VCU utilizes Construction Management (CM) at Risk for procuring construction services on certain projects. This procurement method has enabled VCU to select minority firms that are qualified to perform the construction services. In the recent past, two projects were awarded to a minority-owned firm based in Richmond, Virginia: Prestige Construction Group.
Generally, CM at Risk contracts are defined as:
"services provided under contract with the University, wherein a construction management firm assumes the risk for construction via the competitive negotiation contracting method. The construction management firm provides a range of pre-construction and construction management services which include consultation regarding the design of the building project and may also include cost estimation, the preparation and coordination of bid packages, scheduling, cost control, value management, acting as the general contractor during the construction, detailing the trade contractor scope of work, holding the trade contracts and other subcontracts, prequalifying and evaluating trade contractors and subcontractors, and providing management and construction services."
Renovations to Hunton Hall ($6 million project) and the James Black Music Center ($5.8 million project) were both awarded to Prestige though competitively negotiated processes (Request for Proposals). Hunton Hall required the renovation of the historic 166 year old former First Baptist Church into a first-class student center on the MCV Campus of VCU. The James Black Music Center involved demolition of an existing former church education wing and construction of a new 15,000 square foot music building that included offices, state-of-the art acoustically controlled practice rooms and classrooms.
More information about these projects may be found below:
Hunton Hall: http://www.news.vcu.edu/vcu_view/pages.aspx?nid=1920
James Black Music Center: http://www.vcu.edu/arts/music/dept/about/facilities/black.html
