UC Davis Suspends Work on King Hall Construction

UC Davis suspended construction work on the King Hall Expansion and Renovation Project last week in the wake of a state decision to freeze funding for capital projects pending the resolution of the budget impasse in the California Legislature.  The suspension will be effective for 90 days, and hopes remain high that the completion of the project will not be significantly impacted.

The decision was unexpected and came about very quickly, said Dean Kevin R. Johnson, who has received assurances from UC Davis Provost Enrique Lavernia that the campus will work with the Law School to see that the project is completely in a timely manner.

“We hope that this halt is a mere inconvenience,” said Johnson.  “Indeed, at this point we are not certain that the suspension will substantially delay completion of the project.”

Planning for the renovation phase of the project is continuing, as are efforts to solicit the private support needed to meet the budget needs expected for the renovation.  The Law School remains optimistic that the entire project will stay on track.

The suspension of work happened quickly following a decision to freeze disbursements for state-funded capital projects by the California Pooled Money Investment Board, which manages the California’s cash flow and provides funds for state agencies and projects.  The campus issued a letter to the contractor, K.O.O. Construction, on January 9 suspending work for 90 days.  Campus planners are still analyzing the options regarding several other UC Davis projects, and other UC campuses including Irvine, Riverside, and Merced are also considering suspending construction projects.

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