The Soldotna Field House received some good news during a work session on Wednesday, Jan. 24 when officials revealed that, following a favorable bid from Criterion Construction, there was now room in the budget to begin adding back features that had been cut.
Initial construction cost analysis in late 2023 showed the project was significantly over budget and that several design features would need to be tabled, including the connector atrium intended to run between the existing Soldotna Regional Sports Complex and the planned field house.
“These are some of the value engineering items that pre-bid in order to get the budget down to where we could responsibly bid the project and expect to be able to award it. We took some stuff out of the project and these are some things we’re thinking about putting back into the project that we think are important enough to reconsider,” said Soldotna City Public Works Director, Kyle Kornelis.
Most of the items Kornelis referred to were smaller design scope additions that total less than an estimated $500k, and include audio/video elements, programming equipment, flooring options which were downgraded and decreased in area, and sound attenuation panels.
The big item cut from the pre-bid budget, however, that council members were especially interested in seeing added back to the project is the atrium connector. This connection was designed as a foyer and “pre-function” area to serve both the Field House and conference rooms included in the pre-bid draft, and also included restrooms and staff efficiencies.
“I’m also a very strong advocate of seeing the connector restored. That’s a top priority for me. And I would like to know the total cost of what these optionals are in addition to knowing the total cost of the connector,” said council member Jordan Chilson. “I think we should at least look at the [connector] option on the table too. OK, well maybe we do hold off on the acoustical panels that we buy the mid tier sports equipment rather than the best that money could buy, and steer some of that money into getting the connector and holding off on that stuff.”
In addition to discussing items to be potentially added back into the project, councilmembers floated ideas about seeking sponsorship for specific design features to offset the overall field house budget costs.
The Soldotna Field House is projected to open in fall/winter of 2025.