

Please join the AHS Building Committee for our next public meeting on Tuesday, August 8th at 7:50 AM in the School Committee conference room (30 Whittier Ct, 2nd floor, above the Robb Senior Center).

The presentation for the meeting will primarily focus on the preliminary site design and traffic circulation by the landscape architect, Arcadis Architects and the traffic consultant, The Engineering Corp (TEC). Arcadis and TEC will review draft design options for pickup and drop-off, vehicle queuing areas, circulation through the project site, access and egress points from Moraine Street and Shawsheen Road, and parking configurations.

The site design and traffic circulation will evolve during Schematic Design as the project team continues to meet with the Committee, Andover Public Schools personnel, community members, Andover Police & Fire, Facilities, and other Town Departments for feedback on the draft design options. The project team will also introduce pedestrian biking and walking routes during subsequent Schematic Design Building Committee meetings as the vehicular traffic routes become more defined.

The Committee and project team will also hear from the district’s Athletic Director, Wayne Puglisi, on the impacts of the following potential added scope items currently under consideration: artificial turf vs. natural turf, the addition of the plateau field, and sports lighting. The Committee anticipates a decision surrounding sports lighting will be made at the 8/8/23 AHS Building Committee Meeting and a decision related to the plateau field and artificial turf vs. natural turf is anticipated to occur at the 8/24/23 AHS Building Committee Meeting.

Additionally, the Committee anticipates Andrew Flanagan, Town Manager, and AHS Building Committee member will provide an update on the proposed location for the skate park (whether included on the project site or elsewhere in Town). Currently, a skate park is shown within the site design for planning and layout purposes; however, the cost was not included within the preliminary total project cost presented during the Feasibility Study phase. The Committee anticipates a decision regarding the location of the skate park will be made during the 8/8/23 AHS Building Committee Meeting.   

The full agenda can be found here on the Town website:

https://andoverma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08082023-5670

The meeting will also be televised on AndoverTV, livestreamed from their website, and recorded for viewing out of their online meeting archive.

Updates from 7/27/2023 Building Committee Meeting

The AHS Building Committee Meeting on 7/27/2023 primarily focused on building layout and massing to better define the interior configurations and exterior shape of the new building. Building massing relates to the size, shape, and volume of the building, while building layout is associated with its orientation on the project site.  

During the meeting, HMFH Architects presented three preliminary building massing configurations, each of which do not interfere with the current footprint of the existing high school. HMFH also provided scaled building models for each configuration that was reviewed.

The massings were intended to solicit conversation around the pros and cons of each configuration, not as options from which there should a single selected configuration. The design team intends to take feedback received and reflect it in updated building designs for further consideration.

Below is a brief overview of each massing configuration presented for discussion. The full meeting presentation includes draft floor plans corresponding with each configuration.

Massing & configuration #1

Configuration #1 includes an academic wing that stretches plan East to West facing Shawsheen Road, and a central spine that connects academics to the shared community spaces including the gymnasium and auditorium. In this configuration, there is clear separation between the community and academic spaces, allowing the academic side of the building to be easily closed off, providing community access to the gymnasium, auditorium, and cafeteria areas. The pods in the academic wing are all mostly on a single level except for the 9th Grade Academy, which is split between the third and fourth floors. The academic wing also has the most optimal North/South orientation which allows for more daylight into the classrooms.

Massing & configuration #2

In Configuration #2, the academic and community spaces are more centrally located and integrated throughout the building. The Western position of the building includes two academic wings adjacent to the gymnasium/athletics, and the East contains a third academic wing that abuts the auditorium/performing arts. Within this configuration, the pods in the academic wings are divided between two floors.

Massing & configuration #3

In Configuration #3, the building is split East and West by a central spine that contains shared spaces such as the media center and cafeteria. The Eastern portion of the building includes two academic wings, to which access could be restricted during community events in the Western wing where athletics and performing arts are contained. Similar to Configuration #1, the academic pods are mostly on a single level (except for the 9th Grade Academy), and the classrooms have the most optimal North/South orientation allow for more daylight and views.

Following the review of each configuration, Mark Johnson, AHS Building Committee Chair allowed time for the Committee, project team, and community members to review the building models and provide feedback.

Some Committee members pointed out the value of having community spaces and academic spaces completely separate while others saw integrating the spaces as a benefit. There also appeared to be a consensus that a variation in building volume/massing for wing along Shawsheen Road would provide a more aesthetically appealing look, which was echoed by community members.

The configurations presented are preliminary and intended to solicit feedback. The project team and Committee will continue discussions surrounding building layout and massing throughout Schematic Design with input from the Andover community..

In addition to a massing discussion, the Committee also heard from Wess Murphy, Andover TV Executive Director, who provided an overview of what Andover TV does for the community at large and for Andover students, how they operate, and their connection with the high school.

Wess informed the Committee that Andover TV is a nonprofit local access television system that serves Andover residents. Their main studio has been located in Andover High School since the 1980s and has a shared use by both community members and high school students for various program offerings. Caitlin Brown, Andover High School Principal and AHS Building Committee member noted during the meeting that the school values their partnership with Andover TV, and described the types of classes AHS students are able to take in the existing studio space.

At the end of the meeting, the project team and Committee briefly discussed sports lighting, which is one of the potential added scope items currently under consideration. Principal Brown will be discussing the added value of having sports lighting with the Athletic Director further and will report back during the next AHS Building Committee meeting on 8/8/2023.

The full meeting presentation can be found here. It includes draft floor plans corresponding with each building massing configuration. The community is encouraged to review the materials and send feedback to the Committee at andoverhighbuildingproject@andoverma.us. Thank you in advance for your feedback!

To watch a replay of the meeting, you can find the AndoverTV recording in their meeting archive.

Conservation Commission Filings (ANRAD) for August 1, 2023 Meeting

On behalf of the Andover High School Building Committee, the design team filed an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) with the local Andover Conservation Commission on July 18, 2023.

The ANRAD provides a procedure for the project applicant to confirm the delineation of the bordering vegetated wetlands and other resource areas prior to proceeding with work subject to the jurisdiction of the Wetlands Protection Act.

Essentially, this is the initial step in the Conservation Commission’s approvals process for the project. As part of this process, HMFH Architects’ civil engineer, Samiotes Consultants, Inc., has conducted field investigations and a survey of the existing conditions including the property line, topography, utilities, etc. to assist in the flagging of wetland locations. Subsequent to the existing conditions survey and field investigations, Samiotes Consultants developed a Wetlands Delineation report inclusive of the site findings and determination of wetland areas.

As required, Samiotes Consultants has also issued notifications to abutters within 100 feet of the proposed project that an ANRAD has been filed and that a virtual hearing to review the filing documents with the Andover Conservation Commission will be held on August 1, 2023, at 7:00 PM. This hearing is open to the public for questions related to the Commission’s jurisdiction.

The ANRAD filing documents associated with the Andover High School Project can be found at these links:

Next Building Committee Meeting: Thursday, 7/27/23 at 6:30 PM

Please join the AHS Building Committee for our next public meeting on Thursday, July 27th at 6:30 PM in the School Committee conference room (30 Whittier Ct, 2nd floor, above the Robb Senior Center).

The presentation for the meeting will primarily focus on the layout of the building and building massing to better define the interior space and exterior shape of the new building.

The discussions will include an overview of preliminary space configurations, as well as the size and orientation of the new building on the project site. As part of these discussions, HMFH Architects will also introduce three new building massing models for examination by the public and AHS Building Committee. The models will be available for viewing approximately 20 minutes before the start of the meeting (6:10 PM) and the project team will be available to answer any questions.

During the meeting, the project team will continue conversations related to sports lighting to help inform the Committee’s decision whether to include this added cost item in the project. This decision is anticipated to occur during the 8/8/23 AHS Building Committee meeting.

Additionally, the Committee will hear from Andover TV regarding their connection with the academic programs at Andover High School and its function as a community space. This discussion comes as a request from the Committee as they currently consider the inclusion of Andover TV in the project.

The full agenda can be found here on the Town website.

The meeting will also be televised on AndoverTV, livestreamed from their website, and recorded for viewing out of their online meeting archive.

Updates from 7/13/2023 Building Committee Meeting

During the Andover High School Building Committee meeting on 7/13/2023, the project team and Committee continued discussions on the potential cost-saving measures and added scope items that were previously reviewed on 6/29/2023. A detailed recap of each item can be found within the “Updates from the 6/29/2023 Building Committee Meeting” Latest News post.

HMFH Architects also provided an overview of the proposed Schematic Design (SD) workplan, outlining the schedule of topics of discussions for each upcoming AHS Building Committee Meeting. HMFH noted that the proposed timeline on the decision points are subject to change depending on when the Committee feels that adequate information has been provided to prompt a decision.

The Committee and project team reviewed each potential cost-saving measure and added scope item currently under review; however, strongly focused on the following:

    Purchase of Solar Panels — $17,246,000 ($ 9,755,000 ground mounted, $7,491,000 roof mounted)

    At the prior meeting (6/29/2023), Janet Nicosia, Facilities Director and Building Committee member, informed the Committee that in lieu of including solar panels within the project, which would increase the project cost, there is also an option of providing solar energy to the future building via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

    This essentially means that solar energy would still be provided to the building; however, through solar panels not under ownership by the Town. On 6/29, the Committee requested feedback from the community and town experts prior to making a decision. Since that time, the Committee received correspondence from Joyce Losick-Yang, Director of Sustainability and Energy for the Town of Andover, indicating PPAs are ideal for municipalities as they save on operating costs, limit maintenance/upgrade costs, prevent additional energy costs if the system goes down (i.e. lighting strike), etc. The Committee also heard from Amy Latva-Kokko with Andover Green Advisory Board (AGAB) during the 7/13/2023 meeting who indicated that in other projects AGAB has previously voted in favor of using PPAs in lieu of purchasing solar panels directly.

    Based on the information provided, including input by the community, town experts and the project team, the AHS Building Committee unanimously voted to move forward with a PPA for solar energy on the project in lieu of purchasing solar panels directly through the project.

    Heavy Timber Structure — $7,556,000

    As requested during the last AHS Building Committee meeting on 6/29/2023, the project team will be following up with approximate costs to reduce the this option from 40% of the building’s structure to 10-15%. The Committee also requested that the project team confirm what percentage this would be of the building’s overall superstructure cost. The project team will follow up with additional information on this topic to help inform the Committee’s decision, with the benefits of reduced carbon footprint, biophilic design, and aesthetics being weighted against cost.

    Full-Sized Turf Field on the “Plateau” — $2,435,000

    The “plateau” area behind the existing AHS field house is currently a natural turf practice area and undersized for athletic competitions. Consideration is being given to expanding the field size to allow full functionality, including competitions, along with providing ADA accessibility.

    When previously discussed (6/29/23), it was requested that HMFH Architects confirm that expanding the existing plateau field is feasible due to the close proximity to the adjacent wetlands. HMFH confirmed that field is beyond the 50-foot wetlands buffer and can be expanded to allow for a full sports field.

    In weighing costs, the Committee requested that project team advise as what savings could be realized by considering natural turf field in lieu of artificial turf at this location. Additionally, there was a request to advise on the width of the proposed ADA ramp to the field to ensure there would be sufficient access for a pickup truck/mower to allow for maintenance. The project team will follow up with additional information on this topic to help inform the Committee’s decision.

    Skate Park — $4,710,000

    Andrew Flanagan, Town Manager, and Building Committee member noted that rebuilding or maintaining a skate park on the AHS/West Middle site may not make the most sense for the community. The Town will be reviewing alternative locations for a skate park and anticipates having more information on this topic for the 8/8/2023 AHS Building Committee meeting.

    Sports Lighting — $5,086,000

    Options for sports lighting at lower level of investment were discussed during the last AHS Building Committee meeting on 6/29/2023. It was requested that HMFH Architects provide pricing information to provide infrastructure only (conduits and wiring) to all fields, to the multiuse sports field only, and the cost of using solar powered lights. If only the infrastructure were to be provided through the project, the Town could then considering provide lights in the future, outside of the AHS project scope/budget. The project team will follow up with additional information on this topic to help inform the Committee’s decision.

    Additional & Material Considerations

    As it relates to the potential cost-saving measures, Mark Johnson, AHS Building Committee Chair, noted that the Committee will be setting up tours of various buildings within Andover and of Saugus Middle High School to review interior/exterior materials such as wood timber structure, terrazzo flooring, polished concrete flooring, metal panels, wood veneer/rain screens, patterned brick alternatives, etc.

    The full meeting presentation can be found here. Meetings are also recorded by AndoverTV and are available in their meeting archive.

    Next Building Committee Meeting: Thursday, 7/13/23 at 7:50 AM

    Please join the AHS Building Committee for our next public meeting on Thursday, July 13th at 7:50 AM in the School Committee conference room (30 Whittier Ct, 2nd floor, above the Robb Senior Center).


    Continuing on the conversation from the last AHS Building Committee meeting on 6/29/23, the meeting presentation will focus on the potential cost-saving measures and added scope items currently under consideration by the Committee.


    The project team and Committee will be reviewing the following potential cost-saving measures further:

    • Alternate interior/exterior building materials
    • Natural turf in lieu of artificial turf
    • Space program reductions


    The project team and Committee will be reviewing the following potential added scope items:

    • Solar panels
    • Heavy timber structure
    • Added plateau field
    • Skate park
    • Sports lighting
    • Upgraded mechanical plant
    • Sustainable irrigation
    • Enclosed walkway (new building to field house)


    The project team anticipates presenting supplemental information to help the Committee determine if an added field at the existing plateau is feasible due to the close proximity to the wetlands.


    As a recap from the last Building Committee meeting on 6/29/23, the Committee voted to remove the porous pavement and parking garage added scope items from further exploration / inclusion into the project. After further review of the existing site conditions, the design team provided a memo advising against the use of porous pavement. The decision to remove the parking garage from the project was
    largely due to the overall cost and the fact that the same number of parking spaces could be achieved with typical surface parking.


    The full agenda for 7/13/23 can be found here on the Town website:
    https://andoverma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07132023-5632


    The meeting will also be televised on AndoverTV, livestreamed from their website, and recorded for viewing out of their online meeting archive.

    Updates from the 6/29/23 Building Committee Meeting

    The Andover High School Building Committee Meeting on 6/29/2023 primarily focused on decisions the Committee will be evaluating through Schematic Design. The decisions include both potential cost-saving measures and added-scope items.

    In anticipation of developing the Schematic Design workplan, the project team sought clarification as to which of these decisions do not warrant further exploration. While there was no obligation to decide on any of these items, the Building Committee discussed each and eliminated certain potential added scope items as mentioned below.  

    Potential Cost-Saving Measures

    During the Schematic Design phase, the project team and Committee will explore various ways of reducing the project budget while still meeting the education plan and overall design intent.

    The 6/29/23 meeting included discussion of three initial areas of cost-saving measures for the Committee’s review (slides 10 through 13 of the meeting presentation):

    1. Material Reductions

    HMFH Architects explained that there are approximately $18,000,000 in potential savings by using alternative interior and exterior materials opposed to the materials currently included within the base project cost.

    HMFH noted that if the Committee would like to pursue this option further, the exterior of the building would be primarily a masonry façade with fewer “high-end” features such as metal panels, rain screens, curtainwalls/storefronts. HMFH indicated that masonry facades are not considered as aesthetically appealing; however, they have lower maintenance costs, longer longevity, and are more durable.

    For the interior of the building, alternative materials will be considered, including use of polished concrete rather than terrazzo for floors, or the use of terrazzo in only limited areas, such as those with high-traffic in most need of durability.

    2. Natural Turf in lieu of Artificial Turf

    HMFH indicated that if the Committee were to pursue natural turf in lieu of artificial turf for the multi-use sports field currently planned in front of the new school, the estimated savings would be roughly $1,500,000 to the project budget. Discussion included an explanation of the process of installing natural turf on the site, including preparation to mitigate existing wet conditions, which brings the cost differential between natural and turf surfaces to less than might have been expected.

    HMFH noted that some of the disadvantages of installing natural turf versus artificial turf include the need to periodically close natural turf for rest periods to prevent damage, higher maintenance costs, the inability to be used during certain weather conditions, and requirements for irrigation. Additionally, natural turf does not meet the Athletic Directors design goals.

    3. Refinement of Space Summary

    Following the presentation of the preliminary Feasibility Cost information in late March and early April 2023, the project team has met with Andover Public Schools (APS) educators and other school personnel to refine the Space Summary for the project, and identified ~19,000 gross square feet that can be removed from the project while still meeting the educational plan.

    This was achieved through consolidation of spaces, adjusting space sizes, and other scrutiny, which has yielded a deduction of $14,500,000 from the $480,847,000 preliminary total project budget.

    The project team will continue to meet with APS during Schematic Design to continue refinement of the Space Summary program. HMFH noted each 1,000 square foot reduction provides roughly $1,150,000 in savings.

    Potential Added-Scope Items

    The 6/29/23 meeting also included discussions surrounding the potential added-scope items that are not currently included in the preliminary base total project cost, but were priced during the Feasibility Design stage to allow for additional consideration. Ongoing discussion of each topic and feedback from the community during Schematic Design will inform the Building Committee’s decision to include any of these items in the project budget (described in detail within slides 14-24 of the meeting presentation).

    1. Solar Panels – $17,246,000 ($9,755,000 ground mounted, $7,491,000 roof mounted)

      Janet Nicosia, Facilities Director, and Building Committee member informed the Committee that in lieu of including solar panels within the project, which would increase the project cost, there is also an option of providing solar energy to the future building via a Power Purchase Agreement.

      The project team noted that the building structure will be designed to accommodate solar panels whether purchased by Andover and included as part of the project budget or purchased by a third-party and installed through a Power Purchase Agreement.

      The Committee requested feedback from the Andover community before making a determination on this added scope item, and deferring this vote until the next meeting on 7/13/2023.

      2. Heavy Timber Structure – $7,556,000

      HMFH Architects noted this item includes providing exposed wood for 40% of the building’s structure, which can improve the aesthetic of the building and in some cases, the learning environment for students.

      The Committee indicated this is a substantial cost which could be achieved using alternative design solutions (i.e. millwork), and requested that the project team provide cost information to reduce the heavy timber structure to 10-15% to help inform their decision.

      3. Porous Pavement – $6,320,000 at surface parking

      HMFH indicated that their civil engineer consultant, Samiotes, provided a memo indicating that the porous pavement is not advisable on this site due to the highwater table and existing site conditions.

      The Committee unanimously voted to remove this item from further exploration.

      4. Plateau Field (Additional Turf Field) – $2,435,000

      HMFH explained that the base project cost includes providing ADA access to the existing plateau field, which is currently set on a hill and is not sized to adequately support athletics. This added cost item would involve providing an expanded artificial turf field that supports athletics and ADA access.

      Due to the close proximity to the adjacent wetlands, the Committee requested that project team review if this option is feasible prior to exploring it further.

      5. Skate Park – $4,710,000

      The Andover High School Building Committee Chair, Mark Johnson noted that per discussions with the Town, a new skate park may be planned for elsewhere in Town rather than continue to be part of the Andover High site. This item will be revisited during future meetings.

      6. Parking Garage – $43,060,000

      HMFH provided a reminder a parking garage was priced because it would help maximize use of the crowded site, allow more field space, and provide environmental benefits including a reduction in sanding/salting needs and the amount of impervious area. HMFH also noted that the number of parking space would not differ whether a parking garage is included in the project or if typical surface parking (included in base project cost) is provided.

      The Committee unanimously voted to remove this item from further exploration, primarily based on cost.

      7. Sports Lighting – $5,086,000

      HMFH indicated that the base project cost does not include any additional lighting for the new fields, only maintaining the existing lighting at Lovely Field.

      HMFH noted that if sports lighting were to be provided, the lights would be designed to prevent light pollution on neighboring properties to avoid impacts to abutters.

      The Committee requested that due to the cost and existing site conditions, the project team provide pricing for installing only minimal infrastructure that could enable lighting in the future if the Town were to undertake a separate project to do so.

      8. Upgraded Mechanical Plant – $17,341,000 Air Source Heat Pump | $41,832,000 Geothermal

      The base project cost includes a highly efficient variable refrigerant flow system. An upgraded mechanical plant would allow for higher efficiencies and possible renewable initiatives.

      The Town and project team will be completing a Life Cycle Cost analysis to better understand the benefits of using an air source heat pump or geothermal system which will better inform this decision during Schematic Design.

      9. Sustainable Irrigation – $1,187,000 Rainwater Harvesting | $311,000 Groundwater Wells

      This added scope item includes providing rainwater harvesting collected in underground cisterns or using groundwater wells to irrigate natural grass/planting beds in lieu of potable water.

      The project team will provide further information during Schematic Design to help inform the Committee’s decision.

      10. Enclosed Walkway – $2,884,000

      HMFH indicated that the base project cost includes a covered walkway from the new building to the Field House. As an added-scope item, a fully enclosed walkway between the two structures could be provided. In addition to comfort, security and safety concerns will be considered.

      The project team will provide further information during Schematic Design to help inform the Committee’s decision.

      The full meeting presentation can be found here. To view a replay of the meeting, please visit the AndoverTV meeting archive.

      Next Building Committee Meeting: Thursday 6/29/23 at 8:30 AM

      Please join the AHS Building Committee for our next public meeting on Thursday, June 29th at 8:30AM in the School Committee conference room (30 Whittier Ct, 2nd floor, above the Robb Senior Center).

      The presentation for the meeting will primarily focus on decisions the Committee will be evaluating through Schematic Design. This includes both potential cost saving measures and added scope items.

      The initial cost saving measures currently under consideration include: alternate interior/exterior building materials, natural grass fields in lieu of artificial turf, and space program reductions. The added scope items have been part of preliminary pricing discussions and include: solar panels, heavy timber structure, porous pavement, added field, skate park, parking garage, sports lighting, upgraded mechanical plant, sustainable irrigation, and an enclosed walkway between the new building and existing Field House.

      Additionally, the project team will provide a design budget update, and discussions surrounding funding the project will continue.

      The full agenda can be found here on the Town website:
      https://andoverma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06292023-5618

      The meeting will also be televised on AndoverTV, livestreamed from their website, and recorded for viewing out of their online meeting archive.