State settles museum overruns

SPRINGFIELD -- The state of Illinois is getting back $3 million and saving millions more as part of the settlement ending a long-running dispute with contractors over construction of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

The state's settlement with three contractors over cost overruns and delays at the popular tourist attraction returns $3 million in payments and deflects $7 million in claims the contractors contended they were owed.

The two sides have bickered over costs and delays since well before the museum opened in April 2005. Among the issues were a faulty heating and cooling system and redesign of an area for temporary exhibits.

Most of the recouped money, more than $2 million, will come from project architect Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum of St. Louis. California-based BRC Imagination Arts will pay back $750,000 but still collected $55 million for its work on the project.

"We're happy, they're happy . . . and the guests are very happy," said designer Bob Rogers, who operates BRC.

Siliciano Inc., a Springfield-based general contractor, will receive $350,000 of its $1 million claim for changes made during the museum's construction but will forego more than $5 million in other claims.

The settlement was approved in December by the state's Capital Development Board, which oversaw project construction.

The state spent more than $1.2 million in legal fees on the dispute but CDB spokesman Dave Blanchette said the end result was still a bonus for the state.

"The settlement talks were just to make sure that the state was getting what it paid for, and we feel we got what we paid for," Blanchette said.