RFP - Panda Express

Master Plan Improvement Program 2015

request for proposal

Architectural Experience

Panda Express

Attn: Chris Pope, Director of Design and Architecture

3640 Rosemead Blvd.

Rosemead, CA 91770

Dear Chris,

Provided herein, please find NSPJ Architects formal response to your inquiry regarding our company providing retail roll-out services to your company. We greatly appreciate the opportunity of being considered to assist Panda Express in continuing to build on the success of your present locations to date.

We are uniquely qualified to pro-actively handle your company’s architectural needs with our flexible team’s over 30 years of experience in creating prototypical construction documents that grow and adapt to meet the changing demands of individual jurisdictions. Our goal is to create a concise package with enough information to navigate multiple cities plan review requirements successfully. This allows prompt receipt of a permit while not providing an overage of detail, generating unnecessarily high bids from contractors. There is a fine balance between these extremes in roll-out construction documents. This is especially important in the world of retail food service where health departments can serve as a second deterrent to formal permit approval. Having personally produced more than 250 Panda Express restaurants nationwide, along with coffee shops inside big box book stores in my career, I have experienced a multitude of interpretations or requests from various areas of the country. We look for common ground from a design, detail or material standpoint to continue to develop the prototype that will efficiently resolve concerns for faster permit approvals. I also have assisted clients many times in review of leases and negotiations, and contribute periodic suggestions for future lease language that would allow the construction document and information delivery process to be further streamlined. With the fast paced and large number of projects that corporations have to track in roll-out programs, our implementation of projectwide tracking schedules assists the construction teams’ clarity in maintaining control of the production of these projects. An example of this schedule graphic for context can be found in the “Workload” section of this proposal. This is just one method that we find ways to support our clients’ needs through clarity of communication and one of the many benefits that our clients enjoy in working with us.

The following is a brief introduction of who we are as a company and our team culture that lends a personal touch to our client’s needs. We are registered in 29 states and are quickly able to add new regions through NCARB reciprocity in an average of 30 days. In the past, clients provide us with their forecasted new store locations and we seamlessly obtain the registrations within time to submit for building permit. The MEP Engineers we team with are both efficient in production and are accustomed to not “over designing,” causing unneeded costs to the construction. The MEP Engineers also are already registered in most states. Our central location in the country makes it easy for us to travel to both coasts or anywhere in the country without lengthy and expensive travel time, helping our clients’ bottom line when conducting site visits, etc.

I have creatively enjoyed my time working with Panda Express, and I continue to support the company several times a week as I believe in the company’s culture and product’s quality. I have even had the opportunity to visit the Cherng residence for an event. They truly know how to keep the family feel in all they do.

We appreciate being considered to work closely with your team’s expansion. Upon review of this information, please do not hesitate to let us know if you have further questions.

Best regards,

Clint Evans | NCARB, AIA Co-President | NSPJ Architects P.A.

i. overview of firm

overview of firm history and profile

NSPJ Architects has built a long-standing tradition of excellence in service and design, commitment to quality and devotion to create the best lifestyle environments for our clients. In collaboration, our Architects and Landscape Architects work together to create a truly holistic design approach for all types of projects.

The firm was founded in June of 1961 by Howard Nearing, AIA and since its inception has received commissions for more than 5,500 projects including:

• Office buildings

• Retail buildings

• Mixed use buildings and plazas

• Hospitality

• Large scale land use planning

• Master planned communities

• Recreational facilities and amenity centers

• Retail roll-out and tenant finish

• Institutional buildings

• Hospital campuses and courtyards

• Multi-family apartments

• Municipal and private streetscapes

• Shopping centers

• Warehouse buildings and landscapes

The firm has been located in the Kansas City metro area since 1965, and has been involved in the tremendous growth that has characterized Kansas City. The firm’s founders strongly believed in the importance of respecting the context of carefully proportioned and richly detailed architecture and efficient interior space planning. Whether the project was the remodeling and addition to a historic existing building or a new construction, we believe exterior design and detailing should respect the existing structure and properly blend into its neighborhood, while the interior spaces should most importantly serve our client’s daily needs.

The firm has consistently attracted individuals who enthusiastically embrace the firm’s design traditions and its 69 current members collectively bring more than 500 years of experience to this design process. The firm’s present staff is comprised of two Co-Presidents (Tim Homburg and Clint Evans) leading a team of 20 registered architects, 33 designers, five registered landscape architects, one landscape designer, a BIM manager, six administrative staff, as well as interns. NSPJ offers the flexibility to shift staff to any project big or small as requested by our clients.

quality assurance

Detailed design drawings along with the completeness and accuracy of our schematic design and final construction documents are a hallmark of NSPJ’s performance on projects. Along with friendly and knowledgeable personalities, our level of detail is second to none. With multiple eyes combing the design drawings for various pieces of information, our team members take a great pride in ownership of their respective work.

The final coordination of the construction documents is completed by our “Quality Control” department. This is a vital last step in our production process that allows an individual with more than 50 years of masterful construction document, code interpretation and specification writing experience to review the project with a perspective that is separate from the team noted herein. This creates a successful product for release to cities, bidders and owners who can take confidence in the fact that the project has been completed with the highest degree of skill and care. From there, during Construction Administration we will pro-actively act on the owners’ behalf to protect their interests and provide the project scope in full for which the client has contracted. Shop drawings and periodic conversations with the General Contractors when questions arise will be handled in an expedient manner and be a priority for our staff to complete. In retail roll-out, we understand that performance and immediate responses are a necessity.

ii. project experience

embarq

Embarq was the largest independent local exchange carrier in the United States, serving customers in 18 states and providing local, long-distance, high-speed data and wireless services to residential and business customers.

• Prototype Architect

• Retail Store of the Year winner

iusacell

AT&T Mexico (formerly Iusacell, SA de CV and Nextel Mexico) is a wireless operator Mexican company subsidiary of which is headquartered in Mexico City.

• Prototype Architect

• Developed new store concept to roll-out across Mexico

zonik

Zonik is a one-stop shop for all electronics, mobile devices and support products. With an unmatchable reputation in the Middle East, Zonik brings quality products, organized in exquisite and interactive showrooms that support the retail lifestyle of the customer in the Saudi Arabian marketplace.

• Prototype Architect

• Heightened customer experience and interaction in retail stores with internet cafe

• Worked with design team to develop concept and architecture around fixture package

• International Retail store of the year winner

centurytel

CenturyTel, now CenturyLink, was a telecommunications company, offering internet, fiber, voice, phone and TV for residential and small business customers.

• Prototype Architect

• Enhanced the customer experience for rural areas by showcasing a variety of products and services

fogo de chao

Fogo de Chão is an authentic Brazilian steakhouse that in 1979 began sharing the gaucho way of preparing meat. The Fogo de Chão dining experience is now found around the world based on the gaucho way of roasting meats over pits of open fire.

• Site adapt of restaurant prototype on the Country Club Plaza Kansas City

• Historic renovation of existing retail spaces needing extensive structural revisions to connect three existing tenant spaces

massage heights

Massage Heights is committed to the well-being of everyone who visits its retreats and the company is passionate about maintaining relationships with its guests, members, team, franchise owners and the company.

• Prototype Architecture

• Worked to elevate guest experiences by creating a positive space

feng

Feng is a shopping experience, not just a boutique. At Feng you’re met with personalized service, racks garnished with several hard-to-find and new designers, the latest seasonal trends, gifts for friends and beautiful home furnishings.

• Worked with client to establish unique space to showcase high end clothing and decor

new you med spa

New You Med Spa is dedicated to breaking the mold of modern healthcare and transforming the art of medicine through innovative and integrative wellness.

• Prototype Architecture

• Worked with client to establish a healing atmosphere

iii. workload

workload

Having worked in the retail world for more than 30 years, I am very adept at fast paced and concise, decisive direction with clients and staff. NSPJ works to develop our teams from a supportive mentoring standpoint that allows our projects to receive a quality and consistent amount of attention as required to satisfy our client’s needs. My immediate team is part of a greater whole in the office. Our offices structure allows for very efficient shifting of team members to various projects to ensure deadlines are met successfully. I am proud of my immediate team members’ ability to intelligently correspond with clients, cities and each other, etc., to efficiently resolve tasks and follow up items. We are large enough to meet our clients demands, yet small enough to remain extremely agile and responsive when required. We enjoy the relationships with our clients and happily collaborate as part of the overall project’s team.

roll-out schedule

Example of time line schedule for roll-out tracking of multiple projects on a weekly basis. This is a tool that we issue to the client to ensure they are always in the know

iv. architectural engineering services

collaborative project work

Working as a team on a multitude of different projects allows a strengthening of our individual staff’s knowledge and experience on the various types of projects we handle. The members that we have aligned to work on this project have thousands of hours of successful project work between us. Many projects have been completed seamlessly between our architecture and engineering departments.

statement of technology

NSPJ has always had an interest in staying at the forefront of technology when it comes to the practice of architecture and the services we provide to our clients. We produce our projects in an Autodesk AutoCAD version 2023, as well as a predominance of experience using REVIT 2023. In addition, we have been conditioned over many years to respond to client and general contractor inquiries over evenings and weekends via phone and e-mail, as we are well equipped to meet the demands of these fast-paced projects. Sometimes immediate contact and question response are vital to keep projects on track for delivery. Working in the various time zones also makes this a necessity. Our central location in the country aids with moderating the zonal differences.

On the visual front, we standardly use SketchUp for 3D imagery with a V-Ray overlay for photorealistic rendering capabilities, as well as using Lumion proficiently. The Lumion computer software allows photorealistic fly-around renderings of our projects with incredibly life-like materials, water motion, entourage, etc. We have also employed the use of VR for the clients to walk through their projects and engage with our designs.

Kansas State University

Bachelor of Architecture 1991

Experience

NSPJ Architects

2006 - Present

Klover Architects Inc.

1993 - 2006

Butler Rosenbury & Partners

1991 - 1993

Honors & Interests

Max Design Award Recipient: Homes over 500K, Austin, TX

Retail Store of the Year Winner

International Retail Store of the Year Winner

Architecture Registration & Certifications

Colorado New Jersey

Florida New York

Idaho North Carolina

Illinois Ohio

Indiana Oregon

Iowa Pennsylvania

Kansas South Carolina

Minnesota Tennessee

Missouri Utah

Nebraska Virginia

Nevada

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)

2013-Present

Clint E. Evans

PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT / CO PRESIDENT

With years of architectural experience, Clint’s career has focused on retail development and Historic Adaptive Reuse and Urban MultiFamily project types. His vast knowledge with Retail and Retail RollOuts brought this project type expertise to NSPJ in 2005. His awardwinning retail environments and success with over 400 roll-out based stores has made him a key player as he continues to create memorable spaces serving our clients functional and aesthetic needs.

RETAIL ROLL-OUT

Bachrach

CenturyTel Embarq

Feng

RETAIL

IUSACELL

Long Lines

Massage Heights

Zonik

Feng - Tenant Improvement; One Nineteen, Leawood, KS

New You Med Spa - Tenant Imp.; Mission Farms, Leawood, KS

Fogo de Chao - Tenant Improvement; Country Club Plaza, KCMO

Arris Pizza - Tenant Improvement; Lenexa, KS

Insomnia Cookies - Tenant Improvement; KCMO

COMMERCIAL

Hallbrook Country Club - Renovation/Expansion; Leawood, KS

New Leaf Plaza Shopping Center - Renovation; Wichita, KS

Burns Boys Headquarters - New Construction; Kansas City, KS

MULTI-FAMILY/ MIXED USE

KCP&L Apartments - Historic Renovation and Addition; KCMO

Sky on Main - Historic Renovation and Adaptive Reuse; KCMO

Centropolis on Main - New Construction; Historic River Market KCMO

Norman School - Historic Renovation; KCMO

Brentwood Apartments - New Construction; Olathe, KS

Milhaus - Mixed-Use Development; Mission, KS

Ridgeview Falls Apartments - New Construction; Olathe, KS

Cornerstone Apartments - New Construction; Centerville, OH

150th & Blackwell Apartments - New Construction; Lee’s Summit, MO

Congress Lofts - Historic Renovation and Adaptive Reuse; KCMO

The Alps Apartments - Historic Renovation; KCMO

RESIDENTIAL

Remodels & Additions