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According to Nancy Quellhorst, vice president of The Environmental Project, a team of consultants from KUD International would be coordinating diverse aspects of the construction of the 4.5-acre, caterpillar-shaped structure. KUD would be in charge of coordinating everything from financing to design and engineering to actual construction.

"This is a very typical step of a project of this scale," Quellhorst said.

The news even made City Councilor Tom Gill more optimistic about the project. Gill has been critical of the rain forest as it has stalled at $90 million in fund-raising since January 2004. In November, he called on the city to end its relationship with the project if funding was not found in 60 days.

"Things are starting to look up for it," Gill said. "I'm not going to be critical of it, because to be honest with you, they're doing the things that need to be done."

The Environmental Project is planned to help anchor the city- planned Iowa River Landing Area southeast of First Avenue and Interstate 80. Quellhorst has said planned completion should be mid- to late-2008 -- possibly pushing into 2009. The original target date was April 22, 2008.

Quellhorst said KUD is a subsidiary of Japan-based Kajima Corporation and has had a variety of high-dollar projects on its resume. These include the $118 million Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif., and Pacific Bell Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants.

KUD also is in charge of the construction of Biota!, a planned $150 million project in London with an aquarium and a number of animal exhibits, including a rain forest section.

"We were very attracted to an organization that has significant experience in an area very similar to ours," Quellhorst said.

As soon as a contract is signed, which Quellhorst said could happen any day, a team led by KUD consultant John Best will start work overseeing the project. Best is based out of the company's Santa Monica, Calif., offices.

Quellhorst said KUD was chosen from a field of seven businesses.

Best said The Environmental Project was the sort of undertaking that was ideal for his business, which concentrates on large-scale, complex and joint private and public ventures.

"This is a fascinating, interesting project with some really immense public benefits," Best said. "It's going to do a lot for Coralville and the community."

Quellhorst said she did not know how much money would go to KUD as the contract had not been finalized.

Quellhorst said KUD could offer an on-time, on-budget guarantee for a fee. She said that sort of certainty, along with clearer details on project plans, could convince hesitant private investors to step forward.

Input from Coralville citizens throughout the design process was integral to KUD's strategy, Best said, and if they finalize the contract, Coralville residents will get to have a clear view of the design and contraction process.

Other city councilors also saw bringing on KUD as a good sign.

"It sounds like they will be able to provide the experience The Environmental Project hasn't had up to now," Councilor John Lundell said. "That's the next logical step in the process. It sounds like a good move."

And Councilor Jean Schnake said hiring KUD appears to be a step in the right direction.

"That certainly is in and of itself progress," she said. "To what extent, I think remains to be seen at this point."