Swank wins bid for FVCC housing project
Flathead Valley Community College has selected a Kalispell construction company to build the school’s first on-campus housing. The project is set to break ground sometime in the next week to 10 days, according to college officials.
The FVCC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to award the bid for the construction of the student housing to Swank Enterprises for nearly $7.7 million — which is roughly $430,000 less than architectural estimates. The vote took place during a special board conference call on Monday morning.
President Jane Karas told the board that the college was still working to secure financing for the project. She said the construction won’t be able to move forward until the college’s financing proposals are accepted, which she said she expects to happen by Aug. 12.
Though there were four other bidders, Swank came in with the lowest offer. According to state bidding policy, the college is required to contract with the lowest qualified bidder.
The housing for 124 students is set to be completed in time for the 2017 fall semester. Karas said that students will be able to reserve rooms in the housing complex by late spring of 2017. She said the cost for students to live in the dorms is still uncertain. The board voted to move forward on the project in January and has worked with CTA Architects Engineers since February to design the buildings. CTA estimated the project would cost more than $8.1 million.
The housing complex will consist of four buildings west of the school’s Occupational Trades building and south of Walmart in an area that is currently a field. The buildings will have 50 double units and 24 single units. There will also be common areas and laundry facilities, and each unit will have a kitchen.
According to Swank Enterprises’ bid, the three-story building in the complex will include storage, an elevator and card readers for suite doors.
The other bids included James Talcott for $8,033,00, Oswood Construction for $8,075,000, and Martel Construction of $8,323,000.
Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.