Title
Architectural Services for the Discovery Place Renovations
Action
Action:
Approve a contract in the amount up to $159,200 with Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Inc. for architectural services for Discovery Place renovations.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
William Haas, Engineering & Property Management
Explanation
§ Discovery Place, Inc. is a science museum that opened in 1981 with significant renovations occurring in 2010. To keep pace with technology and current innovations in the fields of science and engineering, Discovery Place desires to renovate/modify three existing spaces in the museum to accommodate new exhibits and lab areas.
§ Discovery Place also plans to upgrade the technology in the 3-D theater to create a more flexible theater space for live theatrical shows, speakers, demonstrations, and community conversations that could be shared more broadly.
§ Discovery Place will celebrate 35 years at the North Tryon Street location in late 2016 and would like to unveil these new spaces at that time. Design will need to begin immediately for construction to begin in the summer of 2016.
§ The scope of work will include:
- Designing attractive, functional spaces that will operate efficiently to meet the needs of the Museum;
- Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design services;
- Preparing bid documents and obtaining necessary permits; and
- Providing construction administration services.
§ On October 25, 2015, the City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Architectural Services for the Discovery Place Renovations. In response to the RFQ, the City received five proposals from interested professional service providers.
§ The Project Team, consisting of staff from Engineering & Property Management and Discovery Place, Inc., evaluated the proposals and determined that Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Inc. is the best qualified firm to meet the City’s needs based on demonstrated competence and qualifications of professional services.
§ The City Council approved $3.5 million in Tourism Capital Funding as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 Community Investment Plan for these renovations.
§ Construction is expected to occur in the summer of 2016.
§ The City Council will be asked to approve a construction contract in the second quarter of 2016.
Charlotte Business INClusion
The City required proposers to submit an MSBE Participation Plan outlining their solicitation and utilization efforts (Part C: Section 2.1(c) of the Charlotte Business INClusion Policy). Little Diversified Consulting has identified on its project team, and will commit 27.83% ($44,300) of the total contract amount to, the following certified firms:
• AME Engineering (SBE) ($42,000) (mechanical, electrical engineering)
• R.M. Rutherford & Associates (SBE) ($2,300) (cost estimating)
Fiscal Note
Funding: Tourism Capital Projects Fund