River Campus relies on area contractors

Eleven construction companies are expected to be involved in the performing arts campus project.

Southeast Missouri State University's will create an arts school on its River Campus, but the project itself is creating construction jobs for local contractors.

Counting the initial construction work that is already under way, local contractors have been awarded $31.8 million in construction contracts. That's the bulk of the $34.7 million in construction contracts currently being awarded by the university, school officials said Friday at a meeting of the River Campus Board of Managers at the University Center.

Total construction costs could be in the $38 million range, officials estimated.

In all, 11 construction firms are expected to be involved in building the River Campus on a site overlooking the Mississippi River.

River Campus board members long have pushed to involve local contractors in the construction project.

Kiefner Brothers and Nip Kelley construction companies, two of the local contractors, already are working on the site of the former Catholic seminary, which is being transformed into Southeast's River Campus School of Visual and Performing Arts.

Kelley has a $438,431 contract for installation of storm sewers and other initial site work. Kiefner Brothers has a $2.8 million contract to strengthen the brick walls of the historic brick seminary building so it won't collapse from a major earthquake and do some demolition work.

Kiefner Brothers recently was awarded an additional $5.6 million contract for earth work, concrete work, landscaping and carpentry on the project.

Other local contractors given notice to proceed are Steward Steel, Cape Paint & Glass and K & K Electric.

K and K Electric has a $4.27 million contract. Steward Steel has a $3.22 million contract. Cape Paint & Glass has a $1.15 million contract.

Theatrical projects

Much of the construction work that will be done by outside contractors involves theatrical equipment and seating, which aren't available from local contractors, officials said.

Scott Meyer, facilities management director for Southeast, said the university is working to trim costs where possible. The university has cut $400,000 in projected construction expenses so far, he said.

But school officials said any cost savings won't impact the quality of the River Campus performance hall and smaller stage areas.

Southeast also hopes to build a state-affiliated welcome center for about $1 million, but that depends on securing federal funding that would pay 80 percent of the expense.

Meyer said the university has applied to the state for the funding. A decision on the funding is expected by this fall, he said.

The welcome center isn't included in the construction work that has been bid out so far, Meyer said. If funding is approved, the welcome center will be added to the project.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123