Kearsley set to start work at Wren Pierson Building

By BECKY THOMAS

Staff Reporter

If all goes as planned, Cheney's community center will reopen next summer.

Kearsley Construction owner Frank Goudy said his crews would start work on the Wren Pierson Building renovation on Monday, Dec. 13.

Kearsley won the bid for the $1.3 million project after low bidder Bouten pulled out with a computing error. Goudy, who bought the Spokane-based Kearsley Construction three years ago with his wife Mary, said he was happy to win the contract.

“We were winners by default,” he said. “We were very comfortable with our bid and we think it'll be a good project for us.”

Kearsley has done work in Cheney before; they renovated Eastern Washington University's Senior, Monroe and Sutton halls, built EWU's childcare center and completed the new renovation and expansion of the city's utility building.

“We like working in Cheney,” Goudy said. “It's just a nice town. The people are very friendly and the city government is very reasonable to work with.”

The Wren Pierson renovation will start with interior demolition and removal of windows as well as reconstruction of the multipurpose room and adding a small addition. Then crews will do the remodeling work inside throughout the winter.

Goudy said the city wants the project done in six months.

“It's a little compressed but we'll do it,” he said. “Right now it looks pretty rough and when it gets done it's going to look pretty nice.”

Kearsley has another contract with EWU this winter, replacing exterior doors, and installing access controls and fire detection at the Fine Arts Complex. Goudy said the concurrent projects were targeted to increase efficiency.

While they have lowered their profit margins to compete in the down economy, Goudy said Kearsley has kept busy and “we haven't eliminated the idea of making a profit,” he said.

Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected]