Hillsdale High School District- Wide Controls Replacement

Fast and Lean Air Conditioning Controls Replacement.

Hillsdale High School was initially built in 1955. Over the years it has seen the typical evolution and modernization and addition, with 3 different non-interconnected control systems, one on life-support, it was time to do a replacement.

High schools are centers of activity, year-round, yes, they have breaks but a site as big and multi-program supporting as a high school requires extensive coordination between departments to support an operation akin to heart surgery.

To reduce the disruption, it was decided that the work should be performed during the summer break, a 2-½ month period when critical systems could be taken down. Capital Engineering, having prior experience with large-scale control replacement was brought in the orchestrate the plan.Knowing there was little time for clarification once the starting gun was fired.

Capital did a deep dive and reviewed the live controls, interviewed staff, and did a detailed audit of those items critical to estimating and installation. This led to the production of a shop drawing-level bid package that allowed the contractor to hit the ground running.

With less than 6% change orders (including some additional scope). The project was under budget at an estimated 40% of a conventional EMS replacement cost. Construction began on the 1st day of summer vacation and was fully operational on the 1st day after the break.