Law school complex pushes the deadline

Monday, May 13, 2002 | 9:10 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- UNLV officials are worried that the accreditation of the Boyd School of Law may be threatened if construction on its new $11.5 million home is not complete by June 9.

But the contractor, Martin Harris Construction Co., promises the project will be finished on time and its quality won't be compromised.

Tom Hagge, associate vice president for facilities at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said there are less than 30 days left to complete the job and to receive a conditional certificate of occupancy from the state fire marshal's office.

Classes must start by Aug. 19, and one condition of getting accreditation is to have the building complete.

"I fear the state fire marshal will not give us a certificate of occupancy," Hagge told the state Public Works Board. "This is not 31 days from substantial completion."

At the site all of the construction workers are "gone early in the afternoon," Hagge said, noting there should be a "maximum effort put forth to finish the work."

Gary Radil, project manager for Martin Harris, told the board the project would be substantially completed by the target date. He said the contractor and the subcontractors have worked every Saturday and that there has been talk of going to Sunday.

At the same time, he said, the contractor is "going to try to maintain the quality."

Radil said the subcontractors are committed to getting the job done. "Our reputation is on the line," he said.

Radil said an extra company was brought in to make sure all of the fire safety standards are met.

Martin Harris faces $2,500 a day in damages for every day the project is delayed. And the board was told that the fire marshal has agreed to speed up his inspection.