CMAR Sought for Tolleson High School Project

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX
The Tolleson Union High School District recently issued a Request for Qualifications for Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) services in order to build a Performing Arts and Media Center and new Classroom building at its high school located at 9419 W. Van Buren Street.
According to the RFQ, the $36.5M project will include the construction of a 43.5KSF, 700-seat Performing Arts Center, a 9KSF, two-story Media Center and a 35.7KSF, two-story Classroom Building 500.
The media center will be attached to the existing Tolleson Union High School gymnasium on the west side. “Components included in the Media Center are a center for student gathering and studying designed in a café style, two computer labs, library with book stacks and circulation desk, restrooms and the MDF room (Main Distribution Frame) for the campus,” the RFQ states.
The new classroom building 500 will be composed of 28 classrooms, faculty areas, support spaces, collaborative laboratory spaces and support spaces. In order to construct this building, TUHS’ buildings 500 and 506 will need to be demolished first.
The RFQ states that The CMAR and the District must agree upon the terms of a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract before construction can commence. While the district is only going to select one firm for this project, there may be multiple GMPs. The CMAR will provide pre-construction services including consulting with the architect and district on various stages of design, preparing cost estimates and more.
“The CMAR will have full budgetary responsibility from the design phase through the establishment of the GMP on the project.”
No pre-submittal meeting has been scheduled for this RFQ. All statements of qualification must be submitted to TUHSD by 1:00 p.m. on December 11th, 2020. The proposed selection schedule shows the district will evaluate the submittals the week of December 14th and hold interviews (if needed) between December 21st and January 18th.