City seeking bids for Armory renovation

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher

Renovation of the Benson Armory building is moving one step closer, with the city council voting Monday night unanimously to seek bids for the project.

Engen Associates, an architectural and engineering firm in Willmar, has prepared the construction documents for the $1.2 million renovation of the building. However, the project has had to be scaled back as construction costs have risen in the past few years.

Inflation has added $200,000 to the cost estimates. Those costs include a 10% contingency fee and 10% for engineering, legal, and non-construction costs. To adjust to the higher costs, the city asked Engan Associates to take out the kitchen, multi-purpose room lighting, installing a multi-purpose floor in the gymnasium, and painting the walls in the gymnasium from the base bid.