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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Mr. Charles Frith, property manager, Seahorse Shopping Center; Mr. John Gallagher, owner and chairman, (ABC) All Bahamas Construction Ltd; and Mr. Wolfgang Geiger, president, (ABC) All Bahamas Construction Ltd stand in front of the left wing of Seahorse Shopping Center, where the Ross University interim campus will open in January 2009. Photo: Robbin Whachell
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Grand Bahama Island – Only 4 weeks after the public announcement of the Bahamas campus, the interim Bahamas campus of Ross University will begin construction on August 25th, 2008.
The works to be carried out shall consist of the fitting out of approximately 30,000 sq. ft. of space in the Seahorse Shopping Center in Freeport. More specifically works being carried out will include construction of administration and faculty spaces as well as classrooms. Other support areas such as restrooms, storage and IT spaces will make up the total scope of the works. The cost of these works shall be approximately $2,000,000.00 overall. Completion is slated for December 31st, 2008.
According to Bruce LaFleur, Ross University's architect and construction manager, emphasis was placed from the start on hiring local Grand Bahama firms for the construction improvements to the interim Ross campus located at Seahorse Shopping Center.
"I was instructed to identify all of the local firms that had the resources to complete such a large project in such a short time period. All of the firms I identified were provided with the same information, and were invited to submit sealed construction bids," explained LaFleur.
In keeping with Ross policies regarding an open and fair bidding process, all bidders were asked to be present at the meeting on August 20th, when sealed bids were first presented to Ross, and opened in front of all bidders. Each bid was read publicly and verified for completeness by Ross officials and Bruce LaFleur and Associates. Once this process was completed the bid was awarded to the lowest bidder, which was (ABC) All Bahamas Construction Co. Ltd.
"We had two goals for this process." said Mr. Sandi Cutler, Ross Vice President for Planning and Business Development, who is overseeing the Bahamas project. “The first was to select a local firm capable of completing this complex project. The second was to begin to establish a local reputation for fair and honest business dealings. We plan to build a number of additional structures over the next few years and want the local building industry to know that every company will have equal access to our business. We plan to use a similar public process for future construction projects."
President of (ABC) All Bahamas Construction Ltd, Mr. Wolfgang Geiger commented on the bidding win by saying, "All Bahamas Construction Ltd. is pleased to have this opportunity to work with Ross University on this important project, and we will work diligently and effectively to complete the interim campus for their January 2009 opening."
Classes for the first semester of the Bahamas Ross University interim campus are set to commence in January 2009 with approximately 250 students and 50 faculty and staff. The hiring of staff and faculty is already underway. The university will use this campus until the official campus is completed and opened in 2010.
© Copyright 2008 by thebahamasweekly.com
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