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SFCC Auditorium Project On Track

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: February 20, 2009

AVON PARK - Despite the economic downturn and state budget cuts, South Florida Community College is moving forward with its major auditorium renovation/expansion project.

The college's District Board of Trustees will vote Wednesday on a guaranteed maximum price for the project of $9,887,758.

The total cost, including architectural and engineering fees and a feasibility study, will be about $12 million, SFCC President Norm Stephens Jr. said Thursday.

With approval by the board of trustees, the 10-month project will start soon after the last show of the Artist Series, which is April 7.

Some people have said and some probably wonder if the state is so short of money why is the college spending so much on the auditorium project, Stephens said.

The money for the auditorium cannot be used for student scholarships or for operational costs of the college, Stephens said. It would be against the law.

"The money we get for the auditorium or for any of our construction projects comes from Public Education Capital Outlay funds, which are restricted use," he said. "In fact, they are so restricted we can only use them on this project."

The college received its first funding appropriation for the project about three years ago and after receiving two more appropriations, the college is waiting for a fourth appropriation.

Also, it would be penny wise, but pound foolish not to continue with the project because the auditorium is a revenue generator for the college, Stephens said.

This is a good time to bid a project like this, he said. Even with additional safety measures, the guaranteed maximum price is about $800,000 less than estimated a year ago.

Mathews Construction of Tampa will be the construction management firm for the project. The firm built the Health/Science Education Center on the Avon Park campus and is currently working on the renovation of the Lake Placid Center.
SFCC Vice President of Administrative Services Glenn Little said the renovation work is scheduled to be completed by Feb. 26, 2010. Evening crews will work on the project and some weekend work may be done to complete the "tremendous" amount of work in a 10-month period.

During construction, the college will look to its facilities and outside options for alternative venues for programs and shows, he said.

Stephens stated in his President's Blog, "the building is 30 years old and doesn't meet modern standards for access and life safety nor does it meet our expectation for presenting and hosting the many programs that are made possible because this facility exists."

The governor and the Legislature are encouraging the acceleration of building construction and renovation projects in order to stimulate the local economy, he stated.

The project includes raising the fly area over the stage to accommodate larger and modern sets. The house or audience seating area will be reconfigured with new seats spaced farther apart and the addition of a balcony and box seats.

Due to the latest safety requirements, the lobby will be expanded by about two to three times its present size.

The capacity will increase slightly from 1,440 to about 1,505.

Highlands Today reporter Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com

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