GCC to execute takeover agreement to finish construction of new campus building
The new GCC building was left at about 95% complete, with construction unable to resume until school officials came to a new agreement.
About one month after Glendale Community College trustees voted to terminate their contract with a general contractor for falling behind in constructing a new building on campus, they agreed Tuesday to authorize college administrators to execute a takeover agreement to finish the job.
The contract was with Mallcraft, Inc., the contractor that had been tasked with building the college’s new 90,000-square-foot, three-story building, which has a price tag of $40 million.
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Crews broke ground on the structure in October 2013 with initial plans to open its doors to students by last November.
Officials began questioning in December whether Mallcraft could complete the building in time for the fall 2016 semester, said Ron Nakasone, executive vice president of administrative services.
The building was left at about 95% complete, with construction unable to resume until school officials came to a new agreement, which they are still working to reach, Nakasone said.
Crews broke ground on the structure in October 2013 with initial plans to open its doors to students by last November.
He said he’s still hopeful the building will open in time for the fall semester.
The company that issued the bond for the building — Travelers — is now responsible for completing the project, according to a college report.
Nakasone told the trustees he had hoped to have the agreement ready for them to review by Tuesday evening, but Travelers officials said they needed slightly more time to assess the work still left to be done before promising a completion date, something the college wants included in the new takeover agreement.
“They’re asking for a little time to start the work, get up to date with the tasks that are still withstanding, then come up with a substantial completion date,” Nakasone said, referring to the date on which the college can occupy the building.
The board of trustees did not object to the request.
“I’m very supportive of that,” said Anita Quinonez Gabrielian, trustee president.
The building is expected to house the college’s culinary arts program, writing and anthropology classes, as well as staff offices.
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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
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