By Jeff Murphy,
May 26, 2016
WARRENSBURG, MO – In a meeting that included updates, discussion and action regarding
campus improvement projects, the University of Central Missouri’s Board of Governors
authorized spending up to $2.95 million, including a 15 percent contingency, on a
renovation and environmental project in the Humphreys Building.
Action approved by the board enables the university to take advantage of the summer
schedule to renovate office suites used by two academic departments in Humphreys,
and conduct lead and asbestos remediation throughout the four-story building. The
Humphreys Building was built in two different sections in 1915 and 1916 that were
joined years later, and some asbestos-containing -materials (ACM) were used during
the original construction process. Additionally, an area in the building’s basement
was a former indoor shooting range, which was closed in 2011.
In recent weeks, there has been a parallel process that has included preparations
to remodel some offices used by Safety Sciences and Criminal Justice faculty and staff,
as well as environmental testing of the former shooting range and other areas throughout
the building. Certified professionals have conducted air monitoring samples, bulk
samples, and wipe samples in the building, and additional ongoing efforts are being
made to collect and analyze these samples throughout the building to ensure safe levels
are confirmed.
The university will procure goods and services utilizing existing university on-call
contracts or convenience contracts to address sampling and testing, lead-safe containment
decontamination, cleaning of ductwork, asbestos removal, moving and relocation of
building furnishings, and other procurement as needed. Efforts have been taken to
minimize disruption to university services while work is underway over the next several
weeks.
Other necessary procurements will include replacement of ceiling tiles, carpet and
cove base, cleaning of ROTC uniforms and other miscellaneous fabric items, as well
as items such as office chairs. These goods and services will be procured under the
university’s standard operating procedures.
Firms working with the university on this project and the type of work to be provided
are: Asbestos Consulting and Testing, which is testing and sampling and air monitoring;
ServPro/Titan Environmental Services, providing lead-safe containment decontamination
and HVAC cleaning; B&R Insulation, asbestos removal; Graebel Moving Company, moving/relocation
services; and Staples Advantage, replacement of fabric chairs. Other vendors have
not yet been determined.
While work is underway this summer, special cautions will be taken to ensure that
asbestos fibers and lead dust will not be released outside the area of renovation
into other areas of the building. As an added safety measure, during the week of May
23-28, the university began temporarily relocating faculty and staff members who occupy
Humphreys to other campus buildings.
UCM plans to have all work in the Humphreys Building completed by Aug. 1m 2016. University
reserve funds will be used to fund this project.
In other business, the board approved a $9,375,001 amendment to its Guaranteed Maximum
Price (GMP) Contract with McCown Gordon Construction for certain renovations of the
W.C. Morris Science Building, which will be completed by summer 2017. This is in addition
to an amendment totaling $634,203 that was approved by the board in April 2016. Amendments
I and II reflect a total GMP for the building of $10,009,204, and will cover a base
bid and proposed alternates, which will be paid for through a combination of state
funding for capital improvements, as well as institutional and department reserves.
In June 2015, Missouri legislators approved capital appropriations funding for the
state’s higher education institutions made possible through the Building Affordability
Initiative. As a result, UCM will receive $12.2 million in funding for renovations
to the W.C. Morris Science Building. The funds will be used to improve classrooms,
laboratories and offices. The university also will utilize departmental funds and
institutional reserves totaling $469,473 to complete additional laboratory renovations
and upgrades for restrooms.
Amendment I allows orders to be placed for laboratory case work and equipment with
long lead times, thereby minimizing the risk of project delays. In addition to work
included in the base bid, Amendment II covers
alternates to the project that include renovations to animal science Lab 112 and Lab
Prep 112A; renovation of level three classrooms/offices to include enlarged classroom
317/318, remodeled office suite 319, and remodeled classroom 322; updated HVAC in
Lab 414; and lab casework in rooms 110 and 230. All of these alternates will be funded
with proceeds from state-issued bonds made available through Missouri’s Building Affordability
Initiative. Men’s and women’s restroom improvements on levels one, two and four, will
be funded with university reserves, and renovation to the Parasitology Lab 316 will
be funded from department reserves.
If savings are obtained through value engineering, or project contingency funds remain
available, additional alternates may be accomplished based on pre-established priority.
In discussion about residence hall improvements, the board approved a motion to establish
a $150,000 contingency for the Fitzgerald Hall window replacement and brick repair
project. From this contingency, the university will issue a $58,625 change order to
increase by 3,500 square feet the area of veneer brick repairs. Action follows the
board’s decision in February 2016 to award a $1,029,400 contract to Reasbeck Construction,
Inc. to complete this residence hall improvement project.
A project contingency totaling $75,000 also was approved for the west side parking
project. The board will issue a change order in the amount of $1,650 to address cisterns
which have been uncovered during excavation. The west side parking project will provide
additional student spaces west of The Crossing-South at Holden. In February, the board
awarded a $1,494,011 bid to Westport Construction Company, Sedalia, to complete this
work.
