Portrait of a Design Competition

Collaboration Leads to Successful Outcome

By Ronald Y. Pérez

For its new 23,500-sq-ft satellite water facility office, the city of Tucson decided to hold a design competition. The architect selected by the competition discusses the innovative process.

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Over its 30-year history, Tucson, Arizona-based ABA Architects has seen its share of requests for qualifications (RFQ) come through its doors.

But when the city of Tucson wanted a new satellite water facility office, it turned to a more unique approach: The award would be decided by a two-step process: 1) A statement of qualifications and 2) a design competition for those architectural firms who were short-listed from step 1.

Also experienced in municipal projects, ABA Architects thought this would be a great project to pursue, enhanced by the design component of the RFQ.

The firm had worked with the City before on other projects.

ABA Architects completed the RFQ in August, and soon after received word from the city's principal contract officer, Connie Sanzo that the firm had been selected as one of the three short-listed finalists.

The team of architects led by principal Kim Ferranti, AIA, LEED AP, lead designer Paul Edwards, AIA, LEED AP, and project manager Preston Godfrey, RA, were given several weeks to study the site and come up with a viable plan that would not only satisfy the City's selection committee but also the community residents near the proposed site.

"The compressed timeline of a competition requires tight coordination and excellent communication between the various members of the design team," says Edwards. "The 'big idea' and the design concepts must be developed quickly and communicated to the team for 'buy in' early in the process. In this way, the ideas and goals can be tested against the different aspects of the project as it evolves from concept to constructability." He adds that the project was a team effort, using input received from the firm's entire architectural staff.

As a short-listed firm, ABA Architects was told that it would meet at least once with the selection committee and the community about its proposed design, since the building would be surrounded by a residential neighborhood.

"The intended use of the facility and its significance to the community are important factors in deciding what projects will include a design competition," says Sanzo.

Godfrey says the most valuable part of the experience for him was "listening to users and stakeholders and trying to bring opposing needs into a common solution." Indeed, each short-listed firm was provided with handwritten notes from participating neighbors on what they thought of each of the proposed design solutions. Firms were then asked by the City to address these concerns in a follow-up meeting with the selection committee.

The architectural team took special care to consider what the neighbors felt about potential concerns such as noise, mountain views, building aesthetics and traffic.

"It is not possible to anticipate all the issues that might be raised by the stakeholders," says Edwards. "I have found that it is best to respond to the issues directly and truthfully."

He adds, "I support the idea of design competitions for city work. I believe it elevates the quality of design, which benefits the client and the users in the long run."

In preparation for meetings with the city as well as residents, ABA Architects worked on conceptual boards and formulated their ideas through oral presentations. The city of Tucson awarded $10,000 each to the three short-listed firms for design expenses and time.

ABA Architects was selected to design the project, and finalized a contract with the city of Tucson in early December. Construction of the building should
begin later this year.

"The neighborhood was an important stakeholder in the project, and the selection committee felt that ABA demonstrated the best response to neighborhood concerns," says Sanzo.

In the end, Godfrey is reluctant to give praise solely to the architecture firm, and realizes that being awarded a project like this is a small step in a long process. "Tucson Water and the neighbors really determined the design solution. Their continuing input should produce a project everyone can be satisfied with."

The firm looks forward to the next design competition. "Winning a competition conveys more credibility to outsiders than an accepted proposal," says Edwards. "Offering a competition as a vehicle to hire professional services also says a lot about the client. It demonstrates that the owner is interested in ideas as well as credentials and experience. As winners of the competition, we hope to be perceived as a firm with strong ideas and good communication skills."

Pérez is the director of marketing at ABA Architects, which was founded in Tucson in 1977 and specializes in institutional and educational projects.
The firm can be reached at (520) 881-4512 or
email: kferranti@aba-architects.com

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