HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8795INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
ex �"A7Jt" To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
SUBJECT: FORT WORTH COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER
1471
NO. 8795
August 15, 2008
Page 1 of 2
The purpose of this Informal Report is to inform Council of expected cost increases associated
with the planned improvements to the heating/ventilation /air conditioning (HVAC) system to the
Fort Worth Community Arts Center ( FWCAC).
On May 30, 2006 (Informal Report 8776) Council was advised of staff's intention to move
forward with a project to comprehensively upgrade the Center's HVAC system at an estimated
cost of $1,300,000. The identified funding source for this project was the fund balance of the
General Fund. The $1,300,000 estimate was based on the cost estimate provided by the design
engineer plus a 20% contingency added by staff.
Throughout June and July 2006 staff has been working with the FWCAC staff, the design
engineer, and several HVAC contractors to develop a firm plan for project execution and a more
detailed cost estimate. Based on that effort, staff now expects a project cost of approximately
$2,300,000, inclusive of a 10% contingency. The difference between the original estimate and
the current estimate is explained primarily by two things:
1) The design engineer's estimate did not adequately account for the cost premium,
especially in labor costs, created by the complexity of the project. The complexity is
based, primarily, on 2 factors:
a. Much of the equipment and systems infrastructure to be replaced is extremely
difficult to access, making demolition of the existing equipment and installation
of the new equipment highly labor intensive.
b. The need to break the project into multiple phases to keep as much of the
building as possible in operation throughout the project.
2) Extreme price volatility in construction materials (e.g. copper and steel pipe) and
overall market forces in the construction industry.
Full consideration has been given to alternatives for reducing the project cost by scaling down
the scope of the project such that it would not be a comprehensive solution. Staff believes it
would be imprudent to move forward with something less than a comprehensive solution. Doing
so would increase the already high risk of failure in the parts of the system that would remain, as
well as create a risk of damage to the new parts of the system.
Staff intends to proceed toward execution of a comprehensive solution at an estimated cost of
$2,300,000 to be executed via a State of Texas cooperative contract with York International.
Use of this contract will provide the best possible schedule and will allow us to execute the
project through contractors we have a high level of confidence in. Work is expected to
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
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�x. SUBJECT: FORT WORTH COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER
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No. 8795
August 15, 2008
Page 1 of 2
commence in October 2006 and be completed in Spring 2007. The funding source will continue
to be the fund balance of the General Fund. Questions can be directed to Dalton Murayama,
Acting Facilities Manager at 392 -8088.
Charles R. Boswell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS