Suwanee Arts Center Design-Build RFP

The City of Suwanee is seeking a qualified Design-Builder to deliver a new Arts Center through a design-build procurement process, using a qualifications-based selection followed by fee negotiation with the top-ranked proposer. The project involves the adaptive reuse of a 1940s-era 2,000-square-foot house into a Creative Arts, Media & Gathering Hub, demolition of an existing shed, and construction of a new 1,500- to 2,000-square-foot pre-engineered metal building for a Pottery Barn, along with comprehensive site work including asbestos and lead abatement, ADA-compliant parking and ramps, and a 40-foot by 25-foot raised wood community deck. All work must comply with current building, ADA, and fire codes for assembly occupancy, and the design-builder is solely responsible for identifying and addressing all hazardous materials, with abatement performed by a Georgia EPD-licensed contractor. The total project scope is informed by prior studies, environmental reports, and structural assessments provided as part of the RFP, including the Lord Aeck Sargent expansion study and lab reports for asbestos and lead. Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF not exceeding 20 pages by July 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time, to the designated project manager, and must include a signed cover letter, detailed team qualifications with resumes of key personnel, at least three owner references, a three-page narrative on the design-build approach, and a preliminary project schedule covering phases from contract execution through substantial completion, with clear milestones for design, permitting, procurement of the metal building, demolition, and construction. Evaluation will prioritize the firm’s relevant experience and qualifications (30%), demonstrated experience with adaptive reuse and public projects (20%), understanding of the scope and project approach (20%), schedule feasibility (15%), and a preliminary cost assessment aligned with budget constraints (15%). The selected firm must furnish 100% Performance and Payment Bonds, maintain general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, professional liability coverage, workers’ compensation, and automobile liability insurance, and comply with Georgia’s E-Verify requirements under O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91 for the firm and all subcontractors. All proposals become public records, the process is governed by Georgia law, no contact with elected officials is permitted