USF terminates design-build contract for its new football stadium

[TallyBull]

I can't open this article because I'm not subscribed, but maybe someone else can. 

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2023/12/01/usf-stadium-contract-terminated.html

[flsportsfan83]

hmmm

[00Bull]

Rut roh

 

Edited December 1, 2023 by 00Bull

[The Sheriff]

The design-build agreement for the new University of South Florida football stadium has been terminated.

USF, which entered into the agreement in March, plans to replace Michigan-based Barton Malow and hire a different construction management firm, according to a document signed by USF’s procurement office on Nov. 28. The news, first reported by a Twitter fan account, was confirmed by the university to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

 

“USF thanks the Barton Malow team for their significant contributions to date, and the university looks forward to opportunities to work with them again in the future,” the spokesperson said. “The on-campus stadium project continues to move forward, and nothing has changed regarding the cost or the university’s commitment to the project. We look forward to sharing more details with the USF community next week.”

 

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Director of Athletics Michael Kelly and USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman are scheduled to provide a stadium update to the USF Board of Trustees on Dec. 5. Part of the discussion will revolve around the implementation of a new construction management model.

“The new model will give the university more direct access to all design elements and gives the university more control over cost efficiencies to receive the best value within the project’s budget,” the spokesperson said.

USF planned to build the on-campus stadium in time for the 2026 season, with construction scheduled to start in 2024. That plan hasn’t changed, according to the spokesperson.

Kansas City-based Populous was the designer in the original contract but will retain its work with USF, according to the single source certification approval document. The company has already completed a “significant” amount of design work.

“It is in the university’s best interest to maintain the Populous relationship for timing, continuous work product and knowledge purposes,” Populous wrote.

A clause in the design-build agreement gave USF the ability to terminate the deal without penalty before a final price was decided. The design-builder was required to prepare a guaranteed maximum price proposal after 75% of the construction documents were complete, with a notice to proceed to construction due by June 30, 2024.

 

“Either prior to or subsequent to execution of the [guaranteed maximum price] amendment, the owner may, at any time, terminate the agreement for the owner’s convenience and without cause upon 10 days’ written notice,” the agreement said.

USF agreed in March to spend up to $22 million on the design phase. It will need to pay Barton Malow and Populous for their services performed prior to the termination, per the terms of the agreement.

The university and the Florida Board of Governors have already approved a $200 million loan deal with Truist Bank to help fund the approximately $340 million stadium. The facility, which will also host women’s lacrosse, is expected to have a capacity of about 35,000.

Barton Malow didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tampa companies DuCon Construction and RR Simmons were also involved in the design-build agreement. Barr & Barr was USF’s representative.

Also on Dec. 5, USF trustees will vote on a $30 million sale of eight broadband service licenses to T-Mobile to help fund the football stadium. That’s $5 million higher than original estimates and slightly lower than what USF would receive in estimated annual lease payments across the next 30 years. The sale would be part of the $140 million portion of the stadium costs not covered by the $200 million loan.

Renderings of the new stadium from the design phase haven’t been shared yet.

 

[belgianbull]

[Bull Matrix]

Interesting. Seems that USF is not messing around when it comes to getting the OCS done on their terms..

[TallyBull]

Thanks @The Sheriff. So bottom line, nothing changes as far as a 2026 opening date. 

[belgianbull]

3 minutes ago, Bull Matrix said:

Interesting. Seems that USF is not messing around when it comes to getting the OCS done on their terms..

So the OCS is still on schedule?

Nevermind . Should have read the article closer

Edited December 1, 2023 by belgianbull

[TallyBull]

Just now, belgianbull said:

the question is: Is the OCS still on schedule?

Yes, it appears so. Looks like the purpose of these changes is to give USF more control of what is built, and at what cost. But it's still on schedule - construction starts in 2024 and ends in 2026 in time for the 2026-27 season.

[Bull Matrix]

4 minutes ago, TallyBull said:

Yes, it appears so. Looks like the purpose of these changes is to give USF more control of what is built, and at what cost. But it's still on schedule - construction starts in 2024 and ends in 2026 in time for the 2026-27 season.

Makes that 12/5 meeting ever more interesting now lol