IU asking contractors for new Service Building plans

A new project will solve IU's problem of erecting buildings on sites with already existing buildings.\nThe IU Technical Review Committee will begin its process to build a new Service Building Friday. The new building has a $5 million budget and is expected to be operational in August 2006. \nCurrently, the Service Building, which is part of the IU Physical Plant, is located between the Psychology and Geology buildings. But the Multidisciplinary Science Building Phase II will be built on that location, prompting the need for a new building.\nThe new Service Building will be built on Range Road off 10th Street, north of Fountain Park Apartments. Construction is expected to begin in February. \nThe IU Technical Review Committee will hold a meeting with potential designers and builders for the new building at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Hoosier Room of Memorial Stadium.\nFriday's meeting is one of the first steps in the design-build process as outlined by Indiana Code 5-30, said Frank Young, director of interior space planning for the IU Architect's office.\nUnder a design-build contract, one corporation would be responsible for both the architectural design and construction of a building. \nProspective design-builders have until Nov. 9 to complete a "Request for Qualification" from the University Architect's office. Young said the office will take two weeks to review applications before asking three firms for designs and bids. \nAfter a 30-day period in which the firms will create their designs, Young said the Technical Review Committee will "review and score" each application.\nCurrently, 44 firms have taken RFQs. All firms are encouraged to attend Friday's meeting, according to a press release. Only two firms are from out of state.\nYoung expects to choose a firm by January.\n"The primary gain is time," Young said. "We're going to build a $5 million building in six months. Most buildings of that cost would take a minimum of a year to 18 months."\nTwo other University buildings have been constructed by using a design-build contract, including the John Mellencamp Pavilion, but Young said neither had to follow the new Indiana Code that was approved this year.