Courtesy Photo/Image Madison Middle School

Photo by George Lauby Jim Paloucek

It cost nearly a quarter-million dollars less than expected for a new heating, air conditioning and ventilation system at Madison Middle School.

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The extensive two-year renovation, which included new windows, doors and electric lines, cost $2.76 million. That was eight percent less than the $3 million that was budgeted.

The final expenses were announced March 23 at a school board meeting.

Lower costs were just the opposite of what the school board figured when they approved the project in 2007.

At first, estimated costs varied from $1 million to $4 million. The project remained in the discussion stage for more than a year as officials struggled with the design and the board refused to approve it until the design and budget were firm. And, even then, board members suspected mistakes and ever-increasing supply costs would blow open the budget.

“We’re very pleasantly surprised when all is said and done,” board president Jim Paloucek said. He credited the school district’s business manager Stuart Simpson, consulting architect Joe Hewgley and the 11 sub-contractors for heeding the board’s concerns about the cost.

“They evidently listened to our concerns,” Paloucek said.

Seventy-seven water wells were drilled and connected together, carrying enough 50-degree underground water into the building to become the prime heating and cooling agent.

A similar geo-thermal system is in use at North Platte High School. The cool ground water drastically cuts the costs of air-conditioning compared to other systems. And the heating system starts will a supply of moderately warm water and adds heat from there.

In all, 55 new windows were installed, along with new exterior doors around the building. The inside ceiling was lowered by 6-8 inches. Electric lines were updated; the building fitted with wireless Internet and new cabinets were installed in some rooms.

Madison had been the most energy inefficient building in the North Platte school district, officials said. The boiler was 40 years old.

More than 200 students attend the school.

The savings

Four out of 11 companies that worked on the project got the job done for less than budgeted, according to the school district report.

Seven companies stayed on budget.

Among the most significant reductions, Charlie’s Plumbing of North Platte cut $32,000 from its project budget. Loopmaster International of Indianapolis cut $24,000 for the loop of geo-thermal pipes and ESSINK Drywall of Kearney cut $9,000.

Joe Hewgley and Associates charged $23,000 less than budgeted for managing the construction.

In all, the cost reductions totaled $236,541.

The only significant overrun was $45,616 for glycol, an antifreeze agent for geo-thermal water, which was overlooked in the planning stages.

Hewgley said the contractors worked efficiently and his firm stayed on top of the progress.

“We had someone there for at least a couple hours most days, and no less than every other day,” he said. “If it didn’t need to be done, we didn’t approve it.”

Hewgley said a company salvaged the old boiler so it wasn’t thrown away, which put some revenue back into the project.