FHL
Press Release
March 09, 2004
DESIGN PROCESS FOR HIGH LINE OFFICIALLY BEGINS
Friends of the
High Line and City of New York Release
Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
Design Master Plan to be Created
in 12 Months
Efforts to reclaim the High Line, an unused 1.5-mile-long
elevated rail structure on Manhattan's West Side, took
a major step forward last week, when Friends of the High
Line (FHL) and the City of New York jointly began a process
to select the design team that will create a master plan for
the High Line's conversion to public open space.
Specifically,
FHL, in conjunction with the New York City Economic Development
Corporation (NYCEDC), released a Request
for Qualifications (RFQ) on Monday, March 1, asking that
groups of architects, landscape architects, urban designers,
engineers, horticulturists, and other professionals form teams
and submit written applications to be considered to design
the High Line master plan.
Responses
to the RFQ are due April 1, 2004. To view
the RFQ, go to: http://www.thehighline.org/rfq
All
questions about the RFQ should be e-mailed to rfq@thehighline.org or faxed to (212) 206-9118 by Monday, March 15. Answers will
by posted on the RFQ Web site on Monday, March 22.
Design
Team Selection Process and Timeline
The release of the RFQ begins the selection process for a
team to design the High Line master plan, with a design
team to be identified by mid-summer 2004:
| • |
March
1, 2004: RFQ issued |
| • |
April
1, 2004: RFQ responses due |
| • |
Mid-April
2004: 5-7 teams receive Request for Proposals (RFP) |
| • |
May
- June 2004: RFP responses due |
| • |
July – August
2004: Design team selection |
RFQ Requirements
The RFQ indicates that teams should be led by a firm specializing
one of the three principle areas of expertise required
for the project: architecture, landscape architecture,
and urban design. Other areas of expertise relevant to
the project include but are not limited to: engineering,
public art, lighting, horticulture, recreation, New York
City building codes, and cost estimating.
Responses to the
RFQ must include a 2-page statement of project design approach;
a team description/organizational
chart; and background on qualifications and previous work
of team members.
A precise and complete description of submission
requirements is included in the RFQ, which can be downloaded
at: http://www.thehighline.org/rfq
Evaluation Criteria
All RFQ responses will be evaluated with a focus on these
key selection criteria:
| • |
Demonstrated
design excellence |
| • |
Vision
and feasibility of stated project approach |
| • |
The
experience of the architecture firm, landscape architecture
firm, or urban design firm leading the team |
| • |
Team
balance between established and emerging professionals |
| • |
Experience
in the design, development, and completion of a public
and/or cultural development project of not less than
$25 million in total construction costs |
| • |
Experience
in development in New York City that demonstrates understanding
of the applicable standards and regulations that will
apply to this type of adaptive reuse project; inter-agency
coordination and utility coordination; and securing
necessary City, State, and Federal permits and approvals |
| • |
Demonstrated
ability to engage the community and the greater public
in the design process |
| • |
Experience
in multidisciplinary teams and expertise in all necessary
disciplines as defined by the team |
| • |
Proven
track record of timely and cost-effective project management,
including meeting deadlines consistently, remaining
within project budgets, and working collaboratively
with other teams |
FHL and City to Jointly Run Design Process
The release of the RFQ results from an agreement between
FHL and the City of New York to jointly select a design
team and create a master plan. FHL and City staff will
administer the process with oversight from a steering committee
comprised of FHL appointments and City representatives.
An advisory committee representing community and public
interests and elected officials will consult with the selected
design team on a regular basis as the master plan is developed.
Public engagement will be actively encouraged at open public
planning sessions.
RFQ Follows City Support and Ideas Competition
FHL has worked since 1999 to reclaim the High Line for
reuse as public open space. In December 2002, the City
of New
York declared its support for the project by filing to
use federal "rail-banking" legislation to create
a public open space on the High Line.
From January to July
2003, FHL conducted an open, international ideas competition, "Designing the High Line",
soliciting innovative design proposals for the High Line.
Because it was an ideas competition, "Designing the
High Line" was not structured to identify an individual
or team to be awarded a High Line design contract. Entries
did not have to be practical or realistic. Rather, entrants
were encouraged to be bold and forward-thinking—to
create visions as unique and unexpected as the High Line
itself. The competition was sponsored and run by FHL without
City oversight.
In contrast, the RFQ is being jointly issued
by FHL and the City and will ultimately lead to the selection
of a design
team that will be contracted to create a master plan for
the High Line. While it is hoped that the master plan will
embody
the creative innovation of the ideas competition, the final
master plan must be constructable, maintainable, and economically
rational. The design team selection process and the development
of a master plan will reflect those requirements.
Entrants
to the "Designing the High Line" competition
are encouraged to respond to the RFQ, and if they do, they
will be assessed according to same criteria as all other
RFQ respondents. For instance, emerging professionals might
need to partner with more established firms in order to meet
selection criteria.
Project Issues
The conversion of the High Line to public open space must
still pass several important milestones before construction
can actually begin. The Surface Transportation Board (STB),
the federal body with jurisdiction over the Line's
future, must grant a Certificate of Interim Trail Use (CITU),
permitting the railroad that currently owns the High Line
to negotiate a trail use agreement with the City of New
York. In addition, endorsements from the State of New York
are still sought for the project.
City, State, and Federal Funding for the High Line
The High Line project has received significant funding allocations
from the City of New York, the State of New York, and the
federal government.
| • |
In
July 2003, New York City Council Speaker Gifford Miller
announced a $15.75 million capital funding commitment
to the project. |
| • |
In
August 2003, New York State Assembly Member Richard
Gottfried announced a $50,000 funding commitment to
the project. |
| • |
In
January 2004, $500,000 in federal funds were committed
to the project in the 2004 Transportation Appropriations
Bill, thanks to a successful request by Senators Charles
Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton and Representative
Jerrold Nadler. |
Additional funds are anticipated from public and private sources
in the future.
# # #
For More Information
Joshua
David/Robert Hammond, FHL; (212) 206-9922; info@thehighline.org
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CONTACT
INFORMATION
430 West 14th Street, Suite 304
New York, NY 10014
(212) 206-9922
(212) 206-9118 fax
info@thehighline.org
http://www.thehighline.org
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