Welcome to the Business Journal Archives
Search for articles below, or continue to the all new BusinessJournalDaily.com now.
Search
Youngstown Convocation Center Begins to Take Shape
By Dan O'BrienYOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Structural steel construction for the Youngstown Convocation Center began Wednesday as the first support beams were set in place at the eastern end near the South Avenue Bridge.Work began around 12:30 p.m. yesterday as construction workers took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and a respite from the steady rains that had soaked most of the Mahoning Valley. Within three hours, seven vertical beams were set in place, two of which were connected by one vertical cross-girder forming a portion of the east corner's frame.In September, the city awarded the structural steel contract to Ohio Steel Industries of Columbus, which submitted the low bid of $3,629,000. A.P. O'Horo Co., Liberty, also won a $1.6 million contract to perform the foundation work and some miscellaneous structural steel work.Officials had hoped the steel would arrive by mid-December, but they said heavy snow near the holidays hampered delivery and led to some delays.Kelley Steel Erectors Inc., Cleveland, is on-site assembling this portion of the steel skeleton. Work was to continue today. The company was contracted by Ohio Steel to perform the work, said Shaquela Jones, marketing coordinator for the convocation center. "We estimate a total of about 12 weeks before the steel is finished," she said.Officials are hoping for a fall start-up date for the convocation center. When the $26.8 million grant was awarded, the city had until September 2005 to substantially complete the project. It was recently granted a three-year extension should there be unanticipated delays.A yet-unnamed new minor league hockey team, owned by local businessman Herb Washington, is expected to take to the ice once the facility opens. A general manager for the team is expected to be announced Jan. 19, Jones said.Ticket sales for the center are proceeding to Jones' satisfaction, she said, noting half of the luxury boxes have been sold. "We're starting to push the club seats and people are calling in. It's happening," she said.Thus far, the city has awarded some $14 million in contracts for the proposed $41 million convocation center. Most of the project's bids are below the engineer's estimates, but some of the latest packages are expected to be re-bid because many came in well above the engineer's projections. These include work for the center's drywall and ceiling, roof, ice rink, fire proofing, hardware, and miscellaneous concrete and metal construction. Using the lowest proposals submitted, the combined bids exceed engineer's estimates by $3 million.Contracts totaling $4.8 million were recently awarded to D&G Mechanical of West Middlesex, Pa., for the mechanical package, and to Bruce & Merilees Electric Co. of New Castle, Pa., for electrical work.The city is using funds drawn from $26.8 million in grants Congress awarded five years ago for the project. Contact Dan O'Brien at [email protected]"