Oakton tries to recoup $3.8 million in repair costs
Oakton Community College is trying to recoup the costs of a $3.8 million bill for replacing a concrete slab under its new Science and Health Careers Center, officials said Wednesday.
An 8,300-square-foot section of the slab at the west end of the new building experienced cracking and settlement issues during construction in the spring of 2014, officials said. It was later demolished to make way for a new slab.
That delayed opening of the three-story, 93,000-square-foot building to January 2015.
Oakton paid to replace the slab using reserve funds but is now hoping to get the four contractors who worked on the project in one room where a mediator could decide how to split up the costs, according to Bob Nowak, Oakton's vice president for business and finance.
"The board committed to do the fix and try to discern liability later on," Nowak said.
The college is hoping to recover costs from Terracon Consultants, which did soil engineering on the project; Design Consulting Engineers, which did soil testing; construction manager Turner Construction; and Legat Architects, which designed the project.
Oakton's attorneys are trying to get all the contractors to agree to mediation. It could be another three months until actual mediation proceedings begin, Nowak said.
Depending on what the mediator decides, Oakton could still sue any of the contractors. That's why the school board Tuesday approved a tolling agreement with Terracon, preserving the opportunity for litigation if mediation falls through. The agreement extends the period of time to file suit.
"We were hoping to solve the issue through mediation," Nowak said. "Hopefully that will work and we won't have to pursue (litigation)."
The agreement with Terracon is in effect for 180 days, or 30 days after either party provides a notice to terminate.
The $39 million building, named the Margaret Burke Lee Science and Health Careers Center after the former college president who retired in June, is the first major construction project since Oakton's Des Plaines campus opened in 1980. It houses Oakton's anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, earth science, medical laboratory technology, nursing, physics, and physical therapy assistant programs.
The building is the marquee project in Oakton's $68.5 million, five-year Facilities Master Plan, adopted by college trustees in December 2010.