Weather holds up Heartwood progress

By JUSTIN HARMON/Staff

Though the weather has disrupted the construction of the Heartwood Artisans’ Center, Rob Jones said they’ll try to make up for lost time.
According to Jones, the center’s project manager, the rain has kept the site at the Virginia Highlands Community College campus dead, putting workers behind by about two weeks.
Currently, Jones said they’ve got the concrete footers in and are starting on the wall assemblies. After that, they’ll start putting up the steel that will give the building a form over the next 30 days or so.
“It’ll start to take shape in the next couple of weeks,” he said.
And though it’s running a little behind, Jones has confidence workers be able to catch up before long.
The project broke ground in August and Jones said he’s still looking to complete the outside and much of the inside of the building by next November. The final piece of the interior, according to Jones, should be in place by February 2011.
Martin Brothers Construction, the general contractors working on the building, came in far under the architect’s estimate, according to Jones.
“They came in under the estimated amount. Their total cost was just under $9 million,” he said.
Jones said a separate bid will be taken for the internal finishing. He said he’s also expecting a good price on that work. So far, Jones said the project is as much as 25 percent under the original estimate.
Jones attributed the economic slowdown to the savings.
“Those bids were made a year and a half ago,” said Jones.
The Heartwood Artisans’ Center is a project of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and `Round the Mountain: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Network
The center unveiled its plans in January 2008 and finalized them in spring of this year. In August, the center announced it had received $10.3 million from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.
When finished, the center will house homemade arts and crafts from all over Southwest Virginia. It will also have a rotating display of work from external and in-house artisans. The resident artisans will be able to lead classes and give demonstrations in the studios.
Justin Harmon can be reached at 276-628-7101 or