Team Reins in Convention Hall Costs

CAPE MAY – The Convention Hall Project Team with direction from Steve Markley, construction manager with Hunter Roberts, has been able to trim $1.2 million of projected costs for a new facility bringing the projected total budget down to $10,460,963.
On Sept. 8, Markley told the team it needed to cut out $1 million to stay within the $10.5 million budget approved by voters. At a Wed., Sept 15 meeting, the team looked at 27 items as part of cost reductions.
Contingency costs were cut from 10 percent to 5 percent saving $426,248. Solar panels will be installed free of charge with a Power Purchase Agreement. The cost of demolition including the neighboring Solarium is estimated at $150,000, new pilings under the facility at $698,500, and construction of the building at $7.5 million.
While the team discussed not including seats for the auditorium in the budget at its previous meeting, chairs were returned to the plans along with a telescoping riser for seats and as an interior barrier fence for roller skating.
“We’re still adhering to the requirement Council made that when we turn the key the first day, it’s a fully operational hall,” said Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr.
A “wave ceiling” in the lobby was eliminated saving $66,640. Utility work for water, sewer and phones will be financed under a separate contract and funded from another source, eliminating a line item in the Convention Hall budget of $150,000, said Markley.
One partition instead of two will be installed in the main hall to divide the hall for two simultaneous events for a savings of $67,200. The building will have one flagpole rather than multiple poles, saving $10,000.
Markley said $50,000 could be saved by using picket rail handrails instead of stainless steel cable rail.
On the topic of geothermal heating and cooling for the new Convention Hall, Markley said it remained in the project. Architect Martin Kimmel of Kimmel Bogrette, architectural firm for the project, said a hybrid system would be likely used which would combine conventional heating and cooling for the main hall and geothermal for the remainder of the building.
Markley said he has not ruled geothermal for the entire building if proves cost effective following a detailed analysis. He said a lot of wells for geothermal in a small area does not work well.
Kimmel said a test well would be bored to learn how much energy can be absorbed under the beach.
Markley said as much as $17,000 could be saved if some of the pilings under the decking around the current Convention Hall could be kept in place and reused.
A total of $75,000 would be saved by flattening the façade of the new facility. Markley said in previous sketches, columns in front of the building were free standing, raised from the outside of the building. The design change would incorporate the columns within the face of the building, he said. The change also reduced glass area.
Kimmel voluntarily reduced his fees by $25,000.
Deputy Mayor Jack Wichterman and team member Al Beale expressed concerns the estimates were very close to the $10.5 million budget. Markley said he was comfortable in building a 20,000 square foot building.
“We’ll get it under budget, it will be fine,” he said.
Mahaney said the next step was for the team’s recommendation to come before City Council for approval.
The team voted to recommend to City Council a separate contract be made for demolition of the old facility which could have the hall and Solarium demolished by mid December of this year. Bid documents for demolition could be available as early as Oct. 1.
The team approved a design for the new building known as 6B and to recommend City Council consider a separate contract for pile installation should it be beneficial to completion of construction for no more than $10.5 million.
Markey said he was trying to decrease the number of piles from the earlier, larger design.
MacLeod said items that need continuing work are receiving a CAFRA permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection, any available grants, a business plan, green energy issues, and working with the State Comptroller’s Office and the State Historic Preservation Office. He said if the project suffers a setback, the Convention Hall Project Team could be reassembled.
Team member Dennis Crowley said City Council should reach out to the city’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to look at plans for the new facility although the HPC has no direct authority over the project.
Wichterman described a meeting with DEP on Tues. Sept. 14 as a “very favorable discussion.” MacLeod said the CAFRA permit issued for the earlier, larger design needed a minor modification.
Wichterman said MacLeod had been in touch with the State Historic Preservation Office. Temple University will present its business plan for a new facility to City Council on Oct. 1, said the mayor.
MacLeod said the project now enters the period to finalize design development and construction documents until Jan. 15. 2011.