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The San Diego Convention Center Corporation (SDCCC) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking an architectural team to provide full design services for the expansion of the San Diego Convention Center. The RFQ, issued on June 15, 2010, will identify local and national design professionals who have demonstrated a track record of success and can provide innovative solutions for challenges associated with major civic projects. The chosen team will ultimately design the expansion for one of San Diego’s most iconic buildings.
“The expansion will be one of San Diego’s highest profile projects, not only in scope, but in the thousands of jobs it will create and the enormous economic benefits it will deliver upon its completion,” said San Diego Convention Center Corporation Chair Bob Nelson. “Besides a proven track record and demonstrated ability, we’re looking for a design team with a commitment to the environment who will give special consideration to sustainability and green components.”
The design team selection follows a standard two-stage process, the first being an RFQ and the second being an RFP (Request for Proposals). A selection committee will oversee the entire process, and at the conclusion, will make a recommendation to the SDCCC Board of Directors to vote on approval of the final contract. The overall process will take about five months. Last month Charles Black, the founder and president of CB Urban Development, was selected by the SDCCC to serve as project manager for the proposed expansion. He will assist the corporation’s executive management team and the San Diego Unified Port District staff with managing an 18-24 month Entitlement, Environmental Impact Review and California Environmental Quality Act processes.
Candidates will be instructed to consider the public’s input as collected last year by the Mayor’s Citizen Task Force. These include public accessibility to the waterfront, preservation or enhancement of public realm spaces along the waterfront, view corridors, environmental sustainability, functionality and cost. An information packet will also include additional public input from forums that will be conducted over the next two months. A complete RFQ document can be downloaded from the SDCCC’s website at visitsandiego.com/job/currentopportunities.cfm.
“Since opening over 20 years ago, the San Diego Convention Center has been a world-class facility in terms of customer service and design. Economically, it continues to be one of the region’s strongest economic engines and tax revenue generators. It’s this record of success that we intend to build on,” said Carol Wallace, San Diego Convention Center Corporation president and CEO. “A strong selection process will bring new ideas to the table and continue the successful direction we began two decades ago.”
Acclaimed Canadian architect Arthur Erickson of Vancouver, B.C., led the design team for the original building in association with San Diego architect Ward Deems of Deems Lewis & Partners. The building opened in November 1989. The expansion, which opened in September of 2001, was designed by Tucker Sadler & Associates, teamed with Boston-based HNTB architect Don Grinberg under a design-build contract with Turner Construction.
The San Diego Convention Center Corporation manages, markets and operates the San Diego Convention Center. In its 20-year history, the facility has proven to be a vital economic engine generating $18 billion in regional economic benefits and $360 million in tax dollars for the City of San Diego. For more information, please visit our website at visitsandiego.com.
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