'Lens' Construction Manager Contract Set for Council Vote

The City Council will vote on a proposed contract Thursday that would approve the construction manager for the "Lens" pier and would also set the guaranteed maximum price of $890,000 for preconstruction services. 

• Preconstruction Phase - Basis of Design Fee, $50,000. 
• Preconstruction Phase - Design Service Fee, $340,000. 
• Geotechnical Testing Services - $500,000. 

According to city documents, Skanksa USA Building's services are split into two phases. 

Phase 1, Skanska shall provide cost estimating, constructability reviews and value engineering services for Michael Maltzan Architecture during development of design documents by Michael Maltzan. Phase 2, Skanska shall provide a guaranteed maximum price, which shall become part of a guaranteed maximum price amendment for the construction of the new pier within the city's budget of $50 million.

Preconstruction services begin with Skanska working closely with Michael Maltzan Architecture to develop a cost plan, which is a deliverable required to be provided by Michael Maltzan at the end of the basis of design phase ... Skanska will provide preconstruction services that include but are not limited to refinement of cost estimates during the design phases, constructability reviews, value engineering, project scheduling and procurement coordination. 

On Aug. 2, the council voted to authorize city staff to begin contract negotiations with Skanksa for a construction manager at Risk Agreement with a guaranteed maximum price. 

The existing St. Petersburg Pier is scheduled to close on May 31, 2013, with demolition expected to begin in Fall 2013. 

St. Petersburg officials are continuing with plans to build the "Lens," which is the design slated to replace the existing inverted pyramid, despite pending a legal threat and new petition drive. 

Mayor Bill Foster said last month that the city and Michael Maltzan Architecture will continue with the plan to build the "Lens" until a judge tells them to stop. 

"This is coming along and move forward is what we will do," Foster said. "I assure you that my staff is prepared to move forward with permitting, demolition and construction until somebody tells us to stop.

"I am excited about the potential for the new pier," Foster said last month. "There are some in the city that disagree and that’s the American way. If things turn into a campaign then people in this city will be able to take a side ... and this may end up on a ballot, but until then we are going to move forward."