Plans for the overdue T.C. Ching Athletic Complex will have to be scaled back to accommodate a higher-than-expected construction bid.

The winning bid for the complex on the former Cooke Field site, $13,388,000 by T. Iida Contracting, was about $3.4 million above what UH said it currently has available. The eight bidders had bids ranging up to $16,844,000, UH said.

Vassilis Syrmos, the associate vice chancellor overseeing the project, said, "What we are going to do at this point is we are going to meet with the contractor and negotiate for the money we have in hand, which is $9.5 million-$10 million, and see what things we can (do) to bring it down until more funds are available to complete it.

"That will give us some time to raise more money."

Syrmos said plans still call for ground-breaking in June and completion by Dec. 31, 2014.

The facility, which was originally scheduled for completion in 2011, is targeted for use by UH football, soccer, sand volleyball, track and intramurals, as well as ROTC, band, high school sports and community groups.

The facility was dedicated in 2008 to Ching, a developer and UH fan whose foundation is donating $5 million toward the construction.

The gift is the largest in UH athletic history and came with the understanding the school would be responsible for coming up with the remainder of the funding.

In February the UH Board of Regents authorized $3 million in revenue bond proceeds intended to expedite construction.