Architect, Builder Chosen for New Redondo Beach Police, Fire Stations

From Easy Reader News & Peninsula Magazine

Building a new police headquarters and two new fire stations took another step forward Tuesday as the Redondo Beach city council chose Swinerton Builders and LPA Design Studios to bring the projects to reality.

Contracts approved July 7 call for completion of the initial designs, and to set a maximum price for construction.

“This is a big step for us,” said City Manager Mike Witzansky.

Swinerton, which has built buildings in Southern California since 1888, will work with LPA in what is called a “progressive design-build.” The two companies have done more than 30 projects in this format, across 27 years.

Their first work in Redondo Beach will be for the fire stations, followed closely by the new police station. All will be built at the existing structures’ current locations.

Luke Smude, assistant city manager, gave a presentation to the city council Tuesday, introducing Michele Prata, Swinerton project executive, and Charles Williams, LPA architect.

The city received six bids to build the police station, seven for the fire stations and three for all of the structures combined. City staff scored each written proposal and held interviews – including 20-minute real-time problem-solving tests – then chose the top-three bidders, and asked for their best and final offers.

“Throughout this process, we’re looking at best value, skills, expertise and experience,” Smude said.

Swinerton and LPA will now get started, to decipher a guaranteed maximum cost for each fire station by the end of the year.

Read the full article at Easy Reader News & Peninsula Magazine