Regents vote to renew architecture contract, leave options open
Ethan Hendricks
Staff Writer
staffwriter3@occc.edu
The Board of Regents unanimously voted Nov. 23 to end Triad Design’s monopoly on architectural design and construction at OCCC.
In a 6-0 vote the board decided to renew their contract with Triad for the next five years but gave themselves the option of choosing another firm to handle a major project if they so wished.
“Triad has done a really good job,” said James White, Board of Regents chairman. “However, there were some valid questions raised about Triad and their timeliness.”
Jerry Steward, executive vice president, told reporters there was some lack of communication between Triad and OCCC staff which reduced both team’s efficiency in completing their jobs.
“The Board of Regents decided five years ago to adopt a procedure to evaluate Triad’s performance every five years in order to find issues just like this,” he said. “Now we will evaluate their performance every year.
“What we voted on (at the meeting) will allow us to choose whether to give projects to Triad or fill out a Request for Proposal and allow other architectural engineering firms to compete for the project.”
Steward confirmed that Triad would still complete several more projects already planned, both on campus and off campus.
“Triad will start working on the new $14 million theatre here at OCCC very soon,” Stewart said. “Triad has been given permission by the Board of Regents to undertake the remodeling of the faculty offices in the Health and Technology Center.”
Steward also confirmed Triad would undertake the remodeling of OCCC’s new Capitol Hill outreach center. This new center will help the Capitol Hill community by offering pre-college level training classes and gateway credit courses to disadvantaged students.
White said this center will be a big help.
“It will be a big opportunity for students who are struggling to get help and succeed,” White said.
“Disadvantaged students will get the help they need to succeed in college.”
