Denny construction ends with $4.1 million price tag
July 13, 2005
After months behind a cage of scaffolding and chain-link fence, Denny Hall emerged with a new roof early this week.
The project, which started in the fall of 2003, was planned to include seismic improvements to the roof, removal of hazardous materials, and new copper on the outside of the 109-year-old building.
Original plans put completion of the roof project in January, with a projected cost of $2.7 million. Unforeseen deterioration in the roof and masonry, along with construction bids coming in higher than expected, pushed the project's schedule back and costs up, finally reaching a total of about $4.1 million and taking more than six months longer than expected.
"The scope was significantly different than originally projected," said Norm Menter, project manager for the UW Capital Projects office.
He said the masonry repair added three months to the schedule. The mortar that held some bricks together was basically loosened, since rotting in the building's wood beams spread to the walls over more than a century.
During construction, Denny Hall was fully operational -- a factor that Menter said created a few more challenges.
"It always makes it more complicated to do construction work on an occupied building," he said.
With construction complete, all that remains are a few minor finishing touches and the closeout phase of the project, which takes place mostly in UW offices.
But there is a good chance the scaffolding will go up again in the next few years. The roof replacement was part of a larger renovation planned for the building; one Menter said needed immediate action because of its severe condition.
UW officials are planning the more complete renovation to start in 2007, part of a 15-building renovation plan that includes the current Johnson Hall work. The project still must be approved for funding by the state legislature. According to Marilyn Cox, assistant vice provost for capital planning and budgeting, early estimates place the cost of Denny's next overhaul at $49 million.
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