The Foraker Group

The Pre-Development Program has just completed its first performing arts project and learned a lot about theater—and construction costs in the Valley—in the process.

Valley Performing Arts has been presenting live theatre in the Mat-Su Valley for over 37 years. Performances were first held in the log Colony Church at the state fairgrounds and the audience was limited to 64. In 1996, VPA moved that converted pole barn and connected it to an auto repair shop in Wasilla, thus increasing the number of patrons who could attend each performance to 172. But the need for an even larger venue was documented by routinely sold-out performances and the growing number of season ticket holders. Support space for the performers and productions was also inadequate.

Pre-D’s first task was to establish the space requirements for a 300-seat operation and then determine whether the existing facility could be expanded and renovated to meet that need. The verdict of the engineers was that it could not, so a search started for an existing building that could be converted. The Mat-Su Cinema was selected.

Concept plans were developed for a 300-seat theatre plus a 100-seat “black box” theatre and meeting space. Then a construction estimate was prepared.

As with most Pre-D projects, the estimated cost, almost $10 million, came as a shock to VPA. So the organization consulted a Valley construction contractor and after several discussions learned the project cost could be reduced by $800,000 by using a design/build means of delivery. VPA choose to go further, assuming construction costs would remain at their current low rate for the next few years, resulting in a total project cost of $8.6 million.

We came out of this experience with a better appreciation of the value of conferring with local contractors on construction costs and the importance of fully discussing the components of project costs with the organizations we assist.