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One contractor interested in WPH's new medical office
By Anthony McConnell
This document was published online on Monday, February 04, 2008
Only one contractor wants to build West Park Hospital's new medical office building.
Seven contractors from Wyoming and Montana were asked to submit a request for proposal (RFP), and all but Groathouse Construction of Cody dropped out of the process, said Ken Birdsong of Greystone Brokerage and Development, with whom WPH contracted to oversee the MOB development.
Birdsong said many of the contractors dropped out because of their workload, the list of competitors and fear they wouldn't be able to compete with local contractors.
He added Groathouse was unaware the other contractors had left the process when they filed their RFP.
The board asked Birdsong to seek additional RFPs from national contractors to keep the process competitive.
Despite those issues, the hospital board is pleased with the MOB's latest design.
Project architect David Johnson recently unveiled the new design to the board.
“It's not a motel, that's for sure,” board member Melissa Fraser said. “It looks nice.”
She has been critical of preliminary drawings of the building, but said she was glad to see the new design.
“I took a different look at the building, and tried to break it up a bit,” Johnson said.
The design features “bump outs,” which eliminate the boxy look of the previous design, and a manufactured stone veneer engineered for harsh climates.
Johnson did not provide cost estimates for the new design, but said it should come in lower than the previous estimate of $14.8 million.
He added that after a contractor is selected more accurate estimates will be available.
The 60,000-square-foot, three-story building will be on the south side of the West Cody Strip between the AmericInn Lodge and Lee Plumbing on land donated by the Cathcart family.
With the basic design set, the board is currently working to select a general contractor to oversee construction. They hope to have one selected by March.
As the board is moving forward with the building design and construction plans, Birdsong is working to secure tenants for it.
All those currently housed in the Coe Medical Building will have to relocate because the building will be torn down after the new MOB is complete.
Rent at the facility will be $20.50 per square foot, which is about twice what tenants pay in the Coe building.
Because of this Birdsong is touting the benefits of the new space to potential tenants. Those include build-to-suit space, little or no construction cost, free relocation if a lease is signed by March 31 and a building that is exclusively for medical uses.
“For the most part class A medical office space does not exist in Cody,” Birdsong said. “The biggest advantage is tenants will not have to pay out of pocket for their space.”
The board has decided not to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, but has directed Johnson to incorporate environmentally friendly elements into the MOB design.
Johnson said LEED certification would add more than $80,000 to the cost of the building.
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