JLCB approves higher-education deferred maintenance project additions and change orders for campus renovations
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Summary
The committee approved adding a higher-education deferred-maintenance project for steam-chiller replacement at Louisiana Tech, and accepted two campus renovation change orders — McNeese State Fine Arts and ULM Health Sciences — funded from existing project budgets.
The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approved several facility planning items affecting higher-education institutions, including a new deferred-maintenance project at Louisiana Tech and two change orders for campus renovations that will be funded from existing project budgets.
Roger Hosser of the Division of Administration and newly appointed facility planning director Matt Baker asked the committee to add a single project to the approved list for use of the Higher Education Deferred Maintenance Fund: replacement of steam absorption chillers at Louisiana Tech. The committee approved the addition without questions.
The committee also approved two change orders:
- McNeese State University: a change order for the Shearman Fine Arts Building renovation totaling $800,604 to add insulated glass windows, elevator upgrades, stair fire‑rating, water intrusion repairs, wiring upgrades, asbestos abatement and other items. Hosser said original bids came in nearly $3 million under budget, allowing the work to be added without using contingency funds.
- University of Louisiana at Monroe: a change order for the Health Sciences Complex renovation (Sugar and Caldwell Hall) of about $797,000 to accommodate a different type of dental chair for the dental-hygiene clinic. The newer chairs require mechanical, electrical and plumbing services routed from the bottom, coring of concrete floors at each chair and additional air-compressor work.
Hosser told the committee both projects came in under budget at bid time, allowing the additional scope to be reinserted into the construction envelope without tapping contingency dollars. “It replaces the windows with insulated glass, upgrades the elevator, fire rates the existing stairs, addresses water intrusion… and there's some asbestos abatement and other unforeseen issues,” he said of the McNeese change order.
The committee additionally approved combining projects for smaller local infrastructure work: Livonia’s water well and waterline improvements projects were combined to streamline delivery; Iberia Parish Airport Authority’s Hangar No. 88 and parking-lot project were combined with the Acadiana Regional Airport Improvements project to improve efficiency.
The committee also received a report of change orders between $50,000 and $250,000 for review; those items required no action.
Ending: The construction approvals were accepted with motions to approve as submitted. Committee members praised under-budget bidding results and approved the changes and project consolidations to improve delivery and maintain safety and functionality on campuses.
