Board authorizes CMAR procurement and approves a Gateway architect fee increase

The Hamilton County Board of Education voted unanimously to authorize Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) procurement for the Gateway Career Technical Education Building and separately approved an increase in the architect's fee to cover design for the full building.

District staff explained the fee increase arose because design scope expanded from only the first and second floors to include additional floors. A project representative told the board the same architect will complete design for the entire structure to realize cost savings rather than contracting separate designers for different floors. Board members were told that any work on the third and fourth floors will be paid from different county funds and not from bond funds allocated to the school system.

A board member asked whether the additional design cost would be paid from district bond funds or county sources; a project representative answered that costs for the extra floors would come from county funds, not the school bond funds. After the explanation the board approved the fee increase by roll call (vote recorded 11-0).

The board also voted to authorize CMAR procurement for the Gateway Career Technical Education Building so the district can select a construction manager under the CMAR procurement method. The motion to authorize CMAR procurement passed 11-0. Board materials and next steps were described as procurement and design coordination and the district said it would report subsequent procurement results and contract terms back to the board.