Item Description:
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Schematic Design Contract for the Southdale Library Replacement (CP 1005259) with MSR Design for architectural and engineering services, 08/15/23-01/31/24, NTE $1,224,607
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Authorization to proceed with project schematic design for the Southdale Library Replacement (CP 1005259) be approved; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a contract with MSR Design for architectural and engineering services for the Schematic Design Phase of the for the Southdale Library Replacement (CP 1005259) for period August 15, 2023 to January 31, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $ 1,224,607 be approved.
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Background:
The Southdale Library was built in 1971, and serves the residents of Edina, Bloomington, Richfield and Minneapolis with its extensive collections, meeting spaces, and community-responsive programming. In addition to the library, the 7.74-acre site previously also housed a Resident & Real Estate Service Center (relocated to Southdale Center in 2016) and district courts (relocated to other county facilities in 2019).
Southdale continues to be one of the busiest libraries in the Hennepin County system:
• 4th most visited library in the Hennepin County system, welcoming approximately 185,000 visitors in 2022
• 6th highest volume of physical checkouts, more than 250,000 first-time checkouts in 2022
• 7th highest volume of Wi-Fi connections, more than 225,000 sessions in 2022
• 2nd highest in information counts, second only to Minneapolis Central Library
In 2017, the Designer Selection Committee recommended MSR Design (MSR) to design the new Southdale Library. The International Federation of Library Associations recently selected the MSR-designed Missoula, Montana Public Library for the International Public Library of the Year. This contract allows MSR to continue with the next phase of architectural planning, Schematic Design. Funding for this contract comes from an existing capital budget project (CP 1005259). The full cost of construction will be added to budget this summer.
The county is currently exploring several ideas for this project:
• Using area demographic data and library use data, the county is exploring the appropriate size of the library and services for the library. The initial estimate is a library with approximately 45,000 square feet (sf).
• The County is in discussions with the City of Edina to determine if the Edina Arts Center can be co-located with the library. This would allow for shared use of many common spaces, conference rooms, maker spaces as well as outdoor education spaces. The Edina Art Center would be approximately 16,000 sf and would be located on the second floor of the library.
• After studying multiple development scenarios, the county is exploring utilizing the remaining portion of the site for greenspace, and reparative landscape, supporting educational opportunities and stormwater management. The southwest corner of the site is dominated by a one-acre 100-year floodplain which would make development of the site complicated. This greenspace would also connect the Edina Promenade to Three River’s Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail. Early conversations with the City of Edina and Three Rivers have contemplated a trailhead on the library site as well as an outdoor learning area which could be utilized by the library, Edina Arts Center and the two park entities.
• The Project will support the county’s Climate Action goals as it will be built to State of Minnesota’s Buildings, Benchmarks and Beyond (B3) guidelines. It will most likely manage all stormwater on site, have solar panels and a green roof, and a Darcy geothermal system.
• Parking would be reduced from 400 on-grade parking stalls to approximately 150 stalls below and on-grade.
Between 2016-2018, the county and the city held a series of public meetings to look at library functionality and adjacent site uses. The county explored moving the library to Southdale Mall in 2019-2020, but the pandemic stalled those conversations and planning for a new library at the current site resumed in 2023. The library has had a resident survey open since mid-April and, as of mid-July, the library has received over 600 responses. There will be a preliminary community meeting at the existing Southdale Library at the end of August and another when design for the project is further along.
The design phases are scheduled to continue until the end of 2024. Abatement and deconstruction will start in the spring of 2025 with construction substantially complete by spring 2027.
It is estimated that the Schematic Design report will come to the board in December or January.
Current Request: This is a request to approve a contract with MSR Design for architectural and engineering services for the Schematic Design Phase of the for the Southdale Library Replacement (CP 1005259) for period August 15, 2023 to January 31, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $ 1,224,607.
Impact/Outcomes: The new library will be designed to meet the needs and expectations of the diverse and growing community of Edina and surrounding metro communities such as Richfield, Minneapolis and Bloomington, and to provide a welcoming and accessible space for learning, creativity, and civic engagement. This contract allows Facility Services to continue with the next design phase of the project.
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Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval