January 24, 2008 issue
Estimated High School Construction Cost: $47.2 Million
Story by Kathleen McFadden
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education held a special meeting Tuesday, January 22, to hear the pre-bid estimate for the third guaranteed maximum price on the new Watauga High School project. Marty Moser, director of preconstruction services for Barnhill-Vannoy, the construction manager at risk, delivered the report.
Based on architectural drawings that are 90 percent complete, the estimated construction cost is $47,189,697. That price includes the main high school building and all built-ins, sports fields and bleachers and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified features being built into the high school, including the geothermal heating system, as well as exterior lighting, signage, lockers, stage rigging, food service equipment, auditorium seating and paving.
“I want to emphasize that this is an estimate, not a guaranteed price,” Moser told the board members.
Moser asked both boards for approval to move forward with the public bid phase of the project. Once the bids are received, reviewed and accepted, Moser will report back to both boards with the guaranteed maximum price for this third phase of the project.
The Board of Education unanimously voted to recommend approval to the Board of Commissioners, and the commissioners unanimously approved moving forward to public bid.
Moser said that his firm is currently prequalifying trade contractors, and bid documents will go out the week of February 12. The bid period will continue for one month, closing on March 12.
On March 12 to 14, bids will be opened publicly in the commissioners’ boardroom, the low bidders will be interviewed to ensure their bids include the full scope of work, and then Moser will present the final price to the two boards on or before March 18.
Costs to Date
The total land cost for the high school property was $7,567,336.
The guaranteed maximum price for the site preparation—the first GMP presented and approved in September 2007—was $7,153,103.
The guaranteed maximum price for the steel and foundation package—the second GMP presented and approved in December 2007—was $4,531,559.
Adding the estimated pre-bid price of $47,189,697 brings the total estimated project cost to $66,441,695.
Board Comments
After Moser’s presentation, Watauga County Board of Commissioners Chair Jim Deal told Moser, “We want the bids to come in a little below this—a lot below this.”
Watauga County Board of Education Chair Lowell Younce said, “We still have a long way to go on this project, so I don’t want to be too complimentary, but I will be. Thank you for being so receptive. You have worked well with us so far.”
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