Korte & Luitjohan, Richland College Student Success Center, Decatur

By RITA DUCKWORTH
    Construction projects are often delayed due to weather, permits or materials. In the case of Richland College in Decatur, it was the Illinois budget crisis.
    Korte & Luitjohan Contractors Inc. is the coordinating construction contractor for a new building at the college that is state funded under the Community Development Board. Construction on the $3.7 million Student Success Center started in 2015. Because of the state’s fiscal problems, work was halted after only four months.
    After a two-year delay, Korte & Luitjohan is finally able to return to work on the building. The job includes the renovation of a 10,000-square-foot existing building and a 17,000-square-foot new addition that will be LEED Silver compliant. Once finished, the structural steel and masonry structure will gather administrative offices into one location on campus.
    Del Scott was assigned to the job as project manager when work resumed earlier this year. Scott and the new Superintendent, Corey Leitschuh, have been making up for lost time.
    When work is stalled on such a large project, orders for materials are cancelled or put on hold. When new orders are placed, vendors’ lead times have sometimes changed, pushing back important deliveries. Despite the interruptions, Scott is confident they will meet the new completion date scheduled for early December.
    Although based in Highland, Korte & Luitjohan often does work throughout Central Illinois, as well as the Metro St. Louis area and Missouri.
    “We’ve enjoyed working on this with Richland Community College, BLDD Architects, and the Community Development Board,” says Scott. “We’re bidding other work there. It’s a great opportunity, and we look forward to working together in the future.”
    Korte & Luitjohan is a family-owned business founded in 1958. It offers design-build, construction management, and full-service general contracting.