It'll cost the city about $1.6 million to remodel the former Workers Compensation building at the corner of Front Avenue and Fifth Street.

Bismarck city commissioners OK'd the purchase of the building for $1.85 million last fall. So far, it'll be used to house Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health and Bismarck State College's Allied Health classes.

The bids for the project came in around $600,000 under initial estimates, said City Administrator Bill Wocken. Bismarck firms were awarded bids for the project by the city commission Thursday. Professional Contractors will handle general construction for $750,000, mechanical construction will be handled by Cofells Plumbing and Heating for $405,800, and electrical construction will be taken care of by Skeels Electric at a cost of $489,850.

Remodeling on the second floor will consist mostly of building walls to make offices and classrooms, since it's mostly an open floor.

The first floor will be remodeled for public health, and mostly "torn out and start over," Wocken said. Exam rooms, conference rooms and offices will be set up to serve the different clients that will use the space.

"It's what you'd expect in a public health office - what we have now but in a much more efficient manner," Wocken said.

The city won't assess any of the cost of the project to Burleigh County and hasn't settled on the share BSC will be responsible for. City Commissioner Sandi Tabor made awarding the bids contingent on a memo of understanding with BSC, that their rent will reflect their share of the project.

Rent for the college hasn't been settled on yet because it was necessary to have the remodeling costs and breakdown in place before deciding on them, Wocken said. He hopes to have the breakdowns of costs, the timing of construction and finishing dates and rental prices in place by the commission's next meeting Sept. 14.

Having the BSC space finished is more urgent, Wocken said, so classrooms are ready next semester. Construction will start on the second floor, possibly in a couple weeks. Public health will move in as soon as the remodeling is finished. Wocken said Custer Public Health is still interested in moving into the building.

After discussion on the remodeling project, Commissioner Bryce Hill said it's time a new name is assigned to the building. He's tired of people calling it "the Workers Comp" building, and suggested calling it the Front Avenue building. Wocken thought something like the Community Health Center would be fitting. The commission will mull it over, they decided, and choose something soon.

(Reach reporter Angie Buckley at 250-8255 or angiebuckley@ndonline.com.)