Page 32 - School Planning & Management, April 2017

FACILITIES DECIDING WHAT BUILDING MATERIALS TO SPECIFY
Massachusetts (that officially broke ground on March 27.) “This included the team from our office, the superintendent, principal, facility director, building committee, owner product manager (OPM) and construction manager (CM).” She also notes that,
on some projects, they invite a group of students and key staff
to look at the building design and color palette to gain buy-in from the school users. The 324,000-square-foot BMHS, accom- modating grades 8-12, is estimated to be complete in 2020, with a $124,000 construction cost.
Each of the team members brings a different area of expertise to the decision-making process. For instance, the superintendent brings expertise of budget and goals: he wants to choose products that ensure the project stays on budget and fulfills its goals. In the case of Billerica, the design goals were to honor the past and aim for the future, because the community has a deep history, and they want to look at both their history and their future. The facility director brings expertise of preventive and restorative mainte- nance. He wants to choose reliable products that his staff is able to maintain in terms of training, budget and time.
Continuing the example, Ryan Lynch, project executive for Shawmut Design & Construction’s Boston office, notes that, “The construction manager’s role is to work collaboratively with the design team and owner to ensure that the products selected are appropriate for the project. This appropriateness is determined by multiple factors, including cost, durability, product availability/ manufacturer stability and sustainability.”
And, yes, the team even includes supplier expertise. Not all suppliers offer the exact same product; often there are subtle dif- ferences that can have a huge impact on whether a product is right for a project. For example, Terry Westerman, vice president of Marketing for ClarkDietrich Building Systems, Inc., West Chester, Ohio, which offers a comprehensive lineup of steel construction products and services, works closely with architects and speci- fiers to ensure performance matches products and systems. This can be fire rating, sound ratings or limiting heights. “Included is
providing information regarding sustainability and any assistance in achieving LEED points,” he adds.
The best way for the team to work together is collaboratively. “The owners should be very open and honest about what the bud- get is and what’s important in terms of material selection,” says Tully. “When selecting materials, they must be able to prioritize what they want and what concessions they’re willing to make so the team has a starting point to make recommendations based on the budget. Then the owners can set the standards with the construction manager, architect and materials supplier to work together to establish values for different options.”
How to Decide What Materials to Use
According to Trivas, a large part of deciding what materi-
als to use is based on a process that prioritizes materials values, understanding that each project, and even different parts of an overall project, may have different priorities. There are six major considerations.
1. One consideration is the material’s durability. For example,
upholstery is graded according to Wyzenbeek rubs: light use is 6,000 to 9,000 double rubs, medium use is 9,000 to 15,000 double rubs and heavy use is 15,000+ double rubs.
2. Another consideration is budget, including product and installation cost. “When considering initial costs,” says Lynch,
LOOKING FOR DANGERS
IN THE MATERIALS SELECTION PROCESS
Brooke Trivas, principal and K-12 practice leader at Perkins+Will’s Boston office, indicates three dangers to avoid in the materials selection process.
1. Lack of longevity: “It’s important to prioritize the budget in
terms of high-traffic areas,” says Trivas, “being careful to under- stand the longevity of the products you choose for the location in which they’re used. For example, drywall does not have longevity when used in a corridor.”
2. Long lead times: Some materials have a long lead time, such as those coming from Europe. This can be detrimental when you’re working on a tight timeline. “Not only might it make initial instal- lation difficult,” Trivas says, “but it may also make replacement difficult.”
3. Choosing unhealthy products: “I hope all administrators are careful to not use materials unhealthy to the environment, to the people producing them and to building occupants,” says Trivas. “Choose products that are healthy, pure and honest.” Perkins+Will has on its website an open source precautionary list of materials harmful to humans, animals and the environment. It includes sug- gested alternatives.
32 SCHOOL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / APRIL 2017
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