Swank wins bid for final upgrade of Vo-Ag Center

Swank Enterprises has been selected as the general contractor for the second phase of construction at the H.E. Robinson Vocational Agriculture Center.

The bid for the project came in at $3,898,000, the estimated construction cost for phase two.

With a base bid of $3.5 million, Swank Enterprises was awarded the project by Kalispell Public Schools board of trustees Tuesday. In addition to the base is $424,000 worth of alternate projects, which cover various upgrades to the existing building.

The school district received two other bids from Oswood Construction Co. of Great Falls and Quality Construction Company of Missoula.

Phase two includes additions and renovations that will impact the main entrance, administrative offices, welding and science departments, locker area, commons and conference room.

Swank is also working on the Flathead High School addition and renovation and the district’s five elementary school renovations.

Outback Construction in Missoula wrapping up the first phase of construction at the Vo-Ag Center, which included a new veterinary science building, greenhouse and pole barn expansion. Coburn said the first phase is “wrapping up odds and ends” and is expected to finish soon.

The bid is the final piece of the budget to renovate high school facilities as part of a $28.8 million high school district bond issue. In addition to the Vo-Ag Center, construction projects include Flathead High School, which is expected to be completed in late summer, and Linderman Education Center, which is currently under construction. Also part of the high school district bond issue was Legends Stadium and deferred maintenance at Glacier High School.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.