Bt119m for new Rajabhat Phuket commencement hall

RASSADA, PHUKET: Work is well underway on a 119 million baht conference room and commencement hall complex on the grounds of Phuket’s Rajabhat University.

A contract between the university and Bangkok-based contractor Kumjornkij Construction Co Ltd was signed in mid-November last year.

The scheduled contract completion date is December 27, 2010.

The project’s oversight director is Rajabhat Phuket University Associate Professor Jaroern Boonyom, while Assistant Professor Vorasak Watsoontorn chairs the construction supervision committee.

Kumjornkij Construction is a well-established firm that specializes in university projects, including study halls and dormitories. The company is now busy installing the steel lattice support structure for the enormous roofs that will cover the buildings.

As a public works project, the complex was designed by architects from the Interior Ministry’s Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning.

The project site is roughly square in shape, covering about 16,200 square meters.

The main building is a three-story structure with a total floor area of 7,900sqm. It will comprise parking facilities, offices, a storeroom, an electric power control room and security control booths.

The second story will house the main 7,000sqm conference hall, along with smaller meeting room facilities and a VIP room for members of the Royal Family presiding over commencement ceremonies.

The top floor, covering 1,300sqm, will house water tanks. The complex will have two elevators.

Punpak Punsawad of the Kumjornkij Construction Purchasing Department told the Gazette that the building must be constructed to the very highest safety standards, as HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is expected to attend the graduation ceremonies to be held there and to confer degrees upon graduating students.

Mr Punpak said the main hall would have seating for over 1,000 people, making it one of the largest meeting facilities on the island.