By snoadmin
The $3.6 million expansion of The Outpost on the northeast end of campus is delayed an extra semester to fall 2008 because the 49er Shops, Inc. cannot find a contractor that comes within the budget.
Bids for this project by construction contractors have been rejected “due to the increase over the architect’s original estimate,” said Clint Campbell, contract administrator and facilities manager of the 49er Shops, Inc.
The documents that the contractors used to calculate the cost were revised. “We’ll know more about why the architects and the contractor’s estimates are so different with the completion of the second bid process,” Campbell said.
The project has been re-evaluated to reduce the cost and contractors will be re-bidding the project. Campbell did not provide a specific date for the second bidding.
The target is still $3.6 million, but if the project continues to delay it will cost more, Campbell said.
“The school does not pay for this project. It is solely from the 49er Shops,” Campbell said. It is still uncertain whether the project will end up going over budget.
Construction was supposed to begin this month but has not begun yet. The 10-month renovation plan was scheduled to end in spring 2008, but now has been pushed as far back as fall 2008.
Once construction starts, one of the only aspects that might stop the process is an archaeological discovery. Although The Outpost is not considered a historic resource, the campus has uncovered archaeological resources in the past.
The Mitigated Negative Declaration states that a study of the CSULB Vivian Engineering Quadrangle Site showed that there are artifacts near the project.
The MND is a written statement made January of this year for The Outpost project. The document describes the reasons why a project will have no big effect on the environment, either because revisions have been made or measures will be used, according to the UC CEQA Handbook.
A Native American monitor and qualified archaeologist will be at The Outpost throughout construction. Construction workers will be notified of the possibility of discovering archaeological resources or human remains.
Stone artifacts, ancient food residue and projectile points were found in the Quadrangle Site, which is near The Outpost. Radiocarbon testing suggests that the foraging dates back to the 1400s.
The plan for The Outpost renovation was considered for about a year and was fueled by a barrage of student complaints. Don Penrod, CEO and general manager for the 49er Shops, proposed the project.
One of the main problems students had with The Outpost was the long wait to buy food. “There are always long lines around lunch time and because of the size of the place, it can get a bit crowded,” said Christin Huang, a senior fine arts major.
Students also complained about the food choices the establishment offered. At one time there was even a protest on campus to lower its food prices.
When some students compared The Outpost to other food venues around school, the Outpost didn’t fair well. “The Nugget wins on almost all counts,” said Leang Huang, a studio arts major who graduated this past spring. The Outpost has more food and beverage choices like beer, Huang said.
The Outpost’s renovation, once completed, will increase the eatery to about twice its previous size.
Besides a new 1,500-square-foot convenience store, the new Outpost will include a central kitchen and a book buy-back service on the west end.
Upon completion, about 100 students will be able to sit inside the new facility and 150 will be able to sit outside.
Rossetti Jorgensen Architects are working on this project. The company has also worked for CSULB on the Athletics and Parking Administration Building, according to its website. Due to the continuous bidding, the construction contractor is still to be decided.
A catering truck will be parked near The Outpost until The Outpost reopens.
