Kennedy Center: Improvements Needed to Strengthen the Management and Oversight of the Construction Process
Highlights
In the mid-1990s, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Kennedy Center) officials recognized a need for additional parking and better site access. As a precursor to a planned project to construct an 8-acre plaza and two additional buildings at the site, the Kennedy Center is currently in the process of constructing a garage expansion and site improvement project. GAO did this study because of congressional concerns over project delays and costs as well as challenges that the Kennedy Center faces as it pursues this major construction effort. GAO's objectives were to (1) compare the garage expansion and site improvement project's current costs, time frames, and scope with the estimates provided to congressional stakeholders in 1997 and 1998 and (2) identify what challenges the Kennedy Center faces in managing large construction projects.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts | To help improve the Kennedy Center's ability to manage and oversee its construction program, the President of the Kennedy Center, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, should develop comprehensive project management policies and procedures to guide the planning and execution of the construction process. |
Closed – Implemented
The Kennedy Center drafted a policy and procedure manual for the Project Management Office in 2004 that outlines the roles and responsibilities for project management staff and defines standard operating procedures for managing projects such as estimating design and construction costs.
|
| John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts | To help improve the Kennedy Center's ability to manage and oversee its construction program, the President of the Kennedy Center, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, should ensure development and use of timely data to oversee construction projects and measure results. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Kennedy Center agreed to start pursuing monthly project management reports and detailed information at weekly progress meetings.
|
| John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts | To help improve the Kennedy Center's ability to manage and oversee its construction program, the President of the Kennedy Center, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, should ensure that the needs for human capital expertise are met. |
Closed – Implemented
The Kennedy Center generally agreed with the recommendation. Since the report was issued, the center has hired a Contracts Chief and a Director of Capital Projects to lead the Project Management Office.
|