Photo provided
An artist’s rendition of the proposed NexusPark fieldhouse.
Plans for the fieldhouse at NexusPark are moving forward, with construction expected to cost about $27 million.
The Columbus Board of Works has approved an amendment to the city’s contract with Force Construction.
According to Director of Finance, Operations and Risk Jamie Brinegar, the city had previously approved an initial agreement with the company for the design build portion of the contract.
“What we bring to you today is the amendment that attaches the actual work that will be done as part of the contract and gives the dollar figure,” he told the board Tuesday.
The company’s base bid was $26.55 million, and the city has selected two alternates that bring the total price to $27,181,200.
The Local Income Tax bonds sold for this project will provide for about $25.7 million, said Brinegar. The city also plans to spend $1 million in American Rescue Plan funding on drainage work.
“Then we will use a combination of donations or reserve funds from the city to cover the full amount of the contract,” he added.
Demolition of the former Goody’s, the location for the fieldhouse, is scheduled for August. Brinegar said the city hopes to have steel in by February and noted that there is a nine- to 12-month delay in obtaining the material. According to City Director of Administration and Community Development Mary Ferdon, the project requires 110 semi-loads of steel.
Contractors expect it will take two to three works to get the steel framework up, with this work likely taking place in February or March of 2023, said Brinegar.
“Hopefully by the end of October, November next year, we’ll be able to occupy the building,” he said. “…We’re looking at scheduling events, hopefully, at the beginning of 2024.”
