UNIVERSITY PARK | Governors State University recently took a major step toward on-campus housing when the board of trustees approved construction bids for the university’s first residential complex, the university announced Wednesday.
At their Friday board meeting, trustees unanimously approved $17,225,930 in construction contracts for the first phase of the housing complex, Prairie Place. The complex, which will have both apartment and suite-style housing, will be ready for occupancy in summer 2014.
Construction contracts were awarded to:
• General contractor – Carlson Brothers, Inc., of Joliet, $10,400,782.
• Plumbing – Best Plumbing, Inc., of Crestwood, $1,052,000.
• Electric – Linear Electric, Inc., of Orland Park, $3,089,148.
• Ventilation – Dodson Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning, of Pontiac, $796,000.
• Heating – F.E. Moran, Inc., of Northbrook, $1,888,000
Construction of Prairie Place is expected to begin in mid-March. A formal groundbreaking ceremony will take place April 5.
The project is financed through proceeds from the sale of $20 million in revenue bonds completed in April 2012.
Executive Vice President Gebeyehu Ejigu said GSU’s architect of record, FGM Architects, completed a full review of the submitted bids, including the bidder’s responsiveness to identified qualifications, requirements for the project, the selection of alternates, and the bid amounts. FGM recommended the lowest and most responsive bidder in each category, Ejigu said.
Phase 1 of Prairie Place will contain 77 units and 296 beds. All units will be fully furnished. Students will have their own bed, desk, chair and wardrobe-dresser unit. Apartment units will have fully-equipped kitchens. Cable and Internet services will be available throughout Prairie Place. Additional community space will include floor lounges, study rooms, a classroom, a laundry room, vending machines, a service desk and community kitchens.
Trained resident assistants will live on each floor to provide student support and assistance. Social, recreational and informal educational activities are planned to enhance the living-learning experience for GSU’s first on-campus residents.
More information on Prairie Place is available at www.govst.edu/housing.
Governors State University is located at 1 University Parkway.
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