NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: September 28, 2007

Albany Convention Center Authority Names Construction Manager & Architectural Design Team  

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 28, 2007) – Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA) Executive Director, Duncan Stewart today announced the decision of the ACCA board to hire the Construction Management and Architectural Design teams.

The companies/teams of Gilbane/BBL and HNTB have been selected respectively. After receiving recommendations from the Construction Manager Selection and Architectural Design Team Selection Focus Groups, the board voted to engage the recommended consultants. 

The Construction Management team of Gilbane/BBL brings a longtime partnership between two experienced companies to the Albany Convention Center project. Gilbane’s nationally recognized and award winning technology resources and aggressive scheduling management coupled with the local commitment of BBL and their strong site management team will help the Authority to successfully meet its development goal. 

The Architectural Services team of HNTB is integrated with a cadre of design specialists and professionals, including RTKL, a nationally recognized hotel design specialist and Hamlin Design Group a local Architectural firm owned and operated by Albanian Shawn Hamlin, AIA RA along with other local and national consultants familiar with convention center and hotel design in urban settings appropriate to the Albany landscape. Their dedication to innovative design with an end user focus will enable us to build a convention center that will meet the needs of both conventioneers and the Albany community.

“The choices were difficult due in part to the extremely high quality of the candidates and the many issues to be considered. The teams chosen by the Board are those that are best suited to deliver this project, on time and on budget.”  Mr. Stewart said, in confirming the decision of the Board after the authority’s monthly meeting at the Harold L. Joyce Albany County Office Building.  He added that “We will be presenting recommendations to the Board for the hotel and convention center operator and MWEBE/EEO compliance officer in the next few weeks to complete our all important team of consultants.”

As the Construction Manager, Gilbane/BBL will be have overall administrative responsibility for the building of the convention center. As the lead member firm of the Architectural design team, HNTB will be responsible for the design of the buildings and the sites as a whole.

Vice -Chair of the ACCA Board Gavin Donohue served as Chair of the Construction Manager Selection Focus Group and Board member, Hon. John D. (Jack) McEneny served as Chair of the Architectural Design Team Selection Focus Group.  There were five responses to the Request for Qualifications for Construction Management Services received by the Authority, representing eight individual companies, many of whom partnered with other companies. There were eight responses to the Request for Qualifications for Architectural Design Services, representing twelve companies as certain of those candidates elected to joint venture as well.

ACCA board Chairman George Leveille said, “The Board is pleased with the addition of these outstanding firms to our development team. This is another important milestone towards achieving our mission to develop a first class convention center facility in New York State’s Capital City”.

ABOUT THE ACCA
The Albany Convention Center Authority was organized in 2006 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.

End of ACCA Press Release Dated 9-28-07

MEDIA CONTACT:

Duncan Stewart
Albany Convention Center Authority
518-275-4920, ext. 1
dstewart@accany.com
www.accany.com

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