PORT TOWNSEND — Peninsula College has an apparent successful bidder for renovation of Building 202 at Fort Worden, and officials hope to see work begin in June to turn the structure into a branch of the college.
Pease Construction of Lakewood, which offered the low bid of $4.5 million, now will be vetted by the state Department of Enterprise Services to ensure it is a suitable bidder.
If the firm is found to be suitable, the state will issue a notice to proceed, which Deborah Frazier, the college’s director of finance and administration, estimates will happen around May 1.
At that point, a contract will be signed and the company will develop a work plan, Frazier said.
Construction could begin in early June and will take about a year to complete, she said.
The college expects to begin offering classes there in September 2016.
Seven bids
Seven bids were opened last week, and all were within range of the project’s cost estimates.
“We’re excited that the bids came in at a level we can deal with,” said Peninsula College President Luke Robins.
“It’s good to see this project moving forward.”
Bids ranged from $4.5 million to $5.2 million, Frazier said.
The college’s estimate of the construction project was $4.3 million, while the total project is estimated at $6.7 million.
Work will entail construction of four general classrooms, a science classroom, a studio-art room, a learning lab, a workforce training room, a student study space, faculty offices and a reception space.
Video-equipped classrooms are planned so classes can be conducted in one location and viewed in another.
Robins said the new space will continue current course offerings, general adult education and associate degrees — and eventually expand the curriculum.
Poll of residents
The college plans to sponsor a public survey in the next few months to poll residents as to their educational needs.
This assessment will be conducted in conjunction with Washington State University, Robins said.
Turning 14,000 square feet of space — about 70 percent of Building 202 — into a home for Peninsula College has been planned since 2011, but action had been postponed because of funding availability and a change in the management of part of Fort Worden.
Campus management
The Fort Worden Lifelong Learning Center Public Development Authority took over management of the campus portions of the 434-acre park for educational purposes last May.
State Parks continues to manage the camping, beach and recreation areas.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
