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ACC names Van Lare construction manager

ALPENA — Alpena Community College took a step forward on the Van Lare Hall renovation project on Monday.

The ACC Board of Trustees selected Spence Brothers, out of Traverse City, as the construction manager for the project.

Jay Walterreit, director of public information and marketing for ACC, said Spence Brothers has already been helping with the project at no cost.

The cost for the renovation project is $8.7 million to repurpose the building. The cost of construction is just over $6.3 million while the construction manager fee is almost $670,000.

It is expected to take 14 months to complete the project. Walterreit said that, if everything goes smoothly, construction should begin in September. The hope is that construction is done and people can use the building by November 2019.

“The college received $3.35 million in state funding, so other fundraising will have to be completed,” Walterreit said.

The renovation of Van Lare Hall would provide space and updated technology for the college’s nursing program and would have a community gathering space that overlooks the Thunder Bay River, according to the college’s website.

The nursing program would go from having 1,460 square feet to use to 5,760 square feet in the east end of the building. The renovation would also include a $1 million learning laboratory and control room that would help students prepare for real-world experiences.

The next step, completing construction and bidding documents, has to be completed by the end of June. The college hopes to award bids on Aug. 16.

Oak City Contracting has been the preconstruction manager for the project. It completed its responsibilities earlier this year and withdrew from the project, ACC President Don MacMaster said.

The Board of Trustees is holding its regular monthly meeting today at 7 p.m., but decided to select the construction manager on Monday because the board was able to discuss the selection more and feel comfortable with their decision, Walterreit said.

“We will keep people informed of our progress,” Walterreit said. “The dollar figures are estimated, but our overall goal is to keep the project to the $8.7 million budget.”

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