State, UNLV dispute cost of building

By Cy Ryan (contact)

Friday, June 21, 2002 | 11:30 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A "turf war" is developing between the state Public Works Board and UNLV over construction of a $75 million science and engineering building on the Las Vegas campus.

Board members said Thursday they were worried UNLV is embarking on a course to build a "Taj Mahal" that will cost $309 a square foot. The board, which oversees state construction projects, wants to limit the cost to $229 a square foot.

But Thomas M. Hagge, associate vice president for facilities, management and planning at UNLV, said there has been an "unfortunate misunderstanding" by board members. The consultant for UNLV, Hagge said, estimates the cost at $251 a square foot, which is in line with the national averages.

Hagge said UNLV understands that the public works board will be in charge of the construction and that the school is a "strong ally" of the state agency.

But board officials feel UNLV is trying to call the shots on the project -- which is the responsibility of the state.

Dan O'Brien, manager of the public works board, said UNLV "wants a showcase. But can we afford champagne on a beer budget?"

Deputy Director Gus Nunez told the board that UNLV has hired its own consultant who recommended a 171,000-square foot building at a construction cost of $52.7 million. Other costs that bring the bill to $75 million include design, site preparation, utilities and plan checking.

The Legislature authorized a 230,000-square foot building for the same cost, and the public works board has hired its own design consultants.

State Budget Director Perry Comeaux, a board member, said he will vote against any proposal by UNLV that includes a "lot of gingerbread" in the building plans. He complained about "Taj Mahal" projects.

"There has to be somebody looking out for the taxpayer and that is us," said Comeaux.

Board Chairman Sean Carnahan said, "There is going to be a train wreck. I hope the regents understand that."

Board member John Breternitz said, "I'm a little miffed" because there appears to be duplication in what the board and UNLV are doing in planning for the building. "This obviously is a turf war. I'm very unhappy and I want to get it resolved."

The board plans to set aside time at its next meeting in July to meet with UNLV officials.

"We're not going to sit back and take what is dished out by UNLV," O'Brien said. He made it clear the state agency is in charge of this project, not UNLV.

O'Brien said there were problems in the past when the board supervised projects at UNLV such as the Lied Library and the Architecture Building.

"But it's not business as usual," he said. "We have had a bad project but we are going to make sure it doesn't happen again."

The public works board has agreed to hire the Las Vegas firm of Dekker-Perich-Holmes-Sabatini and the New York firm of Einhorn Yaffee Prescott for $4.1 million to design the project.

"We know what needs to go into this building. We will come back with something more reasonable," Nunez told the board.

But Hagge said UNLV hired its consultant to accelerate the process while the state board found and signed a contract with its architects.

"We are not on a collision course," Hagge said. He added that the UNLV figures show the building will cost $46.9 million at $251 a square foot. He said that's comparable to the national cost for a high-caliber research building.

Hagge said there has never been a research building constructed in Nevada like this one, but he said the phrases "train wreck" and "Taj Mahal" were not applicable.

The 2001 Legislature authorized $8.8 million for the design and utility work at the site.

UNLV officials will ask the 2003 session to come up with the rest of the money. UNLV has pledged to raise $25 million to contribute to construction.