Construction inside the Fusion 54 building will begin later this week after the Crawfordsville Board of Public Works and Safety approved the construction bids during its regular meeting Wednesday.
Three contractor bids totaling $1.5 million were approved.
The general trades contract in the amount of $705,200 was awarded to Gibson Commercial Construction. The Indianapolis-based company has several former and present county residents employed including owner Jake Gibson.
Payne Electric was awarded the electricity and data service contract in the amount of $419,970. Locally-owned Vaught Electric is a partner in the bid.
A $415,000 bid was awarded to Patterson-Horth Inc. for fire suppression installation and HVAC work on the roof.
The city will pay for the construction from Tax Increment Funds which have been accumulating for the purpose of city enhancements such as the Fusion 54 building. No funds will be borrowed to complete the project.
Work will begin Friday on the fourth floor of the building known as the PNC Bank Building.
Bids also were opened for the construction of two city parks — Pike Place and Trailhead Park with construction to begin in the spring. Both parks are located along South Washington Street.
The only bid received for the two projects was from R.L. Turner Inc. of Zionsville.
The Pike Place bid is $1.4 million. The project includes a permanent stage and public restrooms. There will be new sidewalks in and around the park and other features.
The total bid for the Trailhead Park is $344,511.
Funding for both parks is being provided by a $2 million Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant of which nearly $500,000 has already been expensed to purchase the Trailhead Park area, formerly known as the Crawford lot. Also contributing to the funding is Wabash College, Montgomery County Community Foundation and Tipmont REMC. Tipmont’s donation is in the form of a Green Grant to purchase trees for the parks.