Florida complex 20% over budget

The Miami-Dade Performing Arts Center, originally scheduled to open this year at a cost of $344 million, is running 20 months behind schedule and $67 million over budget, according to a government report quoted in the Miami Herald. And that still doesn’t include funds for furniture, telephones, security systems and computers.

The newspaper said that the report, released by Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess, placed much of the blame for the delays and cost overruns on communications problems between the architect, builder and county officials that led to even small problems taking months to resolve.

The theater complex, designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates, is intended to house such companies as the Miami City Ballet, the Florida Grand Opera and the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. It is now due to open in May 2006.