Agenda - Council - 03/26/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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In terms of the selection process for an architect, staff is recommending Bissonnette Erickson for the following reasons: • NLS representatives and Staff independently 'discovered' two different park buildings in the metro that closely resembled the the building conceived for Elmcrest Park - both of these were in Eden Prairie's park system, and are community buildings serving their athletic associations. Both structures happened to be designed by Del Erickson of Bissonette Erickson Architects, LLC. (See attachment entitled 'similar buildings'.) • Staff feels the best value may be obtained by the selection of an architect that understands municipal park buildings and has worked with athletic associations and end users to develop a building that is highly functional and at the best cost for the city (construction and operating expenses). After Eden Prairie's selection of Mr. Erickson for their first building project, they retained him for 5 more building projects (3 buildings, 3 shelters, from 2000 to 2007). Eden Prairie's staff responsible for each of these projects reported zero difficulties or budgetary concerns relating to architectural services - nor concerns about the use and functionality (design) of the structures after construction. • In reviewing established rates for architects, Staff finds that fees (on the low end) are generally 8.5 to 9.5 percent of the buildings' constructed cost. Bissonette Erickson Architects' fee proposal represents an 8 to 8.5 percent cost based upon an estimated construction budget of $350,000 (for all three phases mentioned above at $20,000 - 22,500, plus Bidding and Construction Administration at an estimated, additional cost of $6,000 - which is also discussed below in terms of an alternativeprocess associated with this larger project). Timeline: Design, Plans and Specs, Construction Process Approach A key component of the design for Elmcrest Park's community building is the Schematic Design process (Phase I), where Staff and ARAA, NLS and others carefully review the all the alternatives and concepts for the building, leading up to successful final design. At the end of the Design Development process (Phase II) and the beginning of preparation of Construction Documents (Phase III), Staff would intend on inviting an established and reputable general contractor, specializing in park buildings to review and critique the plans and specifications at the 75% completion stage. This is useful for a number of reasons, including to; 1. Check for constructibility, 2. Identify opportunities to modify construction methods and materials for economy, 3. And as another 'set of eyes' to evaluate functionality and the practicability of what is being proposed for this public building. Following the above exercise and resultant modifications to the design and specifications, the general contractor would then be invited to develop a 'Guaranteed Maximum Price' for the project with he/she as the general contractor. This is known as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) approach to constructing public buildings (versus the more traditional 'Design, Bid, Build' approach). At the time the Guaranteed Maximum Price is available, the community building project for Elmcrest Park would return to City Council with the plans and specs completed, with the option of moving forward under the CMAR process knowing precisely what the park building will cost, and with no change orders, (unless there would be catastrophic failure on both the part of the architect and staff in some unforeseen manner). Or, in the alternative, Council may choose to proceed with traditional Advertising For Bid (though while having an estimate, not knowing what the building will cost). While this case only approves the selection of the architect for Elmcrest's Park building and the associated processes, and not how the city will receive the final bid for the construction, it may be useful to point out one more value, (among several), in the proposed Construction Manager at Risk approach for this project. If Council chooses this method for project delivery, the city would require that the Construction Manager host a pre -bid conference (together with Staff), wherein all qualified Ramsey businesses would be invited to attend and bid as subcontractors for the building's construction. This benefits all concerned by: • Maximizing the potential for Ramsey businesses to receive the subcontracts, thereby cycling more money within the local economy.