Cook Inlet Tribal Council seeks a bigger K'teya center for the same $36.5 million

Cook Inlet Tribal Council on Friday restarted its search for a builder for the K'teya Cultural Center in east Anchorage. It's now asking for a bigger building for the same $36.5 million.

The new request calls for about 39,900 square feet, up from about 32,600 in the version CITC issued Sept. 30 and later paused. The new size matches the cost estimate behind the budget, which had priced a bigger building than the first request described.

The $36.5 million also has to cover more. The first request called it the "design-build construction budget," including furniture and equipment. The new one calls it the total project budget, which also covers a project manager to represent CITC, other CITC costs and contingencies.

The two-story center would sit on CITC land off Northway Drive, next to its Clare Swan Early Learning Center. Plans include a gym, stage, walking track, child care, a commercial kitchen, clinic space, offices and cultural space.

The posted records don't say why CITC paused the first request.

The new version also proposes letting the builder share in savings, subject to a funding and procurement review. If it finishes under its guaranteed maximum price, CITC keeps 70% of verified savings and the builder gets 30%, up to $300,000. Under the first request, all savings went to CITC.

Proposals are due Dec. 18, and CITC expects to pick a builder by Jan. 22. The contract would start Feb. 15, six weeks later than first planned, while the finish date stays June 30, 2028.

CITC also put out a separate request Friday for that project manager. That firm would oversee money and the schedule and coordinate city approvals. That request says funding "may involve donations, grants and other sources" but names no funder.