NCTA Buildings Should Cost Less than Estimates

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Cost estimates for two Skagit County skills center buildings have dropped by $1.5 million since estimates were made late last year.

Costs have dropped partly because the ailing economy favors construction projects, the board of the Northwest Career and Technical Academy learned Wednesday afternoon.

Last fall, the Mount Vernon and Anacortes campuses were projected to cost $10.8 million and $6.3 million respectively. But Wednesday, the cost had dropped to $10 million and $5.6 million. With soft costs, contingency funds and equipment purchases, the Mount Vernon campus building is projected to cost $15.8 million, while the Anacortes campus for the marine technology center could cost as much as $9.1 million.

The academy is slated to open by fall of 2010, and will accept students from all of Skagit County’s high schools for career and technical education classes such as marine technology, finance and culinary arts. Campuses will be located in Mount Vernon and Anacortes.

The board, consisting of six Skagit County superintendents and the president of Skagit Valley College, voted to put the Mount Vernon campus of the skills center out for bid.

The building could cost as much as $15.8 million to build, including soft costs and contingencies, said project manager Bryan Young. “We’re in a very competitive market,” Young told the board.

Young mentioned that other projects in the state are coming in under budget because a lot of construction firms are bidding on the few available projects. He said a project for the new Kenmore City Hall was estimated at $13 million, but when 14 construction firms applied for the project, the winning bid came in at $8 million.

Construction has been curtailed across the country in the wake of the credit crisis. Mark Venn, superintendent of the Sedro-Woolley School District, said he heard there were 21 bids for a roundabout in Sedro-Woolley. “All were below estimated cost,” he said of the bids. “This is a good climate for that kind of thing.”

Board members also approved a land lease between the academy and Skagit Valley College. The lease will cost $1 per year for the next 50 years, with an option for two renewals of 10 years each.

Architects also showed revised plans for the marine building of the skills center, which will be located in Anacortes on Port of Anacortes property. If the permitting and design phases proceed as planned, the project could go out for bid in June.

Donneta Spath, executive director of the academy, also said she is in talks with school districts in Whatcom and Island counties to discuss their participation in academy programs.

Kate Martin, Skagit Valley Herald

 

 

« Back to Media News Releases