Airway Heights recreation center OKd for design-build

The pieces for Airway Heights’ recreation center project continue to fall into place.

In a Feb. 8 news release, the city announced that the project was approved by the state’s project review committee (PRC) to use design-build as an alternative project delivery system.

J.C. Kennedy, Parks, Recreation and Community Services director, and staff traveled to Olympia in January to present the project to the committee. His presentation focused on why the method was a good fit to deliver the recreation center.

Kennedy said city attorney Stanley Schwartz recommended staff pursue design build. Schwartz, who works for Witherspoon Kelley, had helped advise the Spokane Public Facilities District on the Spokane Convention Center completion project, which had used design-build.

“For traditional projects like this, you’re tied to state law and you have to go with the lowest bidder,” Kennedy said. “The whole goal in using design-build is to get the best product for the community for the trust they’ve placed on us.”

According to the Design-Build Institute of America, design-build is a method of project delivery in which one entity – the design-build team – works under a single contract with the project owner — in this case, the city of Airway Heights — to provide design and construction services. It is different than the traditional approach of building where a project’s design and construction are split into separate companies.

During his presentation to the committee, Kennedy explained that design-build would provide the best project value and cost efficiency to the project. It is also a faster delivery method.

Kennedy said another benefit of the design-build method is staff would build a partnership with the team and oversee the design aspects of the project.

“All of us (team and the city) will be sitting at the table,” he said.

The city issued the request for qualifications for the design-build team, which are due in March. It will establish a selection committee and evaluate each project team that applies for the project. Based on the committee’s finding, the city will select two finalists to submit proposals, which will be due in early May. Residents will also have the opportunity to view and provide feedback on the proposals during a May 18 open house at the community center. Kennedy said both teams will present their ideas during the open house — one upstairs and one downstairs.

“We will review the comments and that will help us make the decision,” Kennedy said. “I’ve been saying from day one that the public has to have a say in what they want and don’t want.”

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].