THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 26, 1994 TAG: 9412260040
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Tom Holden
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
The Virginia Beach Judicial Center is widely considered a vast improvement over the warren of antiquated buildings that once housed the city's courts.
But it is also the most complex building the city has ever built, and since opening last year it has been troubled by problems that have resulted in a series of lawsuits about its construction.
One complaint, now in mediation, involves the waterproofing system installed at the building's foundation while the other concerns sound proofing of heating ducts, said Richard J. Beaver, assistant city attorney.
In the waterproofing case, the city is involved in a dispute with the general contractor, Centex-Simpson Construction Co. of Fairfax. The contractor said leaks in the foundation - which have been repaired - were caused by poor design. The city has claimed they were caused by construction faults.
In the heating duct dispute, the complaints centered on how certain ducts were soundproofed. Construction plans called for some ducts to be insulated so that sound would not carry from courtrooms to jury rooms to judges' chambers. Some duct work was installed without insulation and had to be torn out and replaced.
The costly rework generated a series of lawsuits involving the subcontractor, which sued the general contractor, which sued the city, which sued the architects. In September the case went to mediation and a settlement was reached.
``By the time the suit reached the city, the amount sought had increased to $455,038,'' Beaver said.
``The only thing I can say about the pending lawsuit involving the Judicial Center is that it's in mediation and we can't comment at this point as to what the result might be.'' by CNB