DEPARTMENT: Center City Development & Operations Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: John Jacks
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: District 1
SUBJECT: River Barge Design Competition
SUMMARY:
Briefing on the status of the River Barge Design Competition for a new fleet design. The new river barge fleet is anticipated to be constructed and fully operational for the City’s Tricentennial celebration.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The current river barge design originates from San Antonio’s 250th anniversary celebration during the 1968 World’s Fair. In 2018, San Antonio will celebrate its 300th anniversary. This occasion prompted a desire by City leaders to re-imagine the river barge experience with a newly-designed, more sustainable, modular fleet using innovative technology that can respond to the needs of both tourists and residents.
The City partnered with The American Institute of Architects, San Antonio Chapter (AIA San Antonio) to implement a two-phased international design competition for a new river barge design. The competition launched on October 30, 2015, with initial conceptual design proposals due February 5, 2016. A panel of 11 distinguished jurors reviewed the 12 anonymous submittals for the first phase of the competition and selected three finalist teams to move into the second phase of the competition based on design innovation, functionality, operational considerations, constructability, and sensitivity to San Antonio’s culture. The three finalists, listed below in alphabetical order, submitted their developed design concepts on March 18.
• Luna Architecture + Design (San Antonio, TX) with Lay Pittman & Associates (Neptune Beach, FL)
• METALAB (Houston, TX)
• Sadi Brewton + Jonathan Davies (Austin, TX)
AIA San Antonio held an open house on March 28 for community members to view renderings & 3-D models of the three finalists’ barge designs, meet with the three finalist teams, and provide feedback on the designs. Community feedback was provided to the Jury for consideration in their final decision. In the second phase, the Jury took additional technical and maintenance considerations into account in making their final decision. The Jury interviewed teams on March 29 and selected the winning design.
AIA San Antonio awarded cash prizes to the finalist teams in the amounts of $20,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place, and $5,000 for third place. The Center City Development & Operations Department, San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the San Antonio River Authority funded the design competition.
The first place design provides an all-electric fleet with modularity for boats to accommodate a wide range of uses. The innovative design is representative of San Antonio’s culture and presents new opportunities for the river barge experience.
ISSUE:
The winning team is recommended to enter into a professional services contract with the City to complete construction documents for watercraft design. The City anticipates having a test barge in the water by spring 2017. The newly-constructed river barge fleet is anticipated to be constructed and operational by fall 2017 in time for the Tricentennial celebration.
Upon selection of the final barge design, the City will issue two Requests for Proposals (RFP). The first RFP will be issued for procurement of the barge fleet. The City will issue a second RFP for operation and programming of the barge fleet.
ALTERNATIVES:
This is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City will enter into a professional services contract with the selected design team to complete construction documents for barge design in an amount of at least five percent of initial barge procurement. The City of San Antonio will procure at least 44 barges.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only. On April 28, 2016, staff will present several items to City Council for approval to include the following:
1) Approval of a professional services contract with the winning team to complete construction documents for watercraft design.
2) Authorization to proceed with the procurement for the barge fleet.
3) Authorization to proceed with the RFP for the operation of the barge fleet.
4) Extension of the Rio San Antonio Cruises contract to September 30, 2017.