San Mateo County Community College District                                                                            January 25, 2006

BOARD REPORT NO. 06-1-2C                                   

TO:                               Members of the Board of Trustees

FROM:                         Ron Galatolo, Chancellor-Superintendent

PREPARED BY:           José D. Nuñez, Executive Director, Facilities Planning & Operations, 358-6836      

UPDATE OF FACILITIES MASTER PLAN - DISTRICTWIDE

In 2001, the Board of Trustees approved the 2001 Facilities Master Plan as developed by tBP Architecture + Planning (Board Report No. 01-9-113B).  This Facilities Master Plan was the outcome of many months of planning, participation by all constituent groups, Trustee feedback, physical assessment and analysis of existing campus facilities, and incorporation of educational programmatic needs.  The 2001 Facilities Master Plan has been the basis for nearly all of the improvements completed or in process in the District’s Capital Improvement Program, Phase 1. 

 

Given the recent passage of the District’s general obligation bond Measure A and other changes that have occurred since 2001, an updated Facilities Master Plan is required to inform decision-making related to the next phase of planning and construction.  At each of our colleges, elements of the 2001 Facilities Master Plan have been implemented.  Subsequent planning efforts related to annual Five Year Capital Outlay Plan updates have occurred and should be incorporated into an updated comprehensive facilities master plan, along with the identification of new opportunities and solutions to unresolved issues or needs.  The annexation of the Pacific Heights Middle School poses a particularly unique new opportunity at Skyline College.

On December 5, 2005, District Staff issued a Request for Qualifications to twelve architectural firms for master planning services.  On December 16, nine firms submitted Qualifications Statements.  A review of those Statements of Qualifications resulted in a ranking of those firms, based on criteria that included:

1. Demonstrated ability to lead a college community through the facilities master planning process, with constituents including the Governing Board, faculty, staff, students, administrators, and other members of the community.
2. The ability to begin the master planning process within 15 days of contract award.
3. Experience of personnel proposed for the project.
4. Results of reference checks from previous clients and other information sources.
5. Assessment of the process the architectural firm plans to utilize in developing the master plans.
6. An evaluation of the architectural firm’s proposed fee.
7. Commitment to a collaborative management style that demonstrates sensitive, respectful and effective interaction with people who are diverse in their interests, cultures, language groups, and abilities.

 

The three highest ranked firms were invited to interview on January 10, 2006 with a panel that included College Presidents and Vice Presidents, the Chancellor and Executive Vice Chancellor, faculty, and District Facilities Staff.  The firms were asked to bring the team members proposed to work on the 2006 Facilities Master Plan, to describe their approach to the master planning effort, to identify their initial perceptions, thoughts or ideas about the opportunities at each site, and to provide any additional information relevant to the panel’s assessment of the firm. 

Each of the firms interviewed was qualified to update the District’s Facilities Master Plan.  Each team brought a unique perspective and approach to the table.  One firm – The Steinberg Architects – impressed the panel as the team whose approach, perspectives and energy was the best fit and would bring the most value to this initiative.

Approval of The Steinberg Group for master planning architectural services is included in Board Report 06-1-5CA Approval of Construction Consultants. 

The master planning effort is designed to follow a stringent schedule and includes review of previously completed physical assessments and analysis, site visits, multiple meetings with the College communities to develop goals, identify issues, develop options, identify preferred solutions, and final approval and adoption of the 2006 Facilities Master Plan by the Board of Trustees.  The work will begin immediately upon approval by the Board of The Steinberg Architects for master planning services, and is scheduled to be completed in June 2006.  Presentations to the Board of Trustees are tentatively scheduled for April, May and June 2006.