³ÉÈËXÕ¾

SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

‘Not the right fit’: Washington State Convention Center team announces split

Mar 7, 2016, 2:19 PM | Updated: May 8, 2016, 2:22 pm

One of Seattle's most anticipated projects has hit a snag. The Washington State Convention Center expansion team announced it ended its "relationship" with Skanska-Hunt, the general contractor and construction manager selected last year to build the proposed expansion. "We've worked with the contractor for more than six months and have determined they are not the right fit for this project," said Matt Griffin, managing partner at Pine Street Group L.L.C., the development manager for the project. "We will extend the schematic design process and then restart the contractor selection process to find the best fit and value for WSCC's investment." Related: Ominous gray building in Everett quickly transforming The news came as a bit of a shock to the contractor, who, in a statement, said it was "tremendously disappointing," the . In a statement, Skanska said the contractor has worked in a "professional manner." Despite the separation, the convention center team does not expect the overall schedule to be "materially affected." Construction on the expansion is scheduled for 2017. It is expected to open by 2020. The expansion will roughly double the space of the current convention center, adding about 1.2 million square feet of space. The site will fill about four city blocks between Howell and Pine streets, and Boren and 9th avenues. The expansion will sit adjacent to I-5. The building will "take advantage of the exposure created by the I-5 canyon and site topography to create a meaningful addition to the Downtown skyline." The project is estimated to cost $1.4 billion.

One of Seattle’s most anticipated projects has hit a snag.

The Washington State Convention Center expansion team announced it ended its “relationship” with Skanska-Hunt, the general contractor and construction manager selected last year to build the proposed expansion.

“We’ve worked with the contractor for more than six months and have determined they are not the right fit for this project,” said Matt Griffin, managing partner at Pine Street Group L.L.C., the development manager for the project. “We will extend the schematic design process and then restart the contractor selection process to find the best fit and value for WSCC’s investment.”

Related: Ominous gray building in Everett quickly transforming

The news came as a bit of a shock to the contractor, who, in a statement, said it was “tremendously disappointing,” the . In a statement, Skanska said the contractor has worked in a “professional manner.”

Despite the separation, the convention center team does not expect the overall schedule to be “materially affected.”

Construction on the expansion is scheduled for 2017. It is expected to open by 2020.

The expansion will roughly double the space of the current convention center, adding about 1.2 million square feet of space. The site will fill about four city blocks between Howell and Pine streets, and Boren and 9th avenues.

The expansion will sit adjacent to I-5. The building will “take advantage of the exposure created by the I-5 canyon and site topography to create a meaningful addition to the Downtown skyline.”

The project is estimated to cost $1.4 billion.

FILE - House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, attends a press conference in St. Paul, Mi...

Associated Press

Minnesota’s slain Democratic leader saw liberal victories, then brokered a budget deal out of power

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota House’s top Democrat helped shepherd a package of liberal initiatives to passage when her party had a narrow majority two years ago. After Democrats lost their majority, she helped broker a deal to keep state government funded and provided a crucial vote to pass it, though her party hated it. […]

26 minutes ago

FILE - A boat navigates large icebergs near Kulusuk, in eastern Greenland, on Aug. 15, 2019. (AP Ph...

Associated Press

First direct flight from US to Greenland since 2008 lands on Trump’s birthday

NUUK, Greenland (AP) — The first direct flight from the U.S. to Greenland by an American airline landed in the capital city of Nuuk on Saturday. The United Airlines-operated Boeing 737 Max 8 departed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey at 11:31 a.m. EDT (1531 GMT) and arrived a little over 4 hours later, […]

35 minutes ago

14-year-old Tacoma chase...

Frank Sumrall

Amber Alert canceled for 2-year-old girl kidnapped in Tacoma

An Amber Alert has been canceled Saturday for a 2-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped in Tacoma at approximately 9:10 a.m.

1 hour ago

Photos from the "No Kings" protest in Cal Anderson Park just before their march kicks off. (Photos:...

Julia Dallas

Cal Anderson Park’s “No Kings” protest begins march; multiple protests under way Saturday

Two Seattle protests, including one near UW graduation, are planned for Saturday.

2 hours ago

Associated Press

A Minnesota mayor says two state lawmakers were shot in their homes early Saturday

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota mayor says two state lawmakers were shot in their homes early Saturday. Mayor Ryan Sabas of Champlin said state senator John Hoffman and state representative Melissa Hortman were shot, and that Hoffman’s wife was also shot. A person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that investigators […]

6 hours ago

sea lion ballard...

Frank Sumrall

Shilshole sea lion surge: Marina docks overrun in Ballard

Dozens of sea lions have made the public guest docks at Shilshole Bay Marina in Ballard their new, temporary home, a customary move over the last few years.

7 hours ago

‘Not the right fit’: Washington State Convention Center team announces split