Disney pays $17.8m for cost overruns

General contractor, M.A. Mortenson has won its case against Walt Disney Hall for compensation of costs due to construction overruns at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

On 20 July, the Los Angeles Superior Court ordered the hall to pay Mortenson and its subcontractors $17.8m, about 41% of its original claim filled in October 2003.

The building, designed by Gehry Partners LLP, took an extra six years to complete, costing $274m, a reported $174m above the original budget.

The contractor claimed that alongside the other 10 subcontractors, it was owed $43.3m mainly due to design changes that resulted in delays and subsequent cost overruns.

Subsequently, Walt Disney Hall countersued for $6m claiming that the contractors had been given plenty of time to review the new design plans.

Under the agreement, neither party can admit blame or wrongdoing for the cost overruns.

Full pay is due by 14 September.