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Gary council unanimously approves design-build resolution to advance Lake County convention center project
Summary
The Gary Common Council voted 9-0 on March 24 to adopt CPR 2026-01, authorizing the city to proceed with a design-build request for proposals for the Lake County Convention Center project and to move toward pricing with an AECOM-led team; councilors raised questions about change orders, financing and council involvement in design committees.
Council President Linda Barnes Caldwell and the Gary Common Council unanimously approved CPR 2026-01 on March 24, authorizing a design-build request for proposals to advance the Lake County Convention Center project next to the Hard Rock Casino.
The resolution clears the city to move from qualifications to pricing after a technical review committee recommended the AECOM/Hunt and Powers & Sons team. A presenter identified as Ms. Sharp told the council the committee’s collective score for the shortlisted team was "99 out of 100," and that the city must now seek price proposals to establish a guaranteed maximum price.
Why it matters: The design-build route consolidates design and construction contracting and lets the city negotiate constructability and price collaboratively with the selected team. Ms. Sharp said the project will be bonded through the Indiana Finance Authority by way of the Redevelopment Authority and that Hard Rock Casino will partner to operate the facility.
Council members asked about financial and procurement safeguards. In response, Ms. Sharp said change orders are managed through the guaranteed maximum price and collaborative negotiations during design and construction rather than the traditional design-bid-build process: "we establish a guaranteed maximum price...it's a matter of negotiation through design and constructability." She also said a build-operate-transfer model was not pursued "primarily because we have the financing secured for this project."
Members pressed for clarity about council participation in design committees. Ms. Sharp said the Redevelopment Authority and Hard Rock would be represented on decision committees and that she would serve as the owner’s representative; she added that the council’s level of direct involvement could be discussed as the process moves forward.
The council first voted to waive the three-reading rule so CPR 2026-01 could be considered immediately, then approved a motion to substitute amended language (which corrects references to the Lake County Convention Center) and passed the resolution by a 9-0 roll call.
What’s next: The resolution authorizes staff to proceed to the next procurement steps (shortlisting, RFP issuance and price proposals). Council members set no additional conditions in the adopted motion; the timeline and committee structure for detailed council involvement will be determined as the city proceeds with design and contracting.
