Senators Press Education Officials on Surge in Cost of Arthur A. Richards School Construction

The recent surge in reconstruction costs for the Arthur A. Richards School by over $100 million has left Senator Kurt Vialet doubting that the design-build approach to development is a good fit for the Virgin Islands.  “The design-build has not worked for the Virgin Islands,” he insisted, after listening to an explanation of why the price of the project had increased by such a great amount from a representative of the Department of Education during Wednesday’s Committee on Education and Workforce Development meeting.  “At the first juncture that would be referred to, the company said it was going to cost $159 million,” Senator Vialet, the committee's chair, noted. VIDE’s architect, Chaneel Callwood, however, informed Mr. Vialet that the figure was simply “a good starting point, a good minimum budget.” She clarified that, as exclusively reported by the Consortium, approximately $30 million worth of new additions have been attached to the project, including a swimming pool. Security co...