Bowling Green State University’s Stroh Center project took a big step forward Thursday with bids that
should total several million dollars under the estimates.
The center will be the new home of BGSU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and the women’s volleyball
team, as well as be used for commencement and numerous other events. It will be located along East
Wooster Street in what is now parking lot six.
Moser Construction’s $12,684,000 base bid on the general trades contract was the apparent low bid. The
estimate was $18,900,000.
In fact, all 14 bids for the general contract were nearly $3 million under the estimate. The next lowest
bids were $12,986,000 by Rudolph-Libbe and $13 million by Synergy.
"No decisions are being made today," said Michael Schuessler, BGSU’s project manager in the
Office of Design and Construction, before the first sealed envelope was opened. "We’ll evaluate the
bids and documentation and then contact the bidders. That will happen timely," he said.
The total cost of the project is being estimated at $36 million. The cost is being covered by $14 million
in private donations and $22 million in bonds.
The bid opening took nearly two hours.
Bids were also opened for plumbing, fire protection, electrical and heating, ventilating and air
conditioning, along with numerous alternates.
All of the plumbing bids exceeded the $825,000 base estimate. The apparent low bid was $879,000 by Dimet
Services. No other base plumbing bid was below $1 million.
The fire protection system was estimated at $400,000, with Accel Fire Systems the apparent low bidder at
$199,430. All eight bids were below the estimate with the highest at $377,245.
Heating ventilating and air conditioning was estimated at $2,200,000, with all of the bids over the
estimate. Warner Mechanical is the apparent low bidder at $2,424,644. Industrial Power Systems was just
higher at $2,425,000. There were nine HVAC bids.
Electrical work was estimated at $3,400,000, with Brint electric the apparent low at $2,759,579. There
were 10 bidders for the electrical contract.
Various alternate bids included parking lots, wood flooring, seating, lighting and plumbing fixtures.
BGSU Trustess were told at their meeting in late June that site work for the project could begin in late
August. Completion is expected in late 2011.
Within the next few weeks bids will be sought for the $41 million Wolfe Center for the Arts.
That building will be located on the south side of Ridge Street between Moore Musical Arts Center and the
School of Art building. The site was formerly occupied by the Saddelmire Student Services Building.
 
Photo caption: Front page: Michael Schuessler, the Project Manager for BGSU, grabs the first bid for the
Stroh Center off the top of the pile Thursday morning. (Aaron Carpenter/Sentinel-Tribune)