Agenda #4d(1)

memorandum

to:                  Mayor and Town Council

from:            Bill Strom, Chair, Library Building Committee

subject:      Selection of a Design Firm for the Library Expansion Project

date:            June 12, 2006

PURPOSE

The Library Building Committee recommends that Wallace Roberts & Todd be referred to the Council as its choice of firms for design services in connection with the Library Expansion Project and Pritchard Park improvements. 

BACKGROUND

On June 30, 2004, the Council authorized the Town Manager to initiate the process of creating a Library Building Committee to organize a process for selection of an architect for the $16.23 million Chapel Hill Public Library expansion project and to work with the architect through the design process.  To date, we have met 10 times to review key project issues, identify design firm selection criteria, and develop and recommend a selection process to the Council.

On February 13, 2006, the Council received the Library Building Committee’s recommendation for an architect selection process (Attachment 2) and authorized the Manager to advertise a request for letters of interest for architectural and engineering services identified by the Library Building Committee.  Services included review and evaluation of the existing library expansion program, facilitation of design discussions with the Committee, preparation of a refined and final program, a conceptual site design, building plans, renovation details, technology plans, parking plans and preliminary cost estimates for construction of a new addition to the existing library structure. 

On March 27, 2006, the Council directed the Library Building Committee to expand the design process for the Chapel Hill Library expansion to include design of Pritchard Park and the proposed Pritchard Park Art.  It also directed the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission to recommend an artist for the Library Expansion Project who would also be able to advise the Town on design elements of Pritchard Park

DISCUSSION

As per the Council’s charge, the Library Building Committee has met ten times over the past twelve months to develop a process for selection of a design firm for the Library Expansion Project.  On February 13, 2006, the Council received our recommended selection criteria and process for selection of a design firm and authorized the Manager to begin the process of receiving qualifications and proposals for architectural and engineering services. 

The Town received twelve letters of response to its request for qualifications.  On April 11, 2006, the Library Building Committee short-listed six of the twelve firms submitting letters of interest to receive a request for proposal (RFP).  Our selection criteria included previous relevant project team experience, qualifications of the project team members, capability of the lead firm to manage the work, acceptability of the proposed schedule, accessibility of project team members, and performance history. Based on these criteria, the Library Building Committee agreed to interview six of the twelve submitting firms.  Short-listed firms included Cherry Huffman Architects/Croxton Collaborative Architects; Corley Redfoot Zack/Robert A.M. Stern Architects; GGA Architects; J. Hyatt Hammond Associates; Little Diversified Architectural Consulting; Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC.

On May 18-19, 2006, the Library Building Committee’s Interview Committee interviewed the six firms at the United Church of Chapel Hill.  Based on the selection criteria the Library Building Committee submitted to the Council in February and on the quality and completeness of the firms’ presentations, the Interview Committee ranked Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC highest, followed by Corley Redfoot Zack. 

On May 23, 2006, the Library Building Committee reviewed the recommendations of its Interview Committee, and voted to recommend that the Town Council negotiate a contract with Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC for design services in connection with the Library Expansion Project and Pritchard Park improvements.  If for some reason agreement cannot be reached with Wallace Roberts & Todd, then we recommend that the Town negotiate a contract with the second-ranked firm of Corley Redfoot Zack.   

Below is a brief description of both firms for Council’s consideration this evening.

Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC (WRT)/1700 Market Street, 28th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Wallace Roberts & Todd would serve as the lead firm, providing architectural design and landscape architecture services and would partner with Kimley-Horn (Raleigh) for civil engineering services.  The proposed project team includes LEED accredited professionals for architecture, mechanical, electrical and plumbing and specialists for lighting, library design and cost management.  Wallace Roberts & Todd have 12 LEED certified projects completed or pending and have experience working with construction managers, most recently on the Ryan Memorial Library (Wynnewood, PA).  This firm is familiar with local regulations, having been involved in development of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.

Wallace Roberts & Todd have completed eleven library projects, including the Honan-Allston Branch of the Boston Public Library that received an AIA National Honor Award for Architecture in 2003.  Public art collaboration examples include the Memphis Public Library (TN) and Unity Plaza at Cityplace West (Dallas, TX).  Park design examples include a 45-acre passive/active park project (St. Matthews, KY) with facilities, park paths, sculptures, exploratory woodland “rooms” and light sculpture. 

Corley Redfoot Zack/Robert A.M. Stern/222 Cloister Court, Chapel Hill, NC 

Corley Redfoot Zack would serve as the lead firm, providing architectural design and civil engineering services and would partner with Stern Architects (New York) for all aspects of library design and planning.  The proposed project team includes a LEED accredited professional for sustainable design.  Corley Redfoot Zack is a local firm and familiar with Chapel Hill’s development regulations and is the design firm for the Town Operations Center.  The firm has experience working with third-party construction managers, most recently on the Student and Academic Services Building for University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.  Comparable park design experience to that of Pritchard Park opportunities includes Southern Community Park (Chapel Hill) and Walnut Street Park (Cary). 

Robert A.M. Stern Architects has designed libraries with a total construction cost of more than $250 million in the last five years and recently partnered with Corley Redfoot Zack on UNC-CH’s Student and Academic Services Building.  Corley Redfoot Zack has worked successfully with public art and artists as part of its design work on the new Town Operations Center. 

 

RECOMMENDATION

The Library Building Committee recommends that Wallace Roberts & Todd be referred to the Council as its choice of firms its choice of firms for design services in connection with the Library Expansion Project and Pritchard Park improvements. 

Voting yes: Cory Brooks, Ken Broun, June Dunnick, Sally Greene, Cam Hill, Janet Kagan, Bob Schreiner, Bill Strom, Margery Thompson, Jim Ward 

Voting no: Evelyn Daniel

ATTACHMENTS

  1. Library Building committee Roster (p. 4).
  2. Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC:  Examples of completed library projects (p. 5).
  3. Corley Redfoot Zack/Robert A.M. Stern Architects: Examples of completed library projects (p. 9).