KPMG Construction Cost Review
California State University, Chico – CH630
Bell Memorial Union Project
PROJECT OVERVIEW
KPMG was retained by the California State University (CSU), Office of the University
Auditor, to perform a review of the renovation, expansion, and seismic upgrade, of the
existing 50,000 s.f. CSU Chico Bell Memorial Union Student Center (BMU). This was
the first delegated major capital outlay project performed by CSU Chico. The University
administered this Student Union project on behalf of the Trustees. The BMU is a two-
story, type II concrete building with a basement and two additions that were added to the
south and east sections of the building. The additions consisted of a 52,000 s.f. three-
story Bookstore and a 15,000 s.f. Multi-Purpose Building. The new structures are type II
steel brace frame construction with cement plaster, thin brick veneer finish, with an
aluminum storefront.
Other major components included the upgrade of the food services facility and creation
of a food court, upgrade of the HVAC system, and construction of a new electrical
substation. Estimated construction cost was $14,000,000. The construction schedule
anticipated a start date of November/December, 1998, with project completion set for
August/September, 2000. The project was phased to allow initial construction of the
Bookstore and Multi-purpose Building followed by the renovation of the existing BMU.
The existing spaces were occupied during the construction of the new Bookstore and
Multi-Purpose Room. Following the completion of the new Bookstore, personnel were
relocated from the existing BMU to the completed Bookstore prior to renovation work
commencing in the BMU.
Between November 4 and 7, 2002, KPMG reviewed project records from the following
firms involved in the project’s development and execution:
Contractor:
Allen L. Bender, Inc.
Architect/Engineer (A/E):
Lionakis-Beaumont Design Group (LBDG)
Project Manager (PM)/Inspection (IOR): Consolidated CM (CCM)