Bids sought on center addition

• By RICHARD BURGESS
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Aug 6, 2008 - Page: 1BA - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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LAFAYETTE — Bids are expected to go out in September for a major expansion of the Acadiana Center for the Arts downtown after the City-Parish Council signed off on the project Tuesday.

Plans call for a 20,000-square-foot expansion of the facility on Jefferson and Vermilion streets, with much of the new space dedicated to a state-of-the-art, 300-seat theater.

The structure, mainly gallery space and offices for the Acadiana Arts Council, was completed in 2004.

Construction of the theater was initially set to begin within a few months after the first phase.

The project was delayed when bids came in substantially over budget because of soaring construction cost after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

“Obviously we were a victim of all the recent escalation in cost,” City-Parish Director of Public Works Tom Carroll said.

Both phases were initially estimated to cost a total of $13.4 million.

Estimates for the second phase alone are now at $14 million, and the arts council, working with local officials, returned to the state to secure another $7.7 million to make up the difference in cost estimates for the second phase.

Carroll said he expects enough money has been set aside to meet construction costs for the project.

“We are hopeful this is it,” Carroll said.

City-parish government is not funding the project, but the council had to sign-off to allow the state funds to pass through the city.
City-parish government will also serve as project manager.

Carroll said work could begin before the end of the year, assuming the bids meet the budget.

In other business, the council approved spending $107,000 to fund 10 new police officer positions. The funding brings the total authorized city police force to 259.