School Construction

1. Project Initiation
   • information gathering through interviews and site visits.
   • reviewing monthly/annual compliance reports.
   • reviewing building condition assessment reports.
   • reviewing lessons learned.
   • discussions with HWDSB’s Planning department.
2. Design
   • engaging qualified and licensed architects, engineers, and environmental (hazardous materials) consultants through prequalified vendor of record lists.
   • On-site investigation, testing and interviews.
   • schematic concepts, design development, initial cost estimates.
   • Submissions to all regulatory bodies (City of Hamilton for building permit, site plan application, building variances, MECP ECA, heritage planning, etc.).
   • Ensuring conformance to pretender drawings, specifications, and cost estimates
   • Preconstruction planning and phasing in collaboration with the school.
3. Construction
   • engaging a prequalified contractor through competitive procurement.
   • Updating the rental portal with HWDSB’s Accommodation and Planning department. The Rentals team will reach out to reschedule, relocate or cancel any relevant activities during construction.
   • Documentation gathering to confirm MOL compliance of the contractor and all subtrades, performance and labour and material payment bonds, insurance, WSIB compliance.
   • Schedule, cost and quality control through regular project meetings and on-site visits.
   • Field review reports, reviewing and responding to site condition issues, third party testing and inspection, processing progress draws (invoices).
4. Project Close
   • Consultant deficiency reviews.
   • submission of operation and maintenance manuals.
   • 1 year warranty reviews.

• Staff and families are to direct all questions and concerns to the school Principal/VP.
• Community forums, website updates and staff information sessions, which are project dependent, may be offered to provide clarity.

• We work with our Procurement and Risk Management Department to utilize industry standard contracts, policies, and procedures.
• We use prequalified Vendors of Record for consultants (professional Architects and Engineers) and General Contractors.
• Procurement is completed via a third-party tendering system to provide transparency.

• Each school also has an asbestos inventory report, which is a mandated document found in hard copy at the school, updated on a yearly basis and at the end of a construction project.
• An Environmental Consultant is engaged during the design stage to test the school’s building materials that will be affected by construction per O. Reg. 278/05.
• A Designated Substance Assessment Report (also called a Hazardous Building Material Assessment Report) is provided to confirm project specific hazardous materials and specialized removal requirements to facilitate the construction scope. This differs from the school’s asbestos inventory; meant to provide high level information on asbestos containing materials in each school, which takes a cautious approach to maintain staff and student safety.
• A prequalified hazardous materials removal contractor must provide all necessary training and safety certification prior to commencing abatement.
• The Environmental Consultant conduct visits during and immediately after removals for visual inspections as per the O. Reg. 278/05.
• Hazardous material abatement is complete after school hours following the O. Reg 279/05.
• If hazardous material is found, subcontractors immediately stop work, the environmental consultants complete additional testing and sampling, and decisions are made on next steps to ensure the project is following the regulations.

• School staff may be asked to pack-up and take-home personal belongs.
• Furniture in classrooms, meeting rooms or other school areas may be removed or relocated.
• Classrooms may be relocated to temporary locations including portables.

• Preconstruction reviews are conducted to note site specific risks.
• Contractors are required to secure all areas of construction through (at a minimum) hoarding walls, barricades and signage.
• The constructor must provide a Notice of Project to the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development prior to starting projects that meet the standards set out in section 6(1) of the Regulation for Construction Projects, O. Reg 213/91.
• Temporary evacuation plans are communicated to staff and students, if required.
• Staff and students are not permitted into the construction areas at any time.

• Construction may occur at any time of year, whether school is in session or not.
• Work may occur during regular daytime school hours only in areas that are not occupied by staff, students, aftercare, or childcare programs. Use of hoarding, barricades, tarping, signage etc. are used to indicate construction areas.

• It is expected that the renovation work will result in some construction related nuisance noise, dust and/or odours including:
  • Painting
  • Mechanical equipment commissioning
  • Concrete or asphalt paving
  • General equipment maneuvering on school property.
• All work that will cause a major disruption to the staff and students and poses a health and safety risk is scheduled to be performed after school hours. This includes:
  • General demolition
  • Floor or wall cutting or coring
  • Roofing related work
  • Hazardous material abatement.
• Some projects will require temporary services to be utilized to complete the renovation, including:
  • Temporary heaters and/or fans
  • HEPA filters
  • Temporary electrical services, including lighting
  • Temporary doors
  • potable water service
  • temporary washroom facilities
• From time to time, the school may experience unexpected service interruptions for these possible reasons*:
  • Power outages
  • internet or telephone
  • fire alarms or security alarms.

*If this occurs, the Board’s priority is to communicate with staff and families, identify and resolve the matter as quickly as possible to ensure staff and students can resume their regular daytime duties/activities. 

• Construction related equipment and materials will be stored onsite in a secured, fenced in ‘staging’ area, which may encroach on staff parking or playground spaces.
• Periodic and final inspections to confirm compliance by the City of Hamilton or other regulatory bodies during daytime hours.

• The contractor will be responsible for cleaning the areas of work before handing the new space over to the school. This includes removing all garbage and debris and wiping down surfaces.
• Caretaking staff are required to complete a final cleaning in all areas.
• Safety is HWDSB’s primary focus. The safety of the staff, students, community members, and on-site construction workers is our focus and communication will be provided prior, during and upon completion of each project through your Principal, VP, and school website.