Commission authorizes $950,000 increase to Jean Friend Recreation Center CMGC contract amid unanticipated soil work

The Recreation and Park Commission approved an amendment to the construction manager/general contractor (CMGC) agreement for the Jean Friend Recreation Center project, increasing the authorized contract amount to $39,949,208 — an increase of $950,000 from prior authorization, staff said.

Melinda Stockman Sullivan, deputy director, Capital and Planning Division, described the Jean Friend (also referenced as Soma Rec at Folsom and Sixth) project as a large capital overhaul: a new building roughly 1.5 times larger than the existing facility, a double-court gymnasium, two multipurpose rooms, a larger exercise room, a new playground and resilience and accessibility upgrades. The project team earlier selected Swinerton Builders for CMGC services.

Stockman Sullivan told commissioners the principal driver for the requested authority increase was unexpectedly poor subsurface conditions at the Folsom and Sixth Street corner, which require deep soil mixing to stabilize soils for seismic and settlement performance. Additional costs arose from encountering unanticipated obstructions that required specialized rigs and coring work. The amendment also covers an elevated partition solution for the gymnasium (a motorized acoustic partition), an openable wall on a multipurpose room at the community’s request, and resilience measures including mobile-generator accommodations.

The staff presentation said the project remains fully funded through construction; the amendment does not request additional project funding but authorizes exceeding the commission’s prior spending authority. Project photos shown to the commission illustrated the completed foundation pour and below-grade waterproofing. The commission approved the authority increase by voice vote with no recorded opposition.