Contact: Larry Phillips 206 296-1004

The Metropolitan King County Council today adopted an agreement with the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center for the University to provide project management of a publicly-financed, $257 million Harborview Medical Center stabilization and critical-care expansion project.

Today’s action creates an oversight mechanism by which the council can monitor the project’s progress and keep an eye out for cost overruns.

“The Harborview expansion will come in on time and on budget, just like the Regional Justice Center,” said Budget Committee Chair Larry Phillips. “The agreement will allow us to spot potential cost overruns, and take appropriate action before it is too late. I anticipate a smooth expansion project, which will keep Harborview one of the premier public medical centers in the country.”

The oversight agreement obligates project managers to seek council approval for “big-picture” changes in project scope, schedule or budget. The agreement also requires exploration of whether a project labor agreement might add to keeping the project on budget and on schedule.

“King County and the Harborview Medical Center board of trustees have explored multiple project management options and determined that contracting with the University of Washington to use its construction and project management experience will efficiently use scarce public resources,” said Phillips.

Harborview Medical Center is a comprehensive acute care facility, Level 1 trauma and regional burn center owned by King County. The University of Washington operates and manages Harborview Medical Center. Voters in 2000 authorized King County to issue bonds to fund seismic, health, and public safety improvements at Harborview hospital including demolition of unsound buildings, construction of new buildings, and renovation and upgrading of existing facilities.

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