The Bridal School Building Committee on Feb. 10 debated whether to add visual screens for rooftop mechanical equipment and whether to add extra striping to the new turf field.

On rooftop screening, committee members asked that staff and designers produce a complete scope of work including engineering, structural analysis and drawings, then solicit pricing from multiple vendors. The group discussed a two-step approach: (1) have AI3 and its consultants prepare final drawings and scope and obtain pricing, then (2) have the general contractor (W. G. Rich/W2 Rich as noted in the project record) price and schedule the work. Committee members agreed they were hesitant to authorize installation without complete pricing and recommended the work, if approved, occur during a summer when the building is unoccupied. One committee member said the priority should be units visible from the front of the building.

Design and construction staff explained prior preliminary pricing omitted some structural and warranty details; the project team has not found a low-impact screening option that meets wind-load requirements without rooftop structural attachment. Committee members requested the staff return with a timeline and a full scope for review at an upcoming meeting, with a targeted decision window ahead of a possible summer 2026 installation.

On the turf field, the design team and turf manufacturer recommended against adding additional painted or stitched lines beyond the current design because the extra seams would increase maintenance risk and create potential long-term stitching problems and visual confusion. The committee accepted that recommendation and did not proceed with adding the extra lines.

Why it matters: rooftop screening affects the school’s exterior appearance and long-term maintenance; structural attachments and wind loads carry cost and warranty implications. Turf-field lines affect usability for multiple sports and long-term maintenance costs.

Next steps: staff will recirculate preliminary pricing and options, prepare a complete scope and engineering package, seek competitive pricing and present a recommended timeline, with the committee expecting further detail and decision points at a future meeting.

No formal vote was recorded to authorize rooftop screening work at this meeting; the change-order and procurement decisions that were approved at the meeting did not include rooftop screening funds.