NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: December 18, 2006

Albany Convention Center Authority Selects Team for GEIS and Master Planning

ALBANY, N.Y. (Dec. 18, 2006) – Albany Convention Center Authority Chairman George Leveille today announced that the Clough Harbour Consortium – an alliance of architects, engineers, landscape architects, planners, archeologists, economic advisors and cultural consultants – has been selected to prepare the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) and master planning for the proposed convention center and hotel preferred site in downtown Albany.

“I am very excited about the master planning component of the project,” Mr. Leveille said.  "The planning team brings a wide range of expertise and creative thinking to this effort. Coupled with an aggressive public outreach program, our goal is to increase the economic leverage of the authority's investment in the convention center facility."

The final scope of services is being finalized and the fee for the engagement is expected to be in the $550 – 600,000 range.

Peter Conway, a partner in Clough, Harbour & Associates LLP, which put together the consortium and will coordinate their efforts, said;  “This alliance has worked together before in various formats. Individually and collectively, this alliance watched and participated in the effort to bring the Convention Center program to the forefront for the City of Albany and the entire Capital Region.”

Highlights of the project include development of a master plan for the area between Broadway, South Pearl, Hudson Avenue and Madison Avenue. “It should be noted,” Mr. Conway said, “while the convention center and hotel comprise the largest single project, it is but one element of the overall master plan to be undertaken for the Albany Convention Center Authority. These two elements are intended to encourage economic development throughout Albany’s downtown area. Another important element is to integrate the history and archeology of the area,” Mr. Conway said.

Mr. Conway said the scope of the consortium’s work also includes:

  • Economic and market strategy for growth.
  • A cultural heritage master plan.
  • A construction plan.
  • Support of economic inclusion practices.
  • Community Outreach Plan.
  • And, a strategy for enhancing inter-model transportation. 
“For a decade, even as we began our Capitalize Albany development strategy, it has been our belief that a new convention center offers great potential for economic development of Albany’s downtown, the entire city and beyond,” said Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings. “Seeing the proposed 225,000-square-foot convention center go to this critical step is testimony to the great desire of the convention authority to keep this project expertly on track as the revitalization of our capital city continues.”

“The designation of this planning team of experts marks a huge step forward in the creation of the Convention Center which, in tandem with the Times Union Center, will continue the revitalization of downtown Albany,” said Albany County Executive Mike Breslin.

The members of the Clough Harbour consortium are:

  • Saratoga Associates, Saratoga Springs.  Bob Bristol, Principal. Community outreach and preparation of the facility and district master plan.
  • HNTB Architecture,  Boston, MA.  – Don Grinberg, Principal. Lead architect. 
  • Basile, Baumann Prost & Associates, Inc., Annapolis, MD. Jim Prost, Vice Principal.  Preparation of the economic and market analysis.
  • Hamlin Design Group, Albany.  Shawn Hamlin, Principal.  Community outreach and preparation of the facility and district master plan.
  • Lord Cultural Resources.  Barry Lord, President.  Preparation of the cultural heritage element of the facility and district master plan.
  • Hartgen Archeological Associates, Inc., Rensselaer.  Bill Bouchard, Senior Archeologist. Responsible for the archeological investigation.
  • Turner Construction Company, Albany. Mark Breslin, Vice President. Responsible for constructability review of the project.

In addition, Landon & Rian Enterprises, Inc. of Rochester and Albany, will consult on economic inclusion and minority/women business enterprises for the convention authority.

The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District, will host a series of stakeholder meetings to include employees of firms headquartered within the district, property owners and restaurant, retail and attraction operators within the BID’s district. Burt Wolf of QL Consulting in Amherst, MA, will facilitate these meetings in cooperation with Clough Harbour.

ABOUT THE ACCA
The nine-member Albany Convention Center Authority was created in 2004 as a public benefit corporation under the New York State Public Authorities Act. The authority was created to meet an immediate need to institute a comprehensive, coordinated program of convention activities in the City of Albany. The ACCA is to provide the City of Albany with the ability to develop, renovate and undertake economic development projects in the historic downtown area to optimize the economic and social activities of city and its environs.

 

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Al Sorrentino, Project Manager
Albany Convention Center Authority
25 Quackenbush Square
Albany, New York 12207
518-434-1217, x203
asorrentino@albanynewyorkconventioncenter.com
www.albanynewyorkconventioncenter.com

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