COCC scales back Redmond Tech Center plans

Central Oregon Community College has conducted a public open construction bid process for the new Technology Education Center to be built on its Redmond Campus.

Funding for the project comes from the successful passage of the 2009 voter-approved bond measure, in addition to matching capital funds from the state of Oregon.

The bid process resulted in construction bids submitted on Aug. 9 that “substantially exceeded the funds budgeted for the project,” COCC said Wednesday.

In fact, the lowest of six bids received, at $11.1 million (from Skanska Building USA) was 35 percent over the budgeted construction cost, officials said.

On Tuesday, the COCC Board voted to reject the current bids, directed staff to collaborate with the architect to revise the design of the facility to bring it within the budget, and subsequently rebid the project.

The rebidding process is anticipated to take place in early 2013 to ensure completed construction by summer of 2014 for the fall-term classes.

The college said it “will continue with the vision of a Technology Education Center, which will house the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence and Development , a new distinctive academic program in Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection, Digital Art and Media and Mechanical Systems.”

The center will also include flexible space to accommodate the changing educational and business needs of the Redmond and Central Oregon community.

“Though the budget constraints will require modifying the design, the facility is expected to remain a signature feature of Central Oregon, highlighting the technology focus of the region and supporting the entrepreneurial and economic development efforts of Central Oregon,” the college said. “All targeted programs for the facility will continue to be supported with the redesign.”

The updating of the design of the Technology Center will not impact a separate COCC Redmond construction project for an addition and remodel of Building 1 of the Redmond Campus that will provide much-needed science lab space and additional classroom space at the growing campus.

The anticipated completion date for this addition and remodel remains spring of 2013.