Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-07
Architects Fee
For New School
May Set Record
Contract Provides Payment of
More Than 100000 If
Building Costs
$2,OOO,OOO.

Probably the largest architects fee
ever paid in Omaha will be the one
which will be allowed by the school
district to Frederick w Clarke and
Edwin B. Clarke, architects OF the
new technical and commercial high
school, for which general construc-
ton bids will be opened by the
Board of Education next Thursday
noon.
These architects will be paid more
than 100000 for their work, the
exact amount being predicatcd on
the cost of the school, The contract
which was entered into by the school
district and the Clarkes on May 5,
1920, provides that the architects shall
be paid 6 per cent for the initial
$250,000 of cost Of the building, 5
per cent on the next $l,750,OOO and
5 per cent on the excess of cost above
$2O0O,0O0. On that basis, if the
school costs S2,000,000, the architects
would be paid $lO2,500. Neither the
members of the school board nor
the architects will venture an opinion
at this time as to the probable cost
of the school, but the general opinion
is that the total cost will exceep
$2,000,000.
S2o,5o0 Initial Fee.
The contract with the architects
provides that $20,500 shall be paid
to them on approval of the prelimi-
nary plans, which has been accom-
plished. Another provision is that
$4,000 additional shall be paid when
the plans and specifications shall
have been finally approved and ac-
cepted. The plans have been tenta-
lively approved by the board, this
approval being sufficient to receive
figures from contractors. The school
board has paid the architects total
of $4s,s00 thus far for their work:
In consideration of the fee referred
to, the architects, according to the
contract, are required to supervise
the building through to final con-
struction and to employ and pay
necessary consulting engineers for
the heating, ventilation and lighting
systems.
The specifications on which con-
tractors will submit bids next Thurs
day provide that the work shall be
completed within $50 working days
from the signing of the contract,
with a penalty clause for failure to
complete within the time limitation.
Expect Dozen Bids.
1t is expected that from nine to
II local and outside contractors will
compete for this work.
The new technical and commercial
high school will be one of the finest
educational institutions in Nebraska,
according to statements by men,
bcrs of the school board.
1t will be 800 feet long and will
contain many features and con-
veniences. Ultimate plans call for
an athletic field with stadium. The
site extends from Thirtieth to
Thirty-third streets, between Cum
ing and Burt streets. To meet the
growing needs of the High School
of Commerce until the new building
is ready, the school board is erecting
temporary frame buildings on the
new site, to accommodate $50 stu
dents.
The Newport Belvidere Improve
mcnt club presented to the school
board Friday afternoon a resolution
which requests that the school di-
rectors give local contractors the
preference when letting contract
or contracts for the new school.
The resolution also urges that the
school board require the contractors
to buy their materials in Omaha and
to use Omaha labor in the construc-
+;o,,