Work on new arena progresses

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Work on the new community center is going well, and Heymann Construction is about back on schedule with the addition to the Senior Center.

All the concrete exterior-wall panels for the community center building are in place, and the metal roof deck was to be placed over the north rink Tuesday, said Jerry O'Brien, a Heymann vice president.

"We're about 80 percent complete with the south deck," O'Brien said. "We're in very good shape with the community center project and headed for a March 1st completion."

However, O'Brien said there's always the possibility of snags occurring along the way in obtaining materials or some other factor, like the weather, causing delays.

The New Ulm construction company is looking toward having the building completely enclosed by Sept. 1, O'Brien said. The sidewalks and parking lot are expected to be done in September so that landscaping and other finishing exterior touches can be completed in the fall.

"We don't want to have to be doing that kind of work next year," he said.

The firm is about caught-up with the schedule on the Senior Center addition after encountering several delays, O'Brien reported. Heymann is still "pushing dirt" for the performing arts theater/dining room addition, dubbed "cafetorium" by city staff, but the extended footings on the low side of the slope behind the current building are in place.

Both referendum projects are scheduled to be completed by March 1, 2003, with the renovation of Vogel Arena to be completed 90 days later.

The sales tax referendum project involving three buildings, which Heymann Construction obtained with a low bid of $9.7 million, is the largest project in the company's history, O'Brien said.