Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks and Recreation Department

TO:	Dave Corliss, City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager Ernie Shaw, Interim Director, Parks and Recreation Lynne Zollner, Historic Resources Administrator
FROM:	Mark Hecker, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation
DATE:	April 8, 2015
RE:	Carnegie Building Roof Project – Change Orders

Project Description

In the fall of 2013, the City Commission approved bids totaling $425,200 provided by MTS Contracting for the reconstruction of the upper parapet walls and roof replacement on the oldest portion of the historic Carnegie Building. Over the past 18 months, multiple phases of this project have been completed as funding and weather allowed. It is estimated the current wall construction phase of the project will be completed in the next few weeks and most of the scaffolding will be removed from the exterior of the building.  

As work has progressed on the dismantling and reassembly of the parapet walls that were originally constructed prior to the building opening in 1902, there have been a number of internal structural changes needed to assure the work being done meets current construction standards.  These changes caused more of the wall to be removed than was originally planned and included things such as removing wood nailers that were imbedded in the wall and removal of support blocks that were crumbling inside the south wall.

To allow this work to move forward in a timely manner with the approval of the project engineer DGM Consultants, the State Historical Preservation Office, the City Historic Resources Administrator, and the City Manager, it was decided to allow structural changes to be made in the reconstruction of the walls using money originally budgeted in the project for the roof membrane replacement and the north wall coping stones. It was determined the walls being constructed properly was the most important thing to accomplish with the budgeted funds and the other items could be added to the project at a later date when the total scope of the project could be better determined. 

As the wall reconstruction draws to a close, we request approval to reinstate the items that were originally specified in the project, but were lost due to unforeseen conditions that could not be recognized without first dismantling the walls.  By providing additional funding of $111,500 to pay for these structural changes to the walls, we will be able to reinstate the roof membrane and the north wall coping stone replacement that was originally bid in the project. The alternative would be to rebid the roof membrane and coping stones as a separate project. It is my feeling this would simply add months to the project and would likely cost more than having the on-site contractor complete this project. 

Project Review

The roof and parapet wall on the oldest section of the Carnegie Building needed replacement and/or repair to assure structural stability and to keep water out of the building. This roof section was not part of the 2010 renovation project that was completed on this building. The attached field report from 2012 by DGM Consultants details the problems we have been working to correct. 

Project Funding

The $111,500 needed to complete the project is available in the guest tax reserve fund.

Action Request

Authorize the City Manager to sign a change order of $111,500 for the Carnegie Roof Project with MTS Contracting.