County recommends KZF Design and Messer Construction for Paycor Stadium renovations
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Summary
A selection committee composed of Bengals and county staff recommended KZF Design (A/E) and Messer Construction (construction management) to lead Paycor Stadium renovation work; two resolutions awarding agreements were scheduled for the next board meeting.
Hamilton County commissioners received an Oct. 21 briefing on recommended consultants to lead planned renovations at Paycor Stadium and were told two resolutions will come to the board for formal approval.
Phil Beck, the county’s project executive, and Dwayne Herring, the Bengals’ director of stadium and event operations, described a process that began with a publicly advertised Request for Qualifications and produced four architecture/engineering responses and four construction‑management responses. Beck said a joint selection committee that included county facility staff and Bengals representatives shortlisted two firms in each category, interviewed the finalists and recommended KZF Design for architecture/engineering and Messer Construction for construction management.
Dwayne Herring said the renovation work will focus on items meant to improve the fan experience across seating levels and events: vertical transportation, restroom replacements, concourse improvements, wayfinding, video boards and seat replacement. "These projects in many ways will reflect renovations and improvements to the stadium that will impact almost all of the fans who would come to the stadium," Herring said.
Beck outlined the procurement steps taken: RFQ advertised in local publications mid‑September, responses received Oct. 6, committee review and interviews, then shortlists narrowed to two firms in each category. He named county staff who participated in the selection process and noted the recommended teams include a number of carefully selected subcontractors.
Commissioners praised the open process and inclusion efforts. Commissioners asked about outreach and dissemination; staff said they published the RFQ in the Inquirer, the Business Courier and the Court Index and also used county outreach lists to notify subcontractors about opportunities to approach prime contractors.
No final contracts were executed Oct. 21. Beck said the board will consider two resolutions at the upcoming Thursday meeting: one to authorize an A/E agreement with KZF Design and one to authorize a construction management agreement with Messer Construction. Staff said they are coordinating sequencing and phasing to minimize disruption to major stadium events and to address accessibility concerns; Herring said the project team will prioritize keeping restrooms and primary circulation operational during events and will plan around the stadium schedule.
If approved, the recommended teams will begin the design and preconstruction phases with an eye toward phasing work through off‑season windows and targeted work during the season that can be isolated and reopened for events.