By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The public safety and Town Hall project’s construction team is officially in place.
The Public Safety Building Committee voted to hire Commodore Builders to serve as the $63.5 million public safety buildings and Town Hall project’s construction manager at-risk/general contractor during a July 28 meeting.
“Commodore Builders has a great reputation and a lot of experience,” said Town Administrator Rob Dolan in an interview with the Villager. “Commodore Builders renovated a historic fire headquarters and also built a new fire station in Newton. They also built a police station in Malden.”
Voters approved the public safety buildings and Town Hall project 694 votes to 508 votes, representing a 58 percent to 42 percent margin, during a Special Town Election in December 2022. The Special Town Election vote was closer than the 287-33 vote at last November’s Fall Town Meeting.
The project entails constructing a new three-story Fire Headquarters that will have four bays next to the existing South Station, which will be razed once the new Fire Headquarters is built. The Police Station and current Fire Headquarters will also be renovated and expanded.
Additionally, the Town Hall component of the project will make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by constructing an elevator. A new H. Joseph Maney Meeting Room will also be built for municipal boards and community groups to use.
The Public Safety Building Committee previously hired PMA Consultants to serve as the owner’s project manager as well as Tappé Architects.
Tappé Architects designed the new additions for the $18 million elementary schools’ expansion project that was completed last fall. PMA Consultants oversaw the construction of the new Ballardvale Fire Station in Andover as well as the renovation and expansion of two fire stations in Arlington.
“We now have a full team in place,” said Dolan. “We are going to bring all of them to a Select Board meeting in September.”
Commodore Builders has also renovated facilities at the Franklin Park and Stone Zoos. The firm also built Takeda’s cGMP cell therapy manufacturing facility in Boston, a Smart Labs facility in the Seaport, and Bristol Meyers Squibb’s biologic manufacturing facility in Devens. Commodore Builders also constructed the new Dennis-Yarmouth Middle School, Dedham’s public safety building and Arlington’s DPW facility.
Public Safety Building Committee Chairman John Scenna informed the Villager that Consigli Construction Company, Gilbane Building Company and W.T. Rich Company were the three other finalists for the construction manager at-risk/general contractor job.
“Commodore Builders is a multifaceted working group that has a lot of experience,” said Scenna.
Dolan agreed.
“We came to the consensus that Commodore Builders made the best presentation and have the best team,” said Dolan.
The Public Safety Building Committee includes Scenna, Dolan, Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis, Police Chief Nick Secatore, DPW Director John Tomasz, Select Board Chairman Joe Connell and Finance Committee member Gene Covino.
“We are excited about adding Commodore Builders to the public safety project’s team,” said Davis in an interview with the Villager. “We are excited to move forward.”
Sectore concurred with Davis’ sentiment.
“Hiring Commodore Builders is a significant step forward for the project,” said Secatore. “We are excited that Commodore was selected and are looking forward to working with the team that has been put together. Our next step is to develop a schedule and plan the move within our department.”
Connell echoed Davis’ viewpoint.
“I was extremely impressed with Commodore Builders,” said Connell in an interview with the Villager. “They have a remarkable game plan. I was really impressed with their professionalism. I am so pleased this project is happening. It’s great that our firefighters, police officers and Town Hall employees will have better facilities to work in. These buildings were a necessity if we are going to attract top talent to work for the town. This project is going to make the town better.”
Dolan said the $63.5 million public safety buildings and Town Hall project remains on budget. He said subcontractor bids will be awarded in October.
“The project is going to start in the fall,” said Dolan. “We are going to move out of municipal buildings in November. The goal is to have the project completed in the fall of 2025.”
While the moves’ logistics are still being finalized, the Select Board voted in January to rent the old Village Pharmacy location at 590 Main St. and the upstairs office space located at 590A Main St. for Town Hall employees to use for the next two years. The DPW’s administrative offices along with the Inspectional Services, Health, Planning and Conservation Departments will be located in the old Village Pharmacy. The Town Administrator’s Office will be upstairs.
Connell noted that the DPW is working to get the Main Street office spaces ready for the move by making electrical and Wi-Fi improvements.