Haddonfield advances referendum construction: bids set, historic review scheduled

Land Associates and district staff told the Haddonfield School District Board of Education that multiple referendum-funded construction and renovation projects are moving from design to bidding and into construction scheduling.

The presentation, given by Land Associates representatives and reviewed by district facilities staff, outlined target bid dates, award windows and substantial-completion milestones for projects across the district. Land Associates said the district is close to bidding the 18 Nineties building and expects an award decision around Oct. 16, with a substantial-completion date targeted for July 2026. The consultants said the high school auditorium and related C‑wing classroom work are on an accelerated schedule, with an Oct. 30 bid date and a planned award in early December; the auditorium is slated to be taken offline in May 2026 and reach substantial completion in November 2026.

Why it matters: those timelines drive construction staging during the school year, set contractor mobilization windows and inform communications with staff, families and outside user groups.

Land Associates described a redesign of the Hopkins turf field amenities and parking that preserves the existing Maggie House and carriage house in place while slightly shifting parking locations. Jeff, a Land Associates representative, said the new concept reduces parking by about three spaces compared with an earlier plan but “creates a more elaborate and sophisticated… site design” and avoids having to move historic structures. He told the board the district will present the plan to the borough historic preservation commission on Sept. 10 for guidance on allowable changes to the site and to those buildings.

District staff also reviewed several building-specific scopes and schedules: - Tatum Elementary and Haddon Elementary media center renovations are on parallel schedules with Oct. 30 bid dates and target substantial completion in August 2027. - A‑ and C‑wing window replacements at the high school are about 90% designed; the preservation commission may press for wood windows rather than upgraded aluminum frames, a point Land Associates suggested will require testimony at the commission meeting. - The middle school auditorium received bids. The presentation described bids as “favorable” and staff said they will proceed with contract work; substantial completion for that project is scheduled for April 17 (year noted in presentation as the following April). - Renovations at Elizabeth Carden, flooring abatement and replacement at multiple schools, Memorial High School ADA stadium upgrades and an elevator modernization at Memorial High School are in late construction or punch-list phases; staff said a state elevator inspection is scheduled for Aug. 29.

On sequencing and critical-path items, Land Associates highlighted the high school HVAC replacement as a long‑lead item that controls timing for some auditorium and mechanical work. The project team said the HVAC units’ lead times are why some substantial‑completion dates extend into the following school year and why construction activity may overlap with academic days.

District facilities staff described steps the district will take to reduce disruption during construction. Staff said core corridors will remain open for student circulation where possible; some classrooms will be temporarily relocated and the district will provide advance notice to families and outside users about entrances or spaces that will be closed during work. Rich, the district’s construction representative, described scheduling choices and said contractors have been informed to coordinate closely with school schedules.

Next steps: Land Associates will return to the board as bids are awarded and after the historic preservation commission meets Sept. 10. Staff said they will provide detailed implementation and communication plans to principals and to the curriculum and operations teams before major mobilizations.

Ending: Board members thanked consultants and staff for the update and asked for continued advance notice about access changes and student routines during construction.