RFQ The Blues Factory Port Washington, WI

Subject: RFQ  The Blues Factory Port  Washington, WI

The Blues Factory

Port Washington, Wisconsin

 

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES

 

The Blues Factory (The Client) invites the submission of qualifications for architectural design services for their new building in Port Washington, Wisconsin. The intent of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is to identify qualified respondents that have demonstrated experience and expertise to provide the design and engineering for this new building. The client will utilize the qualifications to shortlist up to 5 teams who will be invited and compensated to submit proposals to a Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP process will result in the selection of a winning proposal. The Client intends to have a Spring 2021 opening date.

 

The client is seeking qualifications from qualified, licensed consultants to provide professional architectural design services for new construction. Qualifications submitted in response to this Request shall adhere to and include the information set forth in the attachment to this email.

 

Consultants selected to perform the services for the projects shall develop and prepare conceptual plans at selected sites in conformance with the project goals and plans established by the client. The Consultant shall be required to prepare complete sets of detailed construction plans, technical specifications and cost estimates in accordance with the client’s specifications and budgets. Additional detail regarding the project and the scope of services to be performed by the successful Consultant(s) is available upon request by contacting Ryan Kraft, telephone: 920-655-7742; email: [email protected].

 

Qualified organizations are invited to submit the firm’s qualifications and written proposals and all other communications no later than 2:00 PM on September 13, 2019, by mail, to the following address:

Ryan Kraft

1825 Nimitz Drive, Suite A

De Pere, WI  54115

 

RFQ Preparation

This RFQ and the upcoming RFP have been prepared by the client in collaboration  with Iker Gil of the Chicago-based practice MAS Studio (mas-studio.com).

 

Qualifications not received by the deadline will be returned unopened. The client reserves the right to redefine or adjust its priorities, and modify the selection process, as it deems necessary and to select one or more firms to perform services. At its discretion, the client may eliminate any firm or waive any informality in the selection process. This Request for Qualifications does not commit the client to award a contract or to reimburse the firm for costs incurred in submitting this Qualification. Costs of preparing a response to this Request are solely the responsibility of the responding Consultant. The client reserves the right to reject any or all Qualifications received as a result of this request, to negotiate with any firm, to extend the submission deadline, or to amend or cancel in part or in its entirety this Request for Qualifications. Additional details regarding the client’s selection process and selection criteria is available via contacting Ryan Kraft using the information below. Any questions concerning this Request may also be directed to Ryan Kraft, Representative of DeLeers Construction; telephone: 920-655-7742; email: [email protected].

Background;

In the 1920's, Port Washington, Wisconsin, was the epicenter of the blues and jazz recordings. Legendary artists like Ma Rainey, Charlie Patton, Alberta Hunter, Son House, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong all recorded for an almost forgotten label, Paramount. Even more remarkable is that Paramount was owned and run by a furniture company, which operated a factory on the site that is the subject of this proposal. 

The Wisconsin Chair Company, founded in 1888, originally manufactured and sold chairs and other home furnishings. In the early 20th century, it started to collaborate with Edison Records, a company that pioneered sound recording and reproduction after the invention of the phonograph by its founder, Thomas Edison. The Wisconsin Chair Company then set out to make records in order to sell more phonograph cabinets. In 1917, United Phonographs, a subsidiary of The Wisconsin Chair Company, founded Paramount Records and ended up changing the course of American music in the process. Through collaboration and innovation, they changed music entertainment providing a way for people to listen to what they wanted, where they wanted to, and when they wanted.

One hundred years later, on the very spot where the legendary Paramount label was born, The Blues Factory, is dedicated to preserving the Paramount story, celebrating the roots of America, and creating an entertainment destination defined by innovation, technology, arts, commerce and community. It will continue the history of collaboration and innovation exploring the potential of technology in forging the future of arts and entertainment. The Blues Factory will define a new chapter in Port Washington's rich history. 

Project Overview;

The Blues Factory's goals for this project are to create an exciting new business in Port Washington that will have a substantial positive impact on the revitalization of the downtown business district and also have a major catalytic effect in shaping additional development of the city's marina district as well as growing local and regional tourism.

The purpose of The Blues Factory is to build a brand around the celebrated legacy of the Paramount Records focusing on innovation, entertainment, technology, art and commerce. Their business will initially consist of building three operational revenue centers;

- The Blues Factory building, an approximately 25,000 square foot innovation, cultural and entertainment complex located at the former Wisconsin Chair Factory site. It will include VIP & Suite level performance seating well as maker and professional office spaces for businesses and education to collaborate and shape The Blues Factory experiences and TheBluesFactory.com; 

- TheBluesFactory.com, a website providing a unique experience of the Paramount story for a domestic and international market and, in the spirit of Paramount, connecting rising stars in American roots music to that global audience through 21st century technology under the service mark The Blues Factory TM;

- Restaurant and bar visually connecting the venue, the marina, and the lakefront.

Regards,

Ryan Kraft