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'Value-added engineering' reduces costs of Elfstrom Stadium expansion

Kane County Forest Preserve commissioners had to blink after looking at figures Friday that showed the expansion of Elfstrom Stadium actually costing less than expected.

But officials warned members of the commission's Executive Committee not to get too giddy, even though a series of eight change orders at the $10.57 million stadium expansion project show a net of $41,177 off the original project cost.

"I don't want to delude you," said Robert Quinlan, Forest Preserve finance director. "I'm sure there will be change orders in the positive at some point."

The reason for the reduction, officials said, came from "value-added engineering," where construction managers and engineers on the project continue to evaluate materials and design even after construction has begun. Value-added engineering on the roof over the new second tier of bleachers being built cut the cost of the project by $68,820, and eliminating some materials in the new administration building saved $2,240. With the other six change orders being positive, the net savings was $41,177, reducing the net cost of the project to about $10.53 million.

And the project is on schedule.