The construction process for the new recreation center is moving along after approval from the University of Louisiana System’s Board of Supervisors at the end of October.
With the approval, the University must work together with a legal council and the Board of Supervisors’ staff to oversee the progress of the recreation center construction. The council and board work to make sure all rules and regulations set forth by the state and the Louisiana system are being adhered to and work with all aspects of the construction procedures.
The land across from the new privatized housing facility that is the expected site of the new recreation center has not been purchased yet and will not be available for purchase until October of next year due to legal issues not involving Nicholls, according to Michael Davis, assistant vice president for business affairs.
The state has committed $2.5 million to the University to purchase the land.
“The people who presently own that property are very receptive in selling to us what we’re looking for,” Davis said. “We have no reason to believe that we will not be able to purchase that land come October.”
Davis said he is still working on the request for proposals for the bond council, the investment banker and the architect.
“It will probably be a few more weeks before we’ll have them in finished form to get them out and get people on board,” Davis said. “We’re not behind on the time table that we’re working on.”
The request for proposals handles different factors for obtaining a working construction team. When dealing with architects, a request for proposal allows the University to evaluate the cost of the project as well as the experience the architect can bring to the job. With this information the University can review applicants and decide which is most suitable for the project.
“We don’t want to be in a situation where we’re dealing with people that have never done something like this before,” Davis said. “In a complicated situation like this, you want an experienced bond council, an experienced investment banker and obviously you would hate to reward an architect that has never built a building like this before.”