Commission selects Hutton/GMCN team for Lee Richardson Zoo design; directs staff to negotiate contract

The Garden City Commission directed staff on Jan. 20 to negotiate a contract with Hutton Design & Build and GMCN Architects to provide design services, artistic renderings, estimated construction budgets and construction documents for proposed improvements at Lee Richardson Zoo.

Why it matters: The selection begins a design phase for planned zoo improvements — including a viewing/holding building, entrance work and animal barn renovations — that must be completed before any construction decisions and bidding occur.

City staff said five proposals were received in response to the RFP and four proceeded to the selection committee, which included the zoo deputy director, parks-and-rec director, Commissioner Landgraf, public-works staff and the Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo executive director. Committee scoring considered qualifications, experience with zoo projects and entryway design, cost breakdowns and quality-control processes. The committee recommended the Hutton/GMCN team based on interviews and scoring.

Staff recommended, and the commission approved, a motion to allow negotiations of a time-and-expense agreement with an established maximum fee; staff noted there is no immediate fiscal impact until a final contract is presented for approval. If the governing body later approves construction, that phase would be subject to a separate contracting or bidding process.

Commissioners who served on the selection committee praised the proposals and emphasized the importance of design work before seeking construction authorization.

Ending: Staff will return a negotiated contract with a stated maximum fee for commission consideration in a future meeting.