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Show Board Conclusion Disputed Study Chairman Favors Review Fowler, Ferguson, Rubin and King -- the architectural firm that generally handles building projects for Alpine School District - says the old city hospital building would cost more to renovate for use by the district personnel than it is worth. In a telephone interview, Joe Rubin confirmed that an earlier statement from his associate Robert Fowler was correct: "We did some work on it, and that is the conclusion we came to. It . would be more expensive to renovate the old hospital than to build a new building." That claim is disputed by Glen Anderson, chairman of a citizens' advisory committee which was set up to study the hospital trade. "My opinion is that it can be remodeled for a lot less than their architect says," said Mr. Anderson. "But then again, if the school board . tells him what they want - new light fixtures in every room, etc. -- and want it as elaborate as a new building, I'm sure it will be." "It's pretty hard to believe that those walls, the roof, the foundation and the basement have no value," he said. According to Mr. Rubin, "If you look at the history of hospitals -- old hospitals - it's very difficult to do anything else with them. "Take the one in Ogden, it's been a white elephant for many years? They just . can't do much with thenri.".. - An American Fork city official says that the old St. Benedict's Hospital in Ogden is not comparable to the mostly-new American Fork Hospital building. The basic structure of St. Benedict's is dated at about the turn of the century, whereas most of the American Fork structure is less than 20 years old and has been updated conlinually. Rubin said that hospitals are rnade for such a "specialized purpose" that to turn them around for other uses is very costly. "To convert the old American Fork hospital to some other use is just very hard," he said. "It is very costly to make it efficient." But Mr. Anderson ays that the architect does what the district tells him to do. "I wouldn't challenge the architect," he said. "You tell him you want something and he'll make it , whatever you want." "One of the things Harold Jacklin said in our meetings is that we'd have to change all of the doors and we'd have to change all of the lights," Mr. Anderson continued. "But there are lights in every room, and they have been adequate for hospital care. I think that people could work under those lights. "He also complained that it wasn't set up for the handicapped, which isn't true. There are two ramps on it, and if they would leave those wide doors, any handicapped person could get into any room in the place." "You see, they really just didn't want it right from the time the bonds were approved. That's when their interest died," said Mr. Anderson Mr. Jacklin told the newspaper last summer that the district was not interested in building a new office -only new schools. Charges have been made that the architects favor building a new district facility because their com- nv.'sior: would be high"'". Rubin says that is not so. "Renovation produces a higher fee for the architect than new building," he said. "Remodeling is more costly. Given the same dollar amount, it is a fair statement to say the remodeling will pay the architect more money." Rubin says their firm does not charge a standard percentage fee for their work. "That is negotiated with the client, Continued on Page A-2 Hospital Continued from Front Page ad depends on the client the job and service involved," said Rubin. Does Rubin expect that his lirm may gel ihe contra when and .1 new Slices are planned? We would hope so," said Rubin .. We've had a line working rionship with Alpine District We've worked with them lo or 20 vearsnow." , ' "We've been fortunate enough in tne past to do work lor them, lor which we're grateful," continued Rubin "That's because the d.str.cl fa, confidence in us and we have eonie to an understanding ot what thev want and need." "It's become a good working relationship like a lawyer or doctor, or any professional relationship, said Rubin. Kubin notes thai Fowler, Ferguson, Kubin and King does nol bid for jobs because they do nol believe architects should bid out. "When you bid, thai assumes that ' all architects offer the same service, the same quality service and they don't," said Rubin. . Rubin notes that the architect on a particular job does not make the final |