MSU board awards $14M contract to DeWitt & Associates

During its afternoon meeting yesterday, the Missouri State University Board of Governors awarded a multimillion-dollar construction contract to Springfield-based DeWitt & Associates Inc.

The general contractor submitted a low bid of $14.1 million to construct a new occupational therapy building at Cherry Street and Holland Avenue, according to the board agenda.

The facility, which carries a total project budget of $19.5 million, would include a lobby, multidisciplinary health clinic, skills laboratories, offices, classrooms and group study spaces for MSU's occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, nursing and nurse anesthesia students.

The 55,000-square-foot project would be funded largely through bonds anticipated to close in September, said MSU Chief Financial Officer Steve Foucart.

Yesterday, the board approved a document of intent to issue up to $53 million in bonds as future projects come down the pike, Foucart said. He noted the resolution only stated the school's intent to issue bonds and did not actually issue them. Bonds for separate projects would go before the board of governors at later dates.

First up, Foucart said university officials hope to have a proposal to issue bonds to fund the occupational therapy building by the end of July. However, he said it would likely be in September when the Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority approves the bond sale.

The proposal of intent also lists future projects including the University Student Admissions and Success Center - the official name for a planned welcome center; acquisition and improvements to Building 4 of Brick City downtown; renovations and improvements to Ellis, Pummill and Glass halls; and renovations of the downtown Jim D. Morris Center.

The MSU Board of Governors yesterday awarded the Morris Center renovation contract to Mechanical Services Inc.

The Springfield contractor submitted the lowest bid of $819,000 to renovate the fifth floor of the center to accommodate growth for the building's English and foreign language institutes.

Bonds for the $1.2 million project are expected in September, according to the agenda.[[In-content Ad]]