July 11-12, 2002

ITEM 116-2012-R0702   Increase Authorization to Renovate an Existing Pre-fabricated Metal Building to House a portion of the Art Department Program; Montana State University - Bozeman

THAT: The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes Montana State University-Bozeman to renovate an existing facility to accommodate existing Art Department programs. This request is to increase the previous authority by an additional $95,000, for a total authority of $395,000.

EXPLANATION: 1. Due to fire code violations that are too costly to remedy immediately, the existing graduate art program is being displaced from its current location in Taylor Hall.

2.  The graduate art program will be moving into an existing pre-fabricated metal building that used to house the College of Agriculture's Swine Center. The existing building has not been occupied for approximately eight years and requires interior renovation to make it habitable for the art program.

3. Environmental clean up of effluent deposited by the previous occupants proved to be more costly than estimated and bids have now been received for the balance of the renovation work. After incorporating these factors and establishing an appropriate construction contingency, the increased level of authority is necessary to complete the project.

4. The project will be financed with non-state funds and will result in no new programs.