Economic development in SC: bidness as usual

USC acted unethically in throwing out architectural bids for its new $90 million business school when it became apparent a donor's choice was not going to win, experts said.

Also, the state association of architects will meet this week to decide if it will challenge USC's decision to hire Raphael Vinoly Architects over four Columbia firms at the request of benefactor Darla Moore.

The New York firm was not going to win in state contract bidding to design the school that will bear the Lake City financier's name, sources have said.

Darla Moore

The firms spent months and an estimated $100,000 each to bid on the project.

The business school's foundation now will pay the $4 million-plus to hire Vinoly and donate his services to the university. Moore, who has given at least $70 million to the university, sits on the foundation board.

News that USC had bowed to Moore's wishes has caused ripples in the higher education circles, with national experts saying that the university acted unethically.

"Absolutely," Pablo Eisenberg, a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute told The State last week. "Especially if her architect had a shot at it and lost."

According to the S.C. State Budget and Control Board, USC is not required to complete the state bidding process because the architecture fee is considered a gift from the foundation.

Read more: http://www.thestate.com/2010/04/18/1248590/usc-blurs-line-in-choosing-architect.html#ixzz0lS4L6oBM