The president of Tri-Co. Inc. Commercial told the Lindbergh Board of Education that he’s “very excited” his firm will construct the district’s new Dressel Elementary School.

“… It will be a gem when it is finished,” Tri-Co Inc. President Stephen Roufa told board members during a special meeting June 29. “It’s a beautiful facility, and we always intend and will perform and work with (Executive Director of Planning and Development) Karl (Guyer) and his staff and the board …”

The board voted unanimously to award the $21,855,000 contract for Dressel Elementary to Tri-Co Inc. Board member Kara Horton participated in the meeting by telephone.

The firm’s bid was the lowest of seven submitted. The next lowest bid from ICS Construction totaled $21,872,000, while the highest bid from Orf Construction totaled $22,401,000.

In a memo to Superintendent Jim Simpson, Guyer wrote, “Based upon review and analysis of the bids and post-bid interviews, I recommend that Tri-Co Inc. Commercial be awarded a contract in the amount of $21,855,000, which includes the base bid, laminated safety glass and playground rubber surfacing.”

Tri-Co has done several projects for the school district in the past, Guyer noted.

In 2012, Tri-Co completed successful expansion projects at Crestwood and Long elementary schools, adding art, music and grade-level classrooms to each building as part of Proposition R 2008. Tri-Co also completed library expansion projects at Crestwood, Kennerly and Long elementary schools in 1997, as part of Prop R 1995.

“The projects were done very well. The schedule was met, and we very much liked the quality and attention to detail that was given on all those projects,” Guyer said.

Ittner Architects designed the new 650-student elementary school that will be constructed on the nearly 10-acre Dressel School site at 10255 Musick Road.

Ittner Vice President J.C. Rearden spoke highly of Tri-Co and the quality of its work.

“We were very pleased when we saw the bids opened and learned that Tri-Co was going to be the apparent low bidder. They’re a fine company,” he said. “All the projects that Karl just went through, we worked with them on these projects. We liked the attention to detail that Steve gives the job personally as president of the company, and we know that he will personally stay engaged.

“During our interview process, we went through and vetted all the questions he had. We think he really understands the project … He intends to spend 75 percent of his time on just this project, giving it his personal detail. You don’t get that out of many presidents of construction companies and so we appreciate that. We’re looking forward to a very successful project with him.”

Simpson praised Tri-Co’s past work with the district, noting the firm rarely submits change orders.

“Steve, when he gets a project, he starts building the project and he doesn’t look for ways to find change orders,” he said. “We appreciate that, Steve …”

To fund the construction of Dressel Elementary, district voters approved a $34 million bond issue in April 2014. Besides the new elementary school, Proposition G — for Growth — will fund some critical needs at Lindbergh High School.

The district purchased the Dressel site in 2011 for $1.94 million.

The existing building will be razed to make room for the new elementary school — demolition is expected to be completed by the end of September.

In his memo, Guyer noted that construction of the new Dressel Elementary School is set to be completed in March 2017. The school will open to students for the 2017-2018 school year.

District officials project Lindbergh’s enrollment will increase by 278 students for the 2015-2016 school year. Over the next four years, the district’s enrollment is projected to increase by 1,112 students.

As such, the new Dressel Elementary School will be at capacity with students the day it opens, according to Simpson.