Sample 2

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

submitted by: stoa international architects, inc. 6001 savoy drive, suite 100 houston, tx 77036

University of Houston System – Purchasing Department

5000 Gulf Freeway Bldg. 1, Rm. 214

Houston, TX 77204-5015

Re: RFQ NO. 783-23010 for Programming Services CSA at the University of Houston System

Dear Chair and Members of the Evaluation Committee,

March 27, 2023

STOA International Architects, Inc. dba STOA Architects (STOA), along with our proposed consultant team, is grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate our keen interest in collaborating with The University of Houston System (UHS) Our team offers a wealth of experience in academic planning and programming services for new construction/renovations of all types of university facilities. We are cognizant of the critical role that quality architectural programming plays in providing facilities that support an optimal collegiate experience, and we are fully prepared to offer the requested services to UHS Our experience partnering with numerous academic institutions, including extensive successful experience at the University of Houston, positions us well to deliver top-tier service.

We are excited at the prospect of offering our services to the UHS academic community and contribute to the future transformation of the University and the daily lives of its occupants. We are especially proud of our working relationships with The University of Houston, Rice University, the University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Houston Community College, and many more important educational institutions. Our services include planning, programming, design, and project management. We are excited to showcase some of our most notable projects- projects that go beyond fulfilling their intended function to enhance the overall academic environment and quality of life.

At STOA Architects, our goal is to provide The University of Houston System (UHS) with a streamlined programming process from start to finish. Our comprehensive team of Houston-based architects, engineers, and programming specialists have worked together for many years providing quality services. We are excited to include Facility Programming and Consulting, as our programming specialists who have a wealth of knowledge and experience with UHS and can cater to the needs of any project. With our onestop services, we aim to make the process as efficient as possible for UHS

Programming is a collaborative effort. Realizing the non-specific issues involved in an indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity contract, and the wide variety of potential sites as well as the specialized nature of pre-project planning assignments, we understand that it may make sense to include other consultants once a project is assigned. Our diverse and multifaceted project team of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB), Minority/Women Business Enterprises (M/WBE) has the capacity, capabilities, and knowledge, to contribute significantly to see each pre-project planning assignment through.

However, because of the specialized nature of these pre-project planning assignments, our project team may be different from one assignment to another. If a project requires a “subject matter expert,” we will work with the University of Houston System to include specific experts during the programming process.

Our Team

STOA Architects, Inc. (HUB, MBE, SBE, DBE)

Prime Firm / Architecture

Dally & Associates, Inc. (HUB)

Structural & Civil Engineering

Jones DBR, Inc. (HUB, MBE)

Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Engineering

Facility Programming and Consulting Programming Services

TLC Engineering, Inc. (HUB, WBE)

Value Engineering

Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity to present our firm and team credentials with this submittal.

Sincerely,

C.C. Lee, AIA, LEED AP President and CEO

Fort Bend County Epicenter - Construction Convention Center & Faire Grounds

Introduction & general information of respondent.

Name STOA International Architects, Inc.

Address 6001 Savoy Dr, Ste. 100 Houston, Texas 77036

Age 40 Yrs

L.Entity TX Corporation

Firm Size Houston 23

Pensacola 22 Panama 2

STOA's History

STOA International Architects, Inc. (HUB/MBE) is an award-winning architecture firm that was founded in 1983. We specialize in delivering innovative design solutions that not only meet the operational goals of our clients but also express the importance of their role in the larger community.

Since our inception, we have approached each project with a holistic mindset, considering not only the functional requirements but also the impact on the natural environment and the wellbeing of the occupants.

We understand the importance and impact programming projects have on the greater academic community, STOA is honored to include the premier higher education programming firm in Texas, Facility Programming and Consulting on our team.

Founded in 1992, Facility Programming and Consulting has become one of the nation’s largest “programming only” companies. The firm has provided pre-project planning and architectural services for more than 30 years. Facility Programming is especially proud of our relationship with the University of Houston which extends over two decades and includes programming many of the University’s most high-profile projects.

Facility Programming and Consulting was founded with one mission: to respond to architectural problem definition and planning needs. Facility Programming understands programming involves more than capturing good ideas in a space list. For higher education, the programming process must focus on leading stakeholders through a collaborative process, balancing scope to budget, always focused on project outcomes aligned with the mission of the University of Houston critical to the success of the project.

TEA|Total Envrionmental Alignment

STOA is the only architectural firm in the U.S. that is equipped with the capability to holistically address the psychological, behavioral, and economic aspect of building development, programming, and design through Feng Shui spatial values. Our firm has long practiced a unique approach that incorporates traditional Feng Shui practices with modern green design methods, which we call “Green TEA” (Total Environmental Alignment). Green Architecture is a design approach that minimizes the harmful effects on human health and the environment by applying LEED principles and resource-efficient materials.

When it comes to incorporating the principles of Feng Shui into the programming process for physical spaces, architects can use these principles to inform the layout and organization of the building to create a more harmonious and balanced environment. For example, the placement of doors, windows, and furniture can be arranged to promote good energy flow and enhance the overall functionality of the space. The use of natural light and materials can also be considered to create a more calming and welcoming atmosphere for the users.

By incorporating the principles of Feng Shui into the programming process, architects can create buildings that not only meet the functional requirements of the users but also promote a sense of balance and harmony in the physical environment.

Kinship or Other Relationship

No relationships exist by relative, business associate, capital funding agreement, or any other such kinship between members of STOA Architects and any owner employee, officer, or regent.

Areas of Market Specialization/Concentration

STOA'S DISCIPLINES

+ Architecture

+ Interior Design

+ Construction Management

+ Project Management

+ Master Planning

+ ADA Compliance

+ LEED Certification

+ Forensic Investigation

+ Programming

+ 3D Design & Modeling

+ 3D/2D Rendering & Visualization

FACILITY PROGRAMMING AND CONSULTING'S DISCIPLINES

+ Architectural Programming

+ Master Planning Support

+ Market Research & Analysis

+ Strategic Facilities Planning

+ Needs Assessment

+ Room Data Sheets

+ Project Definition

+ Project Validation Assessment

+ Design Criteria

+ Economic Feasibility

+ Project Communication (stakeholders)

+ Meeting Facilitation

+ Project Planning

+ Community Consultation

Credit: Facility Programming and Consulting

CRITERION 1 expertise of firm & proposed team

Proposed Team for The Project.

Primary Point of Contact

Chao Chiung Lee, AIA, LEED AP Principal in Charge

C.C. Lee is the contracting officer and leader of the Houston, Pensacola, and Panama offices of STOA International Architects. He is a renowned architect who has managed the firm since 1983, using his systematic design method to help clients worldwide with modern design and development challenges. Under his leadership, the firm has designed diverse academic institutions including the University of Houston's Welcome Center & Parking Garage.

Registered Architect (TX) #8167

STOA Architects (HUB) - Prime Firm

Suzanne Lee, AIA, LEED AP Project Manager

Suzanne will be the Project Manager for this proposed contract. She has extensive experience in higher education facility programming, planning, design, and construction. As a licensed Architect with over 30+ years of experience in architecture and construction management, with emphasis on constructibility, improving delivery strategies and contract admiistration. She is responsible for overseeing the entire project lifecycle, from initial concept to completion. She works closely with clients to ensure that their vision is realized, and completed on time and within budget.

Registered Architect (TX) #17503

Ramon Patino, M.Arch Deputy Project Manager

Ramon will be the Deputy Project Manager for the project. Ramon has over 30 years of experinece and has worked on projects ranging from residential housing to large corporate office buildings. He will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and manage and coordinate the team with clients and other stakeholders.

ChiChung Chang, Ph.D. Qality Assurance Quality Control Officer

ChiChung has over 40+ years of experience in managing and conducting engineering, constructin, and planning projects for local, state and federal agencies, education and research institutionsm and more. His diversified technical background and strong analysis skills that grant him the knowledge to closely follow and inform the project team during all phases of the project.

Facility Programming and ConsultantingProgramming Consultants

Terry Phillips Programming Principal

Terry’s education and professional experience includes both architecture and economics. This unique background allows him to define and develop projects with a clear understanding of the financial, operational, and architectural challenges.

Terry will be the programming project principal for all assignments and will be actively involved in all project meetings and workshops. Terry’s experience at the University of Houston extends over two decades and includes over 20 projects on every major UH campus.

Amanda Crawley AIA

Senior Programmer/ Project Leader

Amanda is an architect with extensive experience leading programming for higher education. Amanda specializes in projects with complex technical requirements. Amanda’s experience as a programming project leader at the University of Houston extends over multiple projects and includes the recently programmed Innovation Hub and strategies for the renovation of Moody Towers.

Maria Batista AIA

Senior Programmer/Project Leader

Maria is an architect with extensive experience leading programming for higher education. Maria specializes in providing a deep exploration of requirements for skills labs and educational environments. Maria’s experience as a programming project leader at the University of Houston includes leading the programming exercise for the new Law School building.

Credit: Facility Programming and Consulting

Proposed Team for The Project.

Dally & Associates, Inc. (HUB)Civil & Structural Engineering

Fred Dally, P.E. Civil Engineering Lead

With 30 years of experience in higher education projects, Fred is skilled in satisfying client requirements within budget and schedule constraints for new construction and renovations. As Principal-in-Charge, he oversees projects from conception to design development, reviewing design criteria during schematic design and design development phases. Fred is responsible for ensuring the success of the entire project team.

Registered Engineer (TX) #90904

Jorge Galvan, P.E. Structural Engineering Lead

Jorge Galvan is an accomplished Structural Engineer with expertise in designing buildings, bridges, and heavy civil infrastructure. He is skilled in concrete and steel structures, construction drawings, technical specifications writing, construction administration, and BIM. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston and has strong program and project management skills.

Registered Engineer (TX) #112861

Mike Neumann Principal of Civil engineering

Mike is a highly experienced civil engineer with over 30 years of experience managing and designing civil engineering projects for public and private clients. He has overseen projects from initial research to final construction, preparing proposals and construction documents including plans, specifications, cost estimates, and bid packages.

Carlos Pacas, EIT. Senior Project Manager Civil

Carlos has 6 years of experience and has worked on a variety of transportation projects with TxDOT, HCTRA, and several Texas and Louisiana counties and municipalities. His portfolio includes site development projects, as well as structures such as churches, schools, restaurants, car shops/dealerships, fire stations, and hotels.

Registered Engineer (TX) #54813

Credit: Facility Programming and Consulting

Jones DBR, Inc. (HUB) - MEP Engineering

Edward Puentes, PE, Lead Mechanical & Plumbing Engineer

Edward is responsible for managing Higher Education projects across the state. He oversees the design of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, making sure that the needs of our clients are met. Edward is also responsible for maintaining design standards and providing quality control.

Registered Engineer (TX) #64671

Erik MacDonald, PE, Lead Electrical Engineer

Erik’s role as your Lead Electrical Engineer ensures your designs will be handed to you on time. As leader of his team’s designers and engineers, he will rally with them and pick up the slack if ever there is a need. He isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and takes pride in coming up with solutions to various challenges that you are happy about. Erik strives to see a job completed with minimal complications.

Registered Engineer (TX) #105068

TLC Engineering, Inc. (HUB) - Value Engineering

Beverly Williams, PE, Value Engineering Lead

Dual degrees in Architecture and Civil Engineering, combined with decades of professional experience, provide Ms. Williams with the skills needed to successfully execute project and program management, business development, infrastructure design, and master plan development. She has successfully implemented both public and private assignments on major projects with complex requirements, serving as Project Manager or in a consultant capacity.

Registered Engineer (TX) #105483

Experience & Expertise in Program Planning Services

5.3.1.3 Discussion of your firm’s experience and expertise in providing program planning services.

The STOA team with Facility Programming and Consulting are specialists in architectural programming for higher education. This dedication to developing effective systems, practices, and techniques sets the team apart. For 30 years and more than 1000 higher education projects, team members have developed and refined the programming process, purposefully limiting the focus to programming for institutions like the University of Houston System.

The team has successfully provided architectural programming and planning services for more academic and academic research buildings than any other firm in the state of Texas. Facility Programming holds IDIQs for programming services for virtually every university system in Texas.

For the University of Houston System, Facility Programming has completed more than 20 programming and planning assignments. From the first project, the Commerce and Main Building at UH Downtown, through the new Law School and the soon to be designed Innovation Hub, the team demonstrates experience and expertise through a history of successful projects.

5.3.1.4 Discussion of your firm’s capability to manage one or more projects of the indicated typical sizes on an on-call basis.

The STOA team includes experienced leaders and staff who spend 100% of their time preparing programs of requirements and planning assignments. The programming team is well equipped to handle programming efforts simultaneously on different campuses. This capability is best demonstrated by the successful demonstrated performance of the team at UH and on IDIQs for other university systems.

Credit: Facility Programming and Consulting

Our project team may be different from one assignment to another. If a project requires a “subject matter expert,” we will work with the University of Houston System to include specific experts during the programming process.

Chao

Principal in Charge

Registered Architect (TX) #8167

LEED Accedited Professional,

Registered Interior Designer (No. 1707), NCARB Certified

Harvard University

AMDP in Real Estate,

Washington University

Master of Architecture, Tunghai University

Bachelors of Architecture

About

C.C. Lee, founder of STOA International Architects, has been in business for over 40 years, and has been working in the field of architecture for 40+ years. He is a respected architect who has been managing the firm since 1983, utilizing his structured design approach to aid clients globally.

Experience

- Welcome Center, Garage & Retail

- Superconductivity Science Center

University of Houston

- James Baker Hall Rm 310 Office Build Out

- McNair Hall 3rd Fl Infill Study

- Space Science Rm 106 Remodel

- Allen Center Office Renovation

- Duncan Hall Dean's Office Remodel & Study

William Marsh Rice University

- Northeast Campus Academic Building

Houston Community College

- Fort Bend Epicenter & Faire Grounds

Fort Bend County

About

With over 30+ years of experience in architecture and construction management, with emphasis on constructibility, improving delivery strategies and contract admiistration. She is responsible for overseeing the entire project lifecycle, from initial concept to completion. She works closely with clients to ensure that their vision is realized, and completed on time and within budget.

Experience

- Welcome Center, Garage & Retail

- Student Service Center Renovation

Suzanne

Lee, AIA, LEED AP Project Manager

Registered Architect (TX) #17503

University of Texas

Master of Architecture

University of Tamkang

Bachelors of Architecture

University of Houston

- George H.W. Bush Community Center

Harris County

- Fort Bend Epicenter & Faire Grounds

Fort Bend County

- Mickey Leland International Airport Terminal D

Modernization

- Terminal C Renovation & Addition

- Terminal B Renovation

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (HAS)

Chiung Lee, AIA, LEED AP

Ramon Patino, M.Arch Deputy Project Manager

Cornell University Master of Architecture

University of Houston Bachelors of Architecture

About

Ramon will be the Deputy Project Manager for the project. Ramon has over 30 years of experinece and has worked on projects ranging from residential housing to large corporate office buildings. He will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and manage and coordinate the team with clients and other stakeholders.

Experience

- James Baker Hall Rm 310 Office Build Out

- McNair Hall 3rd Fl Infill Study

- Space Science Rm 106 Remodel

- Allen Center Office Renovation

- Duncan Hall Dean's Office Remodel & Study

William Marsh Rice University

- George H.W. Bush Community Center

Harris County

- Fort Bend Epicenter & Faire Grounds

Fort Bend County

About

ChiChung has over 40+ years of experience in managing and conducting engineering, constructin, and planning projects for local, state and federal agencies, education and research institutionsm and more. His diversified technical background and strong analysis skills that grant him the knowledge to closely follow and inform the project team during all phases of the project.

Experience

ChiChung Chang, Ph.D. QAQC Officer

Certified Project Manager

Ph.D. In Engineering Rice University

- Facility Assessment, site planning for effective use and/or reuse of existing sites, facilities, and infrastructure, and possible expansion of lowincome housing development to meet identified shortfalls and possible future needs.

Port Arthur Housing Authority

- QA/QC for the IDIQ A/E/ Services Contract University of Houston (URS Corp.)

- Civil engineering IDIQ 2013-2017 Engineering Study/Assessment

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Superconductivity Science Center University of Houston

CRITERION 2 relevant project experience

The Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC)

STOA International Architects, Inc.

name

The Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC)

University of South Carolina Aiken

location

Aiken, South Carolina

type of construction

New Construction

project size

58,600 SF

construction cost

$50 Million

completion date

Ongoing

roles of project team member

PROJECT MANAGER

Michael Werner

PROJECT ARCHITECT

Mallory Garrett

contractor and delivery method

SpawGlass, Houston, Texas Design Build

project scope

The AMC Facility is a modern lab building for research and development supported by the DOE. It will serve as a hub for collaboration between SRNL, academia, industry partners, and government agencies at all levels. The 58,600 SF building will have flexible lab spaces, offices, and collaboration areas, including formal and informal meeting spaces. Sustainable design and construction practices will be used, and the project aims to achieve Gold certification using USGBC LEED Building Design and Construction rating system.

Houston Community College (HCC)IDIQ Architecture/Engineering Services: Multiple Facilities, Roof Upgrades, Access Control System, Feasibility Study

STOA International Architects, Inc.

name

Houston Community College (HCC) - IDIQ Architecture/ Engineering Services: Multiple Facilities, Roof Upgrades, Access Control System, Feasibility Study

year completed

Ongoing location

Various Houston Community College Campuses

type of construction

Renovations, Upgrades

project size

67 Buildings, 11 Campuses, Total 5,382,987 sq ft

construction cost

Roof Upgrades

$2M

Access Control System

$186,500

Feasibility Study

$16,000

completion date

2021

roles of project team member

Suzanne Lee, LEED AP, AIA Project Manager

Cynthia Ramirez, M.Arch

project scope

ROOF REPAIRS/UPGRADES

STOA was contracted by the Houston Community College to provide project management and construction administration for roof upgrades.

ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM UPGRADES

The scope consisted of the provision of Access Controls and Video Management System Design Services for approximately 67 facilities in eleven (11) HCC Campus/ Regions.

Option1: Replace all end-of-life servers, software, storage, and field controllers. STOA provides technical design and specifications for all security, telecommunications, electrical system.

Option 2: Upgrades throughout the system, “wish-list” items that are not required, include approximately 600 new cameras, 600 security doors to mitigate security vulnerabilities throughout the system, and to improve the overall security posture for HCC.

LAND DEVELOPMENT FEASABILITY STUDY

A study for the location of a new Heavy Equipment Operator Training Facility at Houston Community College South Campus (HCC). Roughly located at 1990 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX 77051, HCC is intending to confirm:

•The number of acres needed for the project land development; proposed equipment information to be provided by HCC.

•Verify if the land need is clear of any underground utilities so student/ faculty could safely operate machinery to perform excavation, bull dozing, and basic dirt work activities.

•Propose an outdoor pavilion with seating for outdoor instruction and parameter project development fencing.

•Coordinate driveway space for loading / unloading heavy machinery.

Fort

Bend Epicenter Convention Center & Faire Grounds

STOA International Architects, Inc.

name

Fort Bend Epicenter | Convention Center & Faire Grounds

location

Rosenberg, Tx

type of construction

New Construction

project size

137,995 SF

40,000 SF Pavillion

construction cost

TBA

completion date

Estimated Summer 2023

roles of project team member

Mario Bolullo - Principal Architect

Marek Radomski - BIM Manager

Suzanne Lee - QAQC

Cynthia Ramirez - Job captain

Juan Rojas - Designer

C.C. Lee, AIA – President / CEO

consulting firms

Supporting Architecture Firm

PBK Sports

Structural Engineer

Walter P Moore

contractor and delivery method

Satterfield & Pontikes

Design Build

project scope

The Epicenter will be in the heart of the Fort Bend County community, providing an outstanding venue for music, rodeo, graduation ceremonies, sports, and so much more. This 10,000-seat facility will have a combination of telescopic and fixed seating for a total seating capacity of 8,500 seats and 1,500-floor seats. It can also easily be transformed into multiple seating arrangements for different assemblies, music, and sports in a championship or tournament play.

The Epicenter will be located off the US 59 South service road. Visitors will arrive through a formal boulevard to a centralized drop-off at the entry to the building circulating a cascading water feature. The site will accommodate 2,500 surface parking spaces located around the facility’s perimeter and provide guests with optimal access to the facility.

The building is created to be a welcoming notion of a tipping of the hat and provides a bright and warm welcome as guests approach the facility.

RFQ # 730-23025

The University of Houston System IDIQ

Facility Programming and Consulting

name

The University of Houston System

IDIQ

location

Multiple University Campuses

type of construction

Planning for new construction, renovation, and expansion projects

project type

Planning, Programming, and Master Plan Support

project size

up to 170,000 SF

construction cost

$90 million

completion date

Facility Programming and Consulting held previous IDIQ contracts for the University of Houston System and are currently continuing work as a subconsultant on an IDIQ contract.

team member

Terry Phillips, Maria Batista, AIA, Amanda Crawley, AIA

sustainable design strategies

Our programs supported any sustainability initiatives established by The University of Houston System

project scope

Facility Programming and Consulting is currently engaged by The University of Houston System for an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract as a subconsultant. Since 2001, we have completed more than 20 projects on multiple campuses for The University of Houston System, to include:

ƒ Program of Requirements for A New Innovation Hub

ƒ Cullen College of Engineering, Student Innovation Design Center Program

ƒ Housing Moody Tower Replacement Program

ƒ Program of Requirements for Renovation of the Melcher-Garrison Building

ƒ Student Center North Addition Program

ƒ Building Program for the Michael J. Cemo Hall in the Bauer College of Business

ƒ Texas Learning & Computational Center (TLC2) Building Program

ƒ Energy Research Park Programming and Laboratory Planning

ƒ New Student Success Engineering and Education Building Outline Program of Requirements

ƒ A Summary Program for a Renovation of the MD Anderson Library First Floor

ƒ Outline Program for a New Law Center

ƒ Student Services/Classroom Building Program (Clear Lake Campus)

ƒ Summary Program for the STEM Building (Clear Lake Campus)

ƒ New Health Sciences and Classroom BuildingProgram Confirmation for Instructional Labs (Pearland Campus)

Credit: Facility Programming and Consulting

CRITERION 3

PROJECT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

Project Management Approach

5.5.1 Describe Respondent’s proposed approach to managing the projects expertly and efficiently. Be specific with regard to scheduling, internal and external communications, and quality control.

Architectural Programming is the process determining what should be designed. It is the recipe that the architects and engineers will follow as they complete their work. Programming is the time to define expectations, establish benchmarks, explore alternatives, balance scope and budget, and to uncover all the functional issues that impact the project.

The STOA approach is unique in many ways, but the primary driver is extensive collaboration. By the end of any programming exercise, participants have fully “bought-in” to the building scenario, setting up the design and construction team for a successful execution of the project.

Prior to beginning any programming exercise, the programming team, in collaboration with university facility staff, prepares a scope of work which includes a schedule of workshops with tasks and milestones. This project approach is reviewed in detail with stakeholders during the project kickoff. This immediately informs everyone involved in programming what will be expected and disciplines the effort.

Project communications follow the protocol requested by the institution. It is our experience that the process works best when the programming team is empowered to communicate directly with stakeholders while keeping all project leadership copied on the flow of information. External communication is carefully managed with guidance from university leadership to assure appropriateness and confidentiality, when required.

Career higher education programmers are driven to prepare high quality program documents. Every work product, from meeting notes to the final program, is carefully reviewed by the project principal. Internally, documents are subject to peer review and comment, and programmers regularly bring together groups of senior staff to “whiteboard” solutions to complex problems.

5.5.2 Describe procedures for implementing “best practices”

Teamwork & Consensus. The STOA team believes that communication is the cornerstone of programming services. Best practices include a unique approach that begins with establishing planning parameters and reaches consensus through a process that is collaborative, transparent, disciplined, fact-based, and quantifiable. An example of the importance of a consensus-driven approach is offered in the steps to ensure scope and budget are balanced:

• Establish planning parameters (site, budget, initial square footage targets, and program elements) with facility planning and institutional leadership before engaging stakeholders. Clear programming parameters allow the programming workshops to frame discussion and build consensus from day one.

• Manage expectations through careful exploration of planning parameters and project impact. By disciplining the programming process and measuring the impact of options explored, the team is able to quickly and iteratively work through multiple scenarios to find the optimal solution.

• Reach a consensus through collaboration. The process performs best when it is collaborative, engages stakeholders, works through problems together, and operates transparently, but with discipline. At the end of the programming phase, the strategy is thoroughly vetted and enjoys stakeholder support.

Managing and coordinating the work of other disciplines. Programming is a collaborative effort that extends beyond programmers and university stakeholders. Realizing the non-specific issues involved in an indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity contract, and the specialized nature of pre-project planning assignments, other consultants are often required. The programming team has extensive experience working closely with specialty consultants to prepare thorough and detailed architectural programs.

Because of the specialized nature of pre-project planning assignments, the project team may be different from one assignment to another. If a project requires a “subject matter expert,” the team works with the University of Houston System to select specific experts during the programming process. We seek expertise with the required discipline and, when possible, experience with the specific building, building type, or campus.

Consultants are managed to be fully informed on the specific requirements and goals of each project. When appropriate, consultants are integrated in project workshops to allow direct interaction between consultants and UH stakeholders to share information and assure a high level of coordination.

Project Management Approach

Leading project program reviews with the Owner.

One of the great strengths of a highly collaborative and transparent process is the incremental validation of decision making and resulting product. Each major element of the program is fully reviewed in workshops throughout the programming process.

This does not replace the need for a detailed and disciplined review. Draft and final programs are provided electronically for stakeholder review. Comments are reviewed by the programming team and cleared collaboratively in a final workshop to assure concurrence with all members of the programming committee.

Assessing the suitability of the project. A program requires analyzing different alternatives before agreeing on the best course of action. Often the best way to ensure the most appropriate buildings for your needs is to discover what other schools are doing and incorporate those lessons learned into your project. Best practice visits can be a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of different alternatives by comparing building and capabilities at other universities. If best practice visits are not possible, the team can offer alternatives informed by literally decades of experience with higher education buildings.

However, what is most appropriate somewhere else may differ from the specific needs of The University of Houston. The real value of developing a program is the ability to explore many different possibilities and then evaluate each one with a process that avoids quick decisions based on limited data – purposefully looking for creative ways to resolve issues. This often produces some unexpected, but highly desirable results.

Evaluating appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of programming decisions. Unfortunately, it is not enough to develop a space list without also studying how expensive it is to build those spaces. A preliminary cost model is used throughout the programming process to evaluate options with an understanding of the associated cost. The programming budget becomes a reality check for the stakeholders. If a stakeholder asks, “What if we …?” it is a simple exercise to adjust the variables in the cost model. This allows stakeholders to make informed decisions and set priorities while keeping the project within budget.

Estimating total project costs during the programming phase. The majority of architectural programs include construction cost estimates assuring that the program is balanced to available funds. To assure independence and quality, the programming team includes third-party estimators, either professional estimating firms with experience in higher education facilities or, if requested by the institution, contractors with recent construction experience on the campus.

Programming a Successful Project within the Owner’s Budget. Trying to prepare a program without understanding the cost implications of major decisions is folly. A better approach is to establish budget and preliminary square foot targets at the beginning of the process instead of simply asking what you want, adding it up, and then finding it costs too much. At the kick-off, project budget, construction costs, and preliminary project parameters, including estimated building size are presented. The process immediately begins to manage expectations.

Collaborative workshops allow stakeholders to lead the process to “balance the building” to the project budget informed by the university priorities. If additional funding is believed to be warranted by the stakeholders, cost modeling allows quantifying the financial impact of alternatives providing the information required by UH leadership to facilitate project funding decisions.

Credit: Facility Programming and Consulting