LSU Cancels Contract With Skanska-MAPP JV

By Adrian Maties, Associate Editor

Skanska announced last week that Louisiana State University has canceled the order for the renovation and expansion of the Patrick F. Taylor Hall building. The contract was worth $54 million.

Patrick F. Taylor Hall was built in 1977, on the LSU main campus, in Baton Rouge. The renovation and expansion project calls for improvements to the existing building, as well as the construction of about 129,000 square feet of classroom, lab and office space, and a new auditorium. Last summer, LSU signed a contract with a joint venture between Skanska USA and MAPP Construction for the project. The total value of the contract was $77 million, with Skanska holding a 70 percent share (worth $54 million).

Skanska and LSU did not reveal the reasons behind the cancelation. However, Meghan Parrish, a spokeswoman with the Louisiana Division of Administration, told The Advocate that the state hired the joint venture as a construction manager at risk, and that the guaranteed maximum price the team came in with was higher than the available funds. As the state had a choice between accepting or rejecting the price, it opted to reject it.

Ms. Parrish also told The Advocate that the project will move forward as planned. Lemoine Co. has been hired as the new construction manager and is expected to provide the maximum price proposal in April. The renovation and expansion of Patrick F. Taylor Hall broke ground last November. Officials hope to finish the project by the fall of 2017.

Image courtesy of LSU College of Engineering