Newton’s Public Facilities Committee unanimously approved a $150,000 request to close out final work at the Cooper Center for Active Living on Wednesday, sending the request for review by the Finance Committee. 

Public Buildings Commissioner Alejandro Valarce explained the importance of this additional funding to address issues that may come up in the Cooper Center’s first year of operation.

“We would like to have some funds available to address things that come up, typically things will come up that may be some furnishings or some equipment that we just missed,” Valarce said.  “Again, we try to manage and think about thousands of details during the design process, but there’s always something that comes up.”

Valarce explained that the funding is preemptive in order to ensure that the Cooper Center is able to properly address any future facility issues.

“It’s just a variety of things that may come up, and usually we’d want to be in a good position to respond and get the facilities all squared away so that everybody’s got a great top-notch facility,” Valarce said. 

Valcarce previously wrote a letter to city officials, which explained that funds are necessary to support the needs that occurred after the building opened and before the project closes out.

“As is the case with all our projects, while the design teams work very hard to solve thousands of details and needs, once the buildings open, adjustments are needed as the buildings are used,” Valcarce wrote. 

Valcarce added that while the actual construction may be complete, additional refinements are often necessary now that the space has become active for community members. 

Valarce clarified that while the building is not big in terms of size, the programming generates complexities that necessitate further funding. 

“This is not a big building, but you know, it’s a complex little building, and it has a lot of programming, so having the funds available would be helpful,” said Valarce.

The project had already encountered unexpected cost pressures during construction, explained Valarce, but the current request would go towards releasing the remaining contingency funds to address final adjustments as the project transitions into operational use. 

The motion was unanimously approved by the committee and will go before the Finance Committee for review at their Feb. 23 meeting.