Dena Levitz, The Examiner
2008-05-13 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

D.C. Schools facilities chief Allen Lew is in the process of getting more than $58 million in construction contracts approved to ready a dozen schools to absorb students from campuses closing after the school year.

The contracts, which must be approved by the D.C. Council, are flowing to four companies; nearly $29 million to Turner Construction, $12.1 million to Smoot Construction Company, $10 million to Centennial Construction Enterprises and $7.5 million to Forney Enterprises.

Turner is one of the firms handling heating repairs in the school system, whose costs have ballooned to four times the budget amount.

As reported in The Examiner last month, Lew’s top contracting adviser, Thomas Bridenbaugh, is the son-in-law of Turner Construction Manager Tom Engers.   

Lew has said he has been open about the connection and that Turner sometimes recuses itself from projects that create a conflict.

In the case of the latest work for facilities upgrades, Turner is tasked with the most sizable, complex and costliest portion of the work.

Altogether 12 existing schools and one former school are being retrofitted to handle more students as 23 schools are closed.

According to memos about the projects, the work also includes hazardous-material abatement, electrical upgrades, site work in the surrounding area, mechanical enhancements to vent units and drains and “finishes” to walls and ceilings.

In schools getting pre-kindergarten students for the first time, restrooms are being constructed in every pre-K classroom, and elevators are being added on a host of campuses in order to more effectively use the space.

Robinson said as soon as the contracts are approved, work will start. The completion date is Aug. 15.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com