The Capitol Visitor Center is almost three years past its original deadline and more than $335 million over its original budget.
Now, an expired contract may leave taxpayers deeper in debt.
Architect of the Capitol Alan Hantman and Providence, R.I.-based Gilbane Building Company are in negotiations to see who will pay for the delays. Gilbane, a construction manager, has the responsibility of pushing the other contractors to finish their work on time and under budget. Gilbane’s contract expired Sept. 15.
The center was supposed to be a museum dedicated to the seat of the world’s oldest democratic republic. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it was also supposed to enhance security by directing tourists away from the Capitol’s main entrances.
Ground broke for the center in 2002. It was supposed to be finished in January 2005. It was supposed to cost $265 million. At a November hearing before a Senate subcommittee, the Government Accountability Office testified that the center wouldn’t open until early 2008 and would cost at least $600 million.
“It’s a mess,” Citizens Against Government Waste official David Williams said. “It’s a big hole in the ground, and it costs $600 million.”
Hantman hired Gilbane in response to criticism about delays on the site. It’s at least the third major contractor to handle the center. But GAO officials have testified repeatedly that Hantman and his staff haven’t documented the center’s problems properly. This makes it harder to prove that Gilbane or the other contractors should pay for the delays.
“There’s a lack of management focus,” government auditor Bernard Ungar told the Senate in November. “If the team cannot get these problems taken care of, they’re going to be in a real world of hurt.”
Gilbane didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The delays have been numerous: 65 work days lost waiting for two elevators in the East Front, 66 days lost waiting for bronze doors because of “fabrication problems,” 38 days to “ceiling problems,” 138 days waiting for light fixtures.
Hantman can unilaterally alter the contract and make the contractors pay, but that would likely end in costly litigation.
Ungar refused detailed comment for this story because he is allowed to speak publicly only at hearings. But he said that little has changed since his last public comments.
Tom Fontana, spokesman for the architect’s office, said his agency is being unfairly blamed for the problems at the site.
“Almost on a weekly basis, we get additional changes,” Fontana said. “Some of the stuff we’re doing, we don’t even have codes for.”
Congress has made 1,300 changes to the center’s plans in the last two years alone, Fontana said. Security concerns also prompted Congress to raise the center’s budget. He said his agency is only 20 percent to 25 percent over budgeted amounts, which is not unusual in construction.
There have also been unintended consequences resulting from the construction. Capitol Police officers were embarrassed last fall when an armed, shirtless man drove onto the construction site and ran into the Capitol. He made it all the way to the House flag office before office workers tackled him.
Congress blamed the Capitol Police’s leave policy — which put up to one-third of the force off-duty — but rank-and-file officers have said privately that the Visitor Center site is simply too big to guard effectively. Officers have also complained that they aren’t kept informed about changes in the construction schedule which should change the security requirements.
Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., held numerous hearings on the progress of the center. He said that there wasn’t enough early planning and the center “got off to a bad start.”
But things are finally moving in the right direction, Allard said. He hopes the Democrats will continue to hold hearings on the construction.
“At the end of the day, the Capitol Visitor Center will be a wonderful facility that everyone can be proud of,” Allard said.
Williams said he is unimpressed.
“I’m sure there are going to be some gift shops,” he said. “Not that the deficit isn’t enough of a memento for the taxpayers.”
Anyone with information on the Capitol Visitor Center project can call 202-459-4956.
Major contractors
» Centex: Dallas-based construction company was given $100 million contract for “sequence 1” — structure and foundation of the site. Finished in March 2005.
» Manhattan Construction Co.: Tulsa, Okla.-based “sequence 2” general contractor, responsible for finishing all the construction. Paid $214 million. Still on the job.
» Gilbane Construction Co.: Providence, R.I.-based construction management company, brought to keep the project moving quickly. Contract expired Sept. 15.
