Budgetary concerns over the construction of the Bryce Jordan Center will push back the projected completion date of the already-delayed project to fall 1995.

With the lowest contractor's bid nearly $11 million over the amount budgeted for on-site construction, all bids were rejected by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services, with the cooperation of the University.

"This is a Department of General Services project," said William McKinnon, associate vice president for business and operations. "They are managing the project and they are responsible for construction of the building."

Dick Stephens, department project coordinator, said he is not authorized to comment until after the rebidding.

Department spokeswoman Rose Wuenschel said the state rejected the bids primarily for two reasons.

"One was a court decision that knocked out our prevailing labor guidelines," Wuenschel said, adding that a technical ruling would have likely escalated labor contracts.

"Two, we asked our professionals working on the project to go back and make some minor revisions to the design of the project to lower the price," Wuenschel said.

The bidding process will resume from scratch in December, McKinnon said.

"We're shooting for trying to have the bid awarded . . . in early December, and with a 21-month construction period, which should make the completion date in early fall of 1995," said McKinnon, who is also committee chairman for the project.

The University has allocated $53 million to the building of the arena, including about $44 million for on-site construction, McKinnon said. The remainder of the $53 million will go to other costs associated with the Jordan Center, such as architectural fees.

The state contributed $33 million to the construction of the Jordan Center; the University originally raised $20 million for the project. Through fundraising, the University raised approximately $2 million more than anticipated.

"It's slightly in excess of $22 million," said Robert Groves, executive director of University development. "(We raised) $22 million and some change."

The lowest contractor bid for the on-site construction of the center was nearly $56 million -- about $11 million over budget. The decision to reject all bids was made in hopes of lowering the projected costs for the arena.

McKinnon said the general services department and the University are doing whatever possible to bring the project's costs down. Although a size decrease for the center is not an option, he said, structural changes may be made.

"We're working with DGS and the architects to identify things that can be taken out of the project," McKinnon said. "(The modifications) may change a little bit how the building looks, but it won't have a significant impact."

For example, a larger-sized brick may be used to reduce labor costs -- the larger bricks will enable the construction crew to cut construction time. Another option to reduce costs, McKinnon said, is to place the steam lines in insulated jackets and lay them in the ground instead of running them through the building.

Groves said although there are a lot of priorities at the University, it will do whatever is necessary to complete the center.

"The challenge is to balance all the needs," he said.