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Academic Centers for Athletes Draw Donors
More than a dozen university athletics programs have added lavish new facilities in recent years, and academic-services budgets are soaring, a Chronicle survey finds. (Photograph courtesy of Texas A&M U.)
College Employees Value Campus Environment, Survey Finds
When a Chronicle survey asked college employees what they value about their jobs, they put the physical environment in which they work at the top of the list.
Rise in Tornadoes, Floods Poses Risk to Colleges
What if the sort of extreme weather that has left the University of Iowa inundated in floodwaters is not a freak event? What if it is a sign of things to come? (Photograph by AP Images)
Other News
Corn on the Quad at Lafayette College
Colleges Get Greener, but Not in Teaching
U. of Toledo Decides United Way Building Is Unsuitable for Its Use
New campus buildings
Multimedia
A Green Building as a Billboard for Science
(A 2006 Chronicle video)
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About Buildings & Grounds
Buildings & Grounds is written by Scott Carlson (left) and Lawrence Biemiller (right). Scott Carlson writes about architecture, facilties, energy, and sustainability, among other topics. Lawrence Biemiller writes about architecture and facilities and contributes to Notes from Academe. What's happening on your campus? Let us know.
University Building Contracts Questioned in Rhode Island
State officials in Rhode Island, who are raising questions about how builders are hired for state projects, are now focusing on the University of Rhode Island. According to The Providence Journal, a state senate committee is looking closely at an unfinished $45-million biotechnology and life science center as “an example of why the state’s alternative bidding practices may be expensive and unfair.”
Sealed bids are the preferred method of awarding construction contracts, but Rhode Island allows exceptions in some cases.
“With the state’s approval, URI officials relied on an alternative method for the biotechnology center, saying the complexity of the high-tech facility meant that exact costs and designs could not be determined at the outset,” the newspaper says. “That delivery method, known as a ‘construction manager at risk’ contract, allows the manager –– in this case Gilbane Building Co. –– to continue negotiating on plans and budget with the customer and the architect as construction moves forward, provided that it doesn’t exceed a guaranteed maximum price.” Those arrangements can offer more flexibility for the builders, the Journal says.
Robert A. Weygand, the university’s vice president for administration, said he was ambushed at the hearing and complained that the university was being treated unfairly. —Scott Carlson
Scott Carlson | Wednesday April 9, 2008 | Permalink | Contact usComments
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In my experience, if there are questionable multi-million dollar construction contracts,start looking to see if there is a large donor in the company in question.The other likely suspects,the board members.Biotech buildings are difficult,but you can always allow for change orders,This method of construction is expensive,although flexible.The university VP saying he was “ambushed” means to me he is not as involved as he needs to be or he could speak to the facts.
— Brent Apr 10, 10:19 AM #