Escalating Staircase Costs

From the November 10, 2016 agenda meeting:

DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING, PUBLIC WORKS & FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Joseph Graziano, Director

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1. Amending Resolution Number 2015-527, adopted on June 18, 2015, a Professional Architectural Design and Construction Management Service Contract with Netta Architects, of Mountainside, New Jersey for additional architectural/engineering services associated with the Union County Courthouse Complex New Tower Stairwell Modernization Project, in an amount not to exceed $510,000.00 for a new contract amount not to exceed $4,328,330.00.

The Westfield Leader reported today:

With the new county family courthouse set to open soon, the Union County Freeholder Board last Thursday considered a resolution for the next regular board meeting on Tuesday, November 22 for additional architectural design and construction management services for improvements to the county courthouse tower stairwell project.

The $510,000 addition to the contract with Netta Architects of Mountainside would increase the amount to $4,328,330. The change order includes additions in order for the project to meet new construction permit requirements, Nicholas Netta of Netta Architects told the freeholders. He said the project had been put on hold until the family courthouse opened as this will free up space lost in the courtroom tower during and after construction of the new stairwell. The state required the county to build a second staircase in the tower due to fire code regulations. The county opted to build the $32-million family courthouse to replace courtrooms lost by construction of the stairwell.

Another $1.9 million has been appropriated for construction management for the project. Joseph Graziano, director of engineering, public works and facilities management, said the contract will bring the project up to 2015 standards and allow the county to go out to bid.

Mr. Netta said the stairwell project was originally designed under 2009 building standards per the International Building Code (IBC). “For a building permit, the plans have to be brought to the new code,” Mr. Netta told the board. “So we are essentially taking the drawings and modifying them and bringing them up to the new code. The new code has a heavy impact with the seismic (earthquake resistance) design.”

2015-527: Amending Resolution Number 2014-774, a Professional Architectural Design and Construction Management Services agreement with Netta Architects, of Mountainside, New Jersey, associated with the Union County Courthouse Complex New Tower Stairwell Modernization Project, for the relocation of the existing radio mom in an amount not co exceed $124,000 for a new contract amount nor to exceed $3,818,330.

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2014-774: Amending Resolution Number 2009-225, a Professional Architectural/Engineering service contract with Netta Architects, of Mountainside, New Jersey, for the purpose of providing professional services for the Union County Courthouse Complex New Tower Stairwell Construction project in an amount not to exceed $1,926,300 for a new contract amount nor to exceed $3,694,330.

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2014-775: Amending Resolution Number 2010-612, a Professional Construction management Service contract with mast Construction Services of Little Falls, new Jersey, for the purpose of providing construction management services for the Union County Courthouse Complex New Tower Stairwell Construction project in an amount not to exceed $994,578 for a new contract amount of $1,869,578.

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At that time there was some discussion:

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Agenda Meeting explanations:
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Questions and Answers from the Regular Meeting:
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Mast Construction fees paid through August 2, 2016 per the county check registry: