The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees today (Friday) awarded Sampson Construction the contract as "construction manager at risk" (CMAR) for the War Memorial Stadium enhancement and prestige seating project.
Sampson Construction of Cheyenne and Lincoln, Neb., could begin the project to construct the east side suites and stadium renovations as early as next month.
Sampson Construction's proposal was lower than that from the company offering the fastest completion, but was 15 percent higher than the lowest proposal, which involved the longest completion time.
"The submittal by Sampson Construction indicated greater experience with this type of project, and the personnel to be assigned were more experienced," says Phill Harris, UW Vice President for Administration. "The proposal also was more fully developed and indicated a better construction process and time line than the other submissions."
Sampson Construction's proposal included a basic feel of $45,120 for preconstruction services, $1,485,120 for construction services and 584 calendar days for construction completion.
The hiring of the company is the first step in a plan to spend about $35 million on War Memorial Stadium and its adjacent parking lot during the next few years.
The prestige seating includes 10 suites, president's and athletics director's suites with 30 seats each, an interior club lounge and enclosed club seating for 260.
The remaining portion of the estimated $26.4 million east stadium project includes more than $5 million for shoring up the safety in the upper concourse, and enhancing concessions and restroom areas. Another $1.2 million is targeted for an entryway/lobby enhancement and more than $3 million for handicapped access.
Two-thirds of the project's cost will come from public tax monies or athletic revenues and one-third from private donations. UW hopes to complete the east stadium project in time for the 2010 season.
Harris says UW started a set of planning processes more than five years ago, which included academics, support services and capital facilities. When those were in progress, the UW Board of Trustees agreed that a strategic plan for athletics also was needed.
That plan included substantial modifications to War Memorial Stadium, paving the stadium parking lot and constructing an indoor tennis facility.
"Recognizing that the state should not pay for all the modifications, a matching funds program was developed, adopted and funded in 2004," Harris says. "The legislation included specific references to stadium improvements."
The UW Athletics Department and the UW Foundation worked to secure donor pledges for the $16 million athletics facilities plan, which was successfully concluded last year.
