A construction bid of $46 million has been awarded to McCarthy Building Cos. to build the new Center for the Arts at UC Davis, campus officials announced last week. The bid amount awarded falls within the campus's budgeted funds for the project, says Clayton Halliday, UC Davis assistant director of architects and engineers. The total project cost for the center is $53.5 million, which includes the cost to design and construct the building as well as consultant's costs. The center will be located on the campus' southern perimeter, adjacent to Interstate 80. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed by 2002. "We are just delighted McCarthy is the contractor because they have such a good reputation," Halliday said. The builder is a long-established, nationwide company and was involved in building the Sacramento Convention Center, Halliday said. Initial construction preparations are expected to begin in mid-May. The public is invited to join in festive public groundbreaking activities on the site at 10:30 a.m. May 19: the Cal Aggie Marching Band will perform, center supporters will speak and refreshments will be served as the campus celebrates. When completed, the new performance hall will feature an 1,800-seat main hall with state-of-the-art technology for excellent acoustics and a studio theater that will host dance and choral performances, lectures and theater productions for audiences as large as 250. A total of $60.9 million will be spent to build and operate the performance hall, including the $53.5 million to construct the building, $2.4 million for startup costs and $5 million for an initial operating endowment. The center is being financed through a $30 million fund-raising campaign, a $15.4 million UC Regents' loan and $15.5 million in campus funds. To date, nearly $11 million has been pledged in the fund-raising campaign, which will continue throughout construction of the building.