Essex School Panel Votes Unanimously to Hire Construction Manager at Risk

ESSEX — May 26, 2026 — Essex school building committee unanimously adopts construction management at risk for new elementary school. The Essex Elementary School Building Committee voted 9-0 Tuesday night to use the construction management at risk delivery method for the town's new elementary school project, with industry members on the panel citing safety on an occupied site, improved cost control through a guaranteed maximum price, and better pre-construction coordination as the key reasons. Owner's project manager Dorn Whittier Management Partners plans to advertise the request for qualifications in the state central register by Thursday, May 28, with a CM selection subcommittee to be formally constituted at the June 9 meeting. The committee also approved four invoices totaling approximately $76,305 covering April services from JCJ Architecture, Anderson Krieger, and Dorn Whittier, while noting that a contract amendment with MSBA covering the schematic design phase cost increase remains in the state's legal review. Architect Jeff of JCJ presented floor plan refinements — including a space-saving horizontal exit device that reclaims an estimated 600 to 700 square feet — and the committee asked the design team to return with gym seating and sight-line studies after members raised concerns about event capacity for all-school performances and town meetings.