West Virginia University workers will undertake the bulk of a $975,000 renovation project at Blaney House, home to the Universitys president and family.
Physical Plant workers and outside contractors will begin working on the project this month and hope to finish in March 2002, said Physical Plant Director Lee Comer.
“This project will give our workers a chance to showcase their skills,”Comer said.”Baron Smith, assistant director for maintenance and operations, and his crew are used to doing high-profile projects such as the recent Woodburn Hall refurbishing, and they cant wait to start on this latest one.”
An 8,000-square-foot addition is the cornerstone of the project. The addition will house two dining rooms, a gallery, a guest suite, handicapped accessible restrooms, a catering kitchen, a garage, basement and attic. Renovations to the existing house are also planned.
WVU employees will work on the driveway; site grading; site utilities; landscaping; doors and windows; interior drywall; interior painting; interior trim work; plumbing; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; and electrical installations.
Outside contractors who already have agreements with the state for small projects will submit bids for the following work: foundations, framing, masonry, roofing, drywall finish and fire protection. Ten of the 13 contractors are based in West Virginia.
The architect for the project is McInturff Architects of Bethesda, Md.
University officials decided to do the addition and renovations in-house after proposals came in more than $400,000 over budget. Funding for the project will come from private donations.
Last March, the University System Board of Trustees approved naming the home the Blaney House after longtime WVU supporters W. Gerald and Carolyn Eberly Blaney. The Blaneys, of Chalk Hill, Pa., are major contributors to the structures addition.
Besides being a home to David C. Hardesty Jr. and his family, the Blaney House serves as a setting for various University activities, including recognition ceremonies and fund-raising events.