Cowlitz County contractors report Hall of Justice HVAC and electrical work under budget; funding authorization sought

Millig Design Build told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners that competitive subcontractor bids left the Hall of Justice mechanical, controls and electrical upgrade within the county's $9 million budget, and staff will present a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for funding authorization in the coming week.

"I am so pleased to be here to say that we are under budget," Lauren Donnelly of Millig said during a presentation by county public services staff and Milig (sic). Donnelly outlined a preconstruction process that prioritized constructability, occupant safety and cost control and described the forthcoming contract as a fully open‑book guaranteed maximum price through the Washington Department of Enterprise Services (DES).

The project scope includes full HVAC system replacement and controls modernization, replacement of recalled Federal Pacific electrical panels, main distribution upgrades, asbestos abatement where found primarily in pipe insulation, refurbishment of the perimeter hydronic heating, rooftop equipment installation, and selective ceiling tile replacement. Millig said it will reuse roughly 98% of existing ductwork where feasible and integrate the old EOC/911 HVAC replacement into the buildingwide work.

Millig identif…