by Jeff Fox
Parents who work or learn at WVU Parkersburg will soon see a welcome sight on the main campus. Construction will begin soon on the Child Development Center (CDC). Plans are being finalized to build the $2.1 million dollar facility. But there are a few more wrinkles to be ironed out.
“We hope to begin work early next month and have the building under roof by spring,” Dave White WVU Parkersburg Facilities and Grounds director said. The completion of the project is estimated for Sept. 2012. But that will not only depend on the severity of the upcoming winter but also the ability for involved parties to address some cost issues.
As with the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) project, Pittsburgh PA based TEDCO Construction Management, submitted the winning apparent low bid for construction of the CDC. But unlike the ATC, for which the winning bid was lower than predicted estimates, the bid for the CDC was somewhat higher than expected. “The bid came in high, about a half million dollars more than we expected,” White said.
The over budget bid prompted the main parties involved to convene and review the cost of the project, plus look for any areas of potential savings. Meeting to discuss the costs were the architectural and engineering firm, Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff Goettel (PWWG), TEDCO Construction Management and the consulting firms used in the design process.
At play are several sets of cost figures provided by the various parties. The architects provide a cost estimate from their estimator,
Parents who work or learn at WVU Parkersburg will soon see a welcome sight on the main campus. Construction will begin soon on the Child Development Center (CDC). Plans are being finalized to build the $2.1 million dollar facility. But there are a few more wrinkles to be ironed out.
“We hope to begin work early next month and have the building under roof by spring,” Dave White WVU Parkersburg Facilities and Grounds director said. The completion of the project is estimated for Sept. 2012. But that will not only depend on the severity of the upcoming winter but also the ability for involved parties to address some cost issues.
As with the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) project, Pittsburgh PA based TEDCO Construction Management, submitted the winning apparent low bid for construction of the CDC. But unlike the ATC, for which the winning bid was lower than predicted estimates, the bid for the CDC was somewhat higher than expected. “The bid came in high, about a half million dollars more than we expected,” White said.
The over budget bid prompted the main parties involved to convene and review the cost of the project, plus look for any areas of potential savings. Meeting to discuss the costs were the architectural and engineering firm, Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff Goettel (PWWG), TEDCO Construction Management and the consulting firms used in the design process.
At play are several sets of cost figures provided by the various parties. The architects provide a cost estimate from their estimator,
and then the construction general contractor, based upon input from subcontractors, submits their estimate during the bidding process. These subcontractors provide focused bids for each individual craft involved in the construction of the facility. The individual crafts include electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, carpentry and all the other necessary skills to complete construction. “What did the contractors see, or not see, that didn’t match up with what the estimator estimated the job at,” White said.
TEDCO will speak with the individual subcontractors, as well as the construction material providers for the project, to find areas where the savings can be found. “Very well qualified … highly recommended by the architectural firm … it’s not questionable, their reputation,” White said when referring to TEDCO. Some potential savings might possibly be found in the logistics of being on site to provide management for two ongoing projects. When the original bids were turned in, TEDCO had no idea that they would be mobilizing to manage two jobs at the same location.
Even though the ATC project is already finalized, White doesn’t see any major problems from the delay of the CDC project. “Just because we may be delayed a couple weeks or a month on beginning the CDC, I still think that they (CDC and ATC) can potentially reach completion about the same time,” White said. White remains hopeful that both buildings will be finishing up Aug. 2012, in time for the return of students both very young and old.
TEDCO will speak with the individual subcontractors, as well as the construction material providers for the project, to find areas where the savings can be found. “Very well qualified … highly recommended by the architectural firm … it’s not questionable, their reputation,” White said when referring to TEDCO. Some potential savings might possibly be found in the logistics of being on site to provide management for two ongoing projects. When the original bids were turned in, TEDCO had no idea that they would be mobilizing to manage two jobs at the same location.
Even though the ATC project is already finalized, White doesn’t see any major problems from the delay of the CDC project. “Just because we may be delayed a couple weeks or a month on beginning the CDC, I still think that they (CDC and ATC) can potentially reach completion about the same time,” White said. White remains hopeful that both buildings will be finishing up Aug. 2012, in time for the return of students both very young and old.