The design of a Central Library is dependent on many factors, including:
- The site selected and its characteristics;
- The size of the building and how it will be used;
- Program requirements; and,
- Partnerships.
As part of the approvals received in January and February 2017, it was confirmed that the facility would be built using a Design-Bid-Build (DBB) method. This method allows maximum control over the design and construction, and design is important to the public, as indicated through consultation.
In order to hire a design team, a two-phase competitive procurement process will be used for the professional design services for the new Ottawa Central Library. The two stages are: a) Request for Qualifications (RFQ), and b) Request for Proposals (RFP).
- Request for Qualifications – submissions will be evaluated against a series of requirements, with up to five teams short-listed to move to the next stage. The RFQ was issued mid-May 2017.
- Request for Proposals – the short-listed teams will submit proposals, with the successful team being selected by the end of 2017. Submissions will be evaluated on technical criteria (including the quality and strength of their proposed public consultation process) and financial criteria. In their proposals, the design service providers will not submit actual designs for the building.
Once an architectural team is engaged, the design work will be delivered in three phases:
- Preliminary design and public engagement;
- Design development; and,
- Construction.
Your feedback will play an important role in 2018, when the Ottawa Public Library and the successful architectural design team will actively engage the public on the design.