GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks County Commission on Tuesday approved the selection of a construction manager at risk for the expansion of the county correctional center and the creation of a new juvenile detention center.
Bids were turned in to Grand Forks County Director of Administration Tom Ford. Three bids were received, and a selection committee unanimously recommended Construction Engineers to take it on.
The company has worked on various projects, ranging from educational buildings — such as the general, mechanical, electrical and fire protection reconstruction of the UND Chester Fritz Library — to health care buildings, including multiple Altru projects.
Notably, Construction Engineers constructed the Clay County Law Enforcement Center & Correctional Facility, a 60,000-square-foot, two-story law enforcement center for the Clay County Sheriff’s Department. It also constructed the Rolette County Law Enforcement Center & Jail and remodeled the West Central Juvenile Center.
Ford listed the company’s experience with similar projects as the main reason for its selection, as well as its familiarity with the project’s location.
“With a construction manager at risk, you are looking for the best qualified firm to manage the project and work with the architect, which is (Icon Architectural Group),” Ford said. “So, (there were) good interviews and good bids, but quite frankly, Construction Engineers was quite above the fray, and so that selection committee is recommending that to the commission.”