The coronavirus pandemic has bumped up the costs for a new science and technology center at Iola High School, which in turn means architects have had to bump down a few of their plans.
The changes, though, were minor and do not affect the integrity of the building.
The USD 257 school board on Monday approved a maximum cost of $6,279,196 for the construction. When added to expenses already charged, such as for demolition and dirt work, the total cost of the project will be right at $7,288,693.
Project leaders initially hoped bids would be more favorable, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought numerous challenges that increased costs. Among the major factors was higher costs for delivery, masonry and metal. Bidders were wary to commit to new projects, as they were unsure about the potential impact of the pandemic.
The virus already has slightly delayed the project, as officials couldn’t meet in person and had to take more time to schedule virtual meetings.
“It certainly had an impact. It’s hard to put a dollar on it,” Terry Wiggers, executive vice president with SJCF, said. “We thought we might see reduced costs in the mechanical work, but most of the mechanical companies had higher levels of orders during COVID for temporary hospital work.”
Coonrod & Associates, the general manager for the project, and SJCF Architects in Wichita worked with bidders to scale down costs. They shaved off savings, for example, by asking for mid-grade instead of top-quality light fixtures; vinyl flooring instead of porcelain; using standard colors instead of custom; and fewer wood panels in the ceiling over the cafeteria.
The changes will mean slightly reducing the height of the building, less of a metal overhang outside the cafeteria, removing an extra hallway intended for the possibility of future construction, and pushing a vestibule inside a hallway instead of on the outside of the building.
Dan Willis, USD 257 board president, described the changes as “value engineering” and asked if anything would affect the long-term viability of the building.
“Are you still building us a 100-year building?” Willis asked.
“Yes. We did not reduce any of the core construction,” Wiggers said.
“We have done all this without reducing the square footage. That was our No. 1 objective.”
Construction should begin soon and will take about a year, with an estimated opening in the fall of 2021.
THE PANDEMIC could create problems during the construction process, as well, Wiggers warned.
It’s difficult to predict what might happen because of the pandemic, as governments and companies restrict activities because of outbreaks.
