The Jefferson Parish Council approved the largest in a long string of cost overruns for the Jefferson Performing Arts Center late Wednesdsay morning, accepting a $7.6 million package of change orders addressing dozens of shortcomings in the center's designs. Among the problems were the need for different exterior insulation panels than the ones identified in the original plans, because...
The Jefferson Parish Council approved the largest in a long string of cost overruns for the Jefferson Performing Arts Center late Wednesdsay morning, accepting a $7.6 million package of change orders addressing dozens of shortcomings in the center's designs.
Among the problems were the need for different exterior insulation panels than the ones identified in the original plans, because the first type of panel is no longer available and would give the building inadequate protection even if it could be acquired. That initiated a chain of other changes, such as the need for different metal wall studs that hold up the panels.
Workers at the arts center in October.Interim Parish President Steve Theriot said construction has reached a stage where the more expensive exterior panels were urgently needed to protect the building from storms.
"We need to close it up, to weatherize it," he said.
Other problems included support beams from walls blocking doorways, an insufficient number of fire exists, an insufficient number of smoke vents above the stage and the lack of an air return vent for the climate control system.
In all, 45 items are on the list of expensive changes to the building, which has been under construction since 2007 on Airline Drive next to Zephyr Field. Along with previous overruns, the change orders total more than $18 million on a building that had an original construction contract for $26.6 million.
Anticipating the costs, the parish earlier secured a $7.5 million line of credit from the Louisiana state government that covers most of the price increase.
"There were many errors during the route," of planning the project, Theriot said.
Theriot said the parish has sued the building's original architect, Marcel Wisznia, alleging numerous gaps in his designs that led to the complications during construction, but that Wisznia's insurance policy of $1 million would only cover a fraction of the elevated construction costs and would also have to cover Wisznia's legal costs. He also said the contract with an oversight firm the parish hired shielded that firm from any liability.
Peggy Barton, acting parish attorney, said such insurance policies and contract provisions are standard, but council member Chris Roberts questioned the practices.
"We shouldn't accept that type of policy in the future," Roberts said. He also argued the parish should pursue legal action against Wisznia personally, though Theriot said it was unclear how much money the parish could recover that way.
"I mean, the guy should lose his license," Roberts said.
Wisznia has defended his work.
Theriot said the problems date from decisions made by an earlier council and earlier administration, that the parish had hired experts to review the plans and that state government also reviewed and approved the plans because the state paid for the initial expected cost of the project.
Mark Waller can be reached at mwaller@timespicayune.com or 504.883.7056.