San Juan Music School Project Faces New Delay Amid “Vile Price” Claims
A long-stalled construction project at the National University of San Juan’s (UNSJ) School of Music is once again facing uncertainty as a legal challenge threatens to derail the pre-awarding of a contract to a local firm. The decades-long saga, dubbed a “cursed work” by some, has left music students without adequate facilities and prompted the university to suspend admissions for 2026.
The latest hurdle emerged after Galvarini y Asociados Construcciones SA was preliminarily selected to complete the unfinished school building. Mateo Constructora SRL, a competitor based in Tucumán, filed a challenge alleging that Galvarini’s bid was unrealistically low – a “vile price” that suggests the company could not realistically complete the project. The dispute is now before the UNSJ’s Legal Department, which will determine whether to uphold the pre-award or reopen the bidding process.
A Decade of Delays and Rising Costs
The Music School building, located near the Juan Victoria Auditorium, has been incomplete for over ten years, a situation that has severely hampered the university’s music program. Successive stoppages, coupled with the impact of inflation and material shortages, have plagued the project. The university announced in recent weeks that it would not hold an entrance course in 2026, citing an inability to guarantee suitable building and academic conditions.
The most recent attempt to revive the project involved a tender process that concluded at the end of December. An evaluation committee comprised of three professionals initially reviewed proposals from five companies: Structures Oeste SA, PM Construcciones SRL, Bilbao Construcciones SRL, Galvarini, and Mateo. Three of the companies – Structures Oeste SA, PM Construcciones SRL, and Bilbao Construcciones SRL – were ultimately rejected, leaving Galvarini and Mateo as the remaining contenders.
Economic Factors Drive the Decision
The deciding factor in the selection process was cost. Galvarini’s offer of $1,602 million was 14.08% below the official budget, while Mateo’s bid of $2,044 million exceeded the reference value by nearly 10%. The evaluation committee recommended awarding the contract to Galvarini, a decision the UNSJ administration initially supported, publishing the pre-award in early February.
However, Mateo quickly challenged the decision, arguing that Galvarini’s budget was less than 30% of the prevailing market price, rendering it “unrealizable.” A critical flaw in Mateo’s challenge, however, was the failure to pay a required fee to formalize the claim, potentially invalidating the protest. “The challenge is weak,” a source within the UNSJ stated, adding that Galvarini’s bid is only 9% lower than the university’s own estimate, suggesting the project remains feasible.
Protecting Existing Infrastructure and Future Plans
While the tender process remains in limbo, the UNSJ’s Secretariat of Works and Services has taken steps to protect the existing structure from further deterioration. Institutional funds have been allocated to safeguard the building against weather damage, theft, and pest infestations.
The current plans for Stage 2 of the project envision a comprehensive completion of the building, incorporating modern construction techniques and safety features. Specifications include structural reinforcements, acoustic insulation, airtight double-glazed carpentry, anti-panic bars, low-consumption electrical systems, a machine-room-less elevator, comprehensive fire-fighting systems, solid wood floors, and stainless steel signage with LED lighting.
The prolonged delay in completing the Music School represents a significant setback for the UNSJ and its students. The resolution of the current legal challenge will be crucial in determining whether this “damned” work can finally move forward and provide the facilities the university’s music program desperately needs.
