When choosing a builder for your school’s running track construction project, simply going with the lowest bidder should not be your main decision criteria. Often the lowest bids that may appear as the most affordable option really end up becoming the school’s most expensive option. Here are four things you should know to when planning your running track construction:
#1. Running track construction is a highly specialized skill set.
Building a running track is NOT something that a plumber, a landscaper or an electrician could do successfully. Surprisingly, many schools accept bids from general contractors who do not have specialized training and experience in running track construction. For instance, running track construction should NOT be approached the same way as laying asphalt paving for a parking lot. But, without the specialized experience and proper qualifications required for running tracks, you can easily end up with a contractor who makes these kinds of costly mistakes throughout your project.
#2. Insist on having proper qualifications written into your running track specifications.
Recently, our company bid on a project where the owner had thorough and proper qualifications written into their running track specification. Because bid prices came in over budget, instead of trying to figure out where savings could be found within the design, the owner decided to remove the qualifications entirely in order to be able to attract more bidders. As a result of the deletion of proper qualifications, new bidders could be a plumber, electrician, landscaper, etc. Experienced sports facility specialists agree that for a public owner, their designer, architect, or engineer to not include proper
CONTRACTOR qualifications for a running track project, (that if properly constructed, could last decades), is irresponsible and potentially disastrous.
#3. Proper qualifications protect owners, taxpayers, donors and fundraisers.
The expenditure for a facility represents a large sum of taxpayer money, often $250,000 to several million. So, it is the duty of the owner’s representatives (designer/architect) to protect the owner and the taxpayer money by hiring qualified individuals to plan, design and construct a potentially long-lasting asset to the owner or community.
#4. Your running track construction project should not be added onto a non-related existing contract.
Oftentimes we see a public entity, (school, university, municipality) putting out a running track project that is added onto a non-related existing contract, such as classroom additions, a new cafeteria hvac systems, or parking lot additions, without any qualifications simply because it is convenient. This TOO OFTEN results in the General Contractor hiring the cheapest, inexperienced, unqualified subs possible to construct this highly technical, high-performance running track facility just ‘good enough’ to satisfy those in charge. As a result, it is very possible that one could see a driveway paver attempt to pave the track, or witness a landscaper attempt to build the facility. Both may be completely qualified in their respective industries, but not in this highly specialized field of sports facility construction. This synthetic surface running track facility needs to last as intended, perform properly and be safe for all who use it. Please ensure that you include proper contractor qualifications to maximize the protection of your renovation or new facility. By consulting with an American Sports Builders Association Certified Track Builder, like American Athletic, you will be on the right track towards identifying your facility’s needs.
Q: What questions do you have about planning your running track construction project? Please share them here.
