School officials announce GMS project manager

With an official thumbs-up from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), Canton school leaders are excited to move forward with Massachusetts-based firm LeftField as the owner’s project manager for the Galvin Middle School building project.

William H. Galvin Middle School

The selection was approved by the MSBA board at its meeting on Monday, March 6, with School Superintendent Derek Folan relaying the news to the public at last Thursday’s School Committee meeting.

“We are pleased to have LeftField approved by the MSBA as the Galvin project’s OPM, and we look forward to working with their team through this process,” noted Folan. “When making our selection, we felt that LeftField fulfilled all of the areas of expertise and experience we were looking for, and their project team brings a tremendous background in construction, architecture and educational programming. Their experience with MSBA-funded K-12 building projects will be invaluable as we move forward as well.”

The move is seen by school officials as a major step in the building process with the selection of a design firm already underway. LeftField will be paid $346,000, which comes out of the $1.5 million feasibility study allocation authorized at last year’s annual town meeting.

LeftField describes itself on its website as an “industry leading” OPM firm that prides itself on its “dogged focus” on cost forecasting and cost control and its ability to effectively communicate project and budget status to stakeholders. As the OPM for the Galvin Middle School renovation, the company will provide project management services throughout the duration of the project, offering advice and consultation with respect to design, value engineering, scope of the work, cost estimating, scheduling, construction and more. A contracted OPM is required by state law for all MSBA-funded projects.

Folan and School Committee Chair Kristian Merenda said at the March 9 meeting that they were very comfortable with their choice for an OPM, noting that LeftField is very professional and highly skilled, with a track record of delivering on many school building projects. The company’s staff includes a former school superintendent and a former MSBA official. Merenda gave the selection a grade of “A plus plus.”

With the OPM selected, public and School Committee input will be needed on the particulars of school design and grade configuration …

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Posted by Mike Berger on Mar 17 2023. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.