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Board tables $28.9M GMP for Innovation Campus Phase 3 after questions about rising electrical costs
Summary
District and contractor Block Construction presented a $28.88 million guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for Phase 3 of the Innovation Campus, driven largely by a higher-than-anticipated electrical-service upgrade; trustees voted to table the GMP to allow staff time to review bids and supporting documentation.
District project staff and Block Construction briefed trustees on the proposed Phase 3 scope for the Innovation Campus, which includes an early childhood building and a workforce development center with flexible meeting and cafe space. The contractor reported a buyout process with 38 subcontractor bid packages and 133 bids from about 201 invited firms, producing a GMP of roughly $28.88 million.
Key driver of the increase Staff and the contractor said the largest single driver of the cost increase from earlier estimates was the scope and site work required for a full electrical service upgrade for the campus's aging switchgear. The electrical package drew multiple competitive bids ranging from roughly $5.6M to $7.2M, and the completed design (100% CDs) revealed additional site trenching, conduit and high-end mechanical/electrical elements not fully captured in the earlier 50% estimate.
Board questions and action Trustees asked for additional documents and time to review the subcontractor buyout lists, the electrical scope detail and contingencies built into the GMP. One trustee said they wanted more time over the holiday break to review the underlying bids before voting to authorize the contract. By unanimous roll-call vote, the board moved to table the GMP approval to the next meeting and asked staff to return with more detailed backup, including cost comparisons and clarifications of allowances and contingencies.
Why it matters Phase 3 is the final major increment of the district's Innovation Campus program. Approving the GMP would allow demolition and construction to begin on a ~14-month schedule; tabling the action delays mobilization and could shift the completion schedule beyond the April 2027 target if additional time is needed for review.
Next steps Staff will provide the board with cost breakdowns, subcontractor qualification summaries and a clearer explanation of contingency use, electrical alternatives and any possible value-engineering options before the board reconvenes the item.
