Steel cost delays UCI expansion

By Gary Robbins

May 12, 2004

The University of California, Irvine, has been forced to delay expansion of Rowland Hall, one of its key science buildings, because the low bid for the project came in at $24 million, $6 million higher than expected.

The cost of the 85,000 square-foot upgrade and expansion soared largely because steel prices have greatly increased, said Ronald Stern, dean of the School of Physical Sciences.

The project will be re-bid when steel prices fall, Stern said.

The campus may have to do the same with a proposed $365 million hospital project in Orange that recently came in about $50 million over bid.