Officials hold breath over dental school

Friday, July 19, 2002 | 9:37 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Before construction has even started, members of the state Public Works Board have begun worrying whether the proposed University of Nevada, Las Vegas dental school can be completed within the $6.3 million budget.

Board member Irene Porter of Las Vegas asked Thursday if UNLV would be seeking more money from the board, which oversees the state's capital projects.

Board member John Breternitz suggested that on such a complex project with a tight budget the board should start talking now to UNLV officials about what improvements could be set aside if the project starts to run over budget.

The board will begin hearing presentations in August from state agencies and the university on their requests for a total of $697 million in construction funds for the coming two years.

The board will make its recommendations on the building program by Oct. 30 to Gov. Kenny Guinn.

The dental school discussion came at a meeting in which the board approved the design of the building by Carpenter Sellers Associates.

Representatives of Carpenter Sellers told the board their initial look at the project led them to believe the construction budget was unrealistic. But they said they have tried to fine-tune the project to meet the $6.3 million budget.

UNLV purchased three buildings on Charleston Boulevard from Employers Insurance Co. of Nevada for $13.5 million to be used for the dental school rather than building new facilities.

Plans call for two buildings to be remodeled, with a move-in date of Sept. 1, 2003, for the classroom building. There will be 185 dental chairs.

Fred Lee, project manager for the board, said $630,000 has been set aside as a contingency fund for the work. He said the school is looking at $5 million in the future for expansion.

UNLV has $2 million for dental equipment and $1.7 million for furniture for the school.

The second building, which was the former Jean Hanna Rehabilitation Center, will be set aside for a biological science program that has no relationship to the dental school. UNLV is creating a master plan on how that building will be used.

Dan O'Brien, manager of the Public Works Board, said there is no additional money available if there is a cost overrun at the dental school.

Porter expressed concern that mold could develop in a swimming pool in the Jean Hanna building, but board officials said UNLV is monitoring the situation.

In other action, O'Brien told the board that remodeling of the old library at UNLV to become a law school was near completion. He said the work would be finished in time for the school to meet its accreditation deadline.

Thomas M. Hagge, associate vice president for facilities, management and planning at UNLV, said the university is satisfied that it will be in the building by Aug. 19. It is now moving books and furniture into the center.

Hagge noted, however, that the work was supposed to be done by June 9 on the building and by July 15 on the curtain wall between the buildings. The work on the building won't be completed until today.