Phenix City STEM center price increases as school board approves contractor

The price for the STEM center in Phenix City has increased by nearly one-fourth of the estimated cost, now that the construction contractor has been selected.

During its monthly meeting Thursday, the Phenix City Board of Education unanimously approved CAM Builders LLC of Hatchechubbee, Ala., to construct the Dyer Family STEM Center.

Asked after the meeting what caused the price to jump from the $1.7 million estimate to the $2,099,537 contract, superintendent Randy Wilkes told the Ledger-Enquirer that the project's scope expanded and CAM Builders was the lowest bidder among the three contractors who competed for the job.

Scheduled to open in August 2016, the STEM center is designed by Hecht Burdeshaw Architects Inc. of Columbus to enhance science, technology, engineering and math education for students in grades 6-7 at Phenix City Intermediate School. The approximately 9,500-square-foot facility will comprise labs for coding, digital media, engineering and virtual science. Other features will include an interactive atrium, a Magic Planet (digital video globe 4 feet in diameter), a river tank system and a saltwater aquarium.

The Friends of Phenix City Schools is trying to raise $1.1 million to help pay for the STEM center along with a $3.1 million expansion of Central High School. As of last week, three months into the campaign, about $458,000 from more than 170 donors had been collected or pledged, Wilkes said. That includes the $150,000 gift from car dealer Gil Dyer.

CAM Builders constructed the 12-classroom addition at Lakewood Primary School. According to CAM's website, St. Patrick's School and Waverly Hall Christian Academy are other local education facilities the company has built.

Mark Rice, 706-576-6272. Follow him on Twitter@MarkRiceLE.

This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Phenix City STEM center price increases as school board approves contractor ."