North Huron Council has selected a contractor to renovate Blyth Memorial Hall.
On Monday, council approved the $3.2-million bid from SKC Construction of Cambridge.
SKC submitted a bid of $3.8-million, but council voted to cut the contingency allowance in half. Insurance, permits, utilities, and other costs bring the grand total back to $3.8-million.
Reeve Neil Vincent says the revitalization of the Hall is the first phase of the plan to create a cultural hub to drive social renewal and local prosperity through arts and culture.
The nearly 100-year old hall was built as a living cenotaph to remember the fallen in the First War.
The plan to turn it into a year round teaching and event centre includes redesigning the courtyard, new seating and technical upgrades in the Upper Hall, an expanded lobby, new kitchen, centralized washrooms, safety, and heating-cooling system upgrades.
The Blyth Arts and Cultural Initiative 14/19 Inc. is spearheading the initiative.
"As home to the Blyth Festival, the village Cenotaph and gathering place, Memorial Hall is vital to commerce and community in the village of Blyth," says Vincent. "In addition to the $500,000 contribution by North Huron, Blyth 14/19 Inc. has confirmed funding is in place to cover all project costs and we’re pleased to proceed to the construction phase.”
Five contractors had been prequalified, four had submitted bids by the deadline on June 28 and three were considered compliant. SKC’s bid was the lowest and considered complete by Project Architect Jason Morgan of Allan Avis Architects in Goderich.
