Armed with $182 million in capital improvement funds, the University of Hawaii says it’s ready to move on long-awaited construction projects and whittle down its growing list of repairs. And, just as important, it will bring its project-management system into the 21st century.
State lawmakers will be watching intently to see whether the UH system makes good on its promises — and so should taxpayers. Of the $182 million, UH secured $76.6 million in general obligation bonds for deferred maintenance: $48.6 million for the UH system; $15 million for community colleges; and $13 million for athletics.
In the just-ended legislative session, lawmakers finally approved more funding than in years past to tackle UH’s repair backlog, which totals a whopping $503 million across the 10-campus system.
Lawmakers have long criticized UH for its substandard handling of construction projects — an inefficient system that familiar contractors seemed to milk with excessive change orders on projects that often dragged on for years. But under the direction of UH President David Lassner, perhaps the tide is turning.
For Jan Gouveia, UH vice president for administration, July 1 will bring significant changes in how UH manages capital projects.
Come July, projects will go out to bid electronically, in a way that is more easily accessible and transparent — which Gouveia said will allow UH to cast a wider net for contractors bidding on projects.
That promises to be far more efficient and equitable than the current system in which in-the-know contractors submit bids in person, standing in line to make sure they’re time-stamped by deadlines.
The electronic system would allow contractors to set up profiles that identify their areas of expertise and receive emails when a possible job comes up for bid.
It is almost unfathomable that such an essential function of the public university has been operating under an antiquated, insider process for so long.
Also coming online in July is new project-management software, which will enable electronic submission of all project documentation from invoices to drawings.
“Everything will be done in this new environment,” Gouveia said, noting the changes will streamline processes.
ABOUT $7 million of UH’s lump-sum funding for deferred maintenance will be used at Saunders Hall, which is in dire need of exterior work that includes replacing the roof, louvers and railings; painting; and replacing mechanical and electrical equipment.
Improvements to UH-Manoa’s Kennedy Theater, Music Complex and Hamilton Library also are high on the deferred maintenance priority list.
UH plans to quickly move forward with its first design-build project for the new home of the College of Natural Sciences, a $55-million project that includes demolishing the dilapidated and aging Snyder and Henke halls.
Design-build utilizes a single contractor for both design and construction with a fixed upfront amount of funds, which contains cost and creates efficiencies. UH administrators, of course, must maintain firm project oversight and ensure timely, benchmark progress.
Snyder Hall repairs had been ignored for too long — so much so that it makes more fiscal sense to raze rather than upgrade the existing structure.
If all goes as planned, the new building would open in fall 2019.
Snyder’s condition is a sad testament to the poor management of capital projects in years past, as well as to lawmakers’ lack of financial commitment to the upkeep of UH’s facilities.
UH now must show that every dollar is spent wisely, and that, in turn could lead to lawmakers showing it more money next session.
