ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 has learned that Orlando's new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is behind schedule and could be over budget.
The $500 million project sits at the corner of Orange Avenue and South Street, across from City Hall. It is partially funded by tax money.
Channel 9's Daralene Jones learned that the team overseeing construction wanted the work finished two months ago, but a dispute with the contractor has caused some delays. That dispute was recently settled, Jones was told, and will not cost taxpayers additional money.
Despite the construction still going on, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the contractor told Jones that the center will be ready for its first show in just over two weeks.
"What we had hoped was that the building would be turned over a couple of months earlier than the November date, instead of two weeks before the opening date," said Dyer.
The dispute has led to a settlement agreement which will force the contractor, Balfour Beatty, to pay $2 million if there isn't "substantial completion by Nov. 24."
Jones tracked down the division president of the Balfour Beatty Monday, who guaranteed the building will be finished well before that date.
"Oh yes, there are those final inspections occurring as we speak. Everything is coming together. All of the opening events that are planned are going to happen," said Sean DeMartino with Balfour Beatty Construction.
DeMartino said the reasons for the delays are complicated, but Jones learned that the construction team has been playing catch-up since early on, when the original architect had to be replaced.
Contractors were left building without complete design plans and with materials that cost more than original estimates. City records show there have been more than 800 change orders on the project.
"Considering the complexity of a world-class performing arts center, level of changes and detail that have occurred would not be unforeseen," said DeMartino.
There were some small events held at the center over the weekend.
WFTV
