RFQ for Architectural and Engineering Design Services New Town Hall and Century Center Redevelopment

Town of Carrboro, North Carolina
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
Architectural and Engineering Design Services
New Town Hall and Century Center Redevelopment
RFQ #: PW-2026-TH
Issue Date: 9/10/2026
Submittal Deadline: 10/09/2026
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Town of Carrboro, North Carolina, invites qualified architectural and engineering firms
to submit Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) to provide professional architectural,
engineering, planning, cost estimating, and construction administration services for the
development of a new Town Hall at the existing Century Center site located at 100 North
Greensboro Street.
The Town seeks a design partner with demonstrated experience in civic architecture,
sustainable design, and complex phased construction.
The Town desires to construct a new Town Hall on the site of the Century Center, the former
Carrboro Baptist Church, preserving elements of the original building's character and
aligning the new design with the Town's recently adopted Downtown Area Plan, adopted
November 2025 and linked below for reference.
Town departments currently occupy space in the building and must remain operational
throughout the project. The selected design team shall evaluate options to maintain
continuity of Town operations during construction, including options for temporary
relocation.
This RFQ is issued in accordance with the qualifications-based selection process required
by N.C.G.S. 143-64.31; do not include fee or cost proposals in your submission.
The Town of Carrboro is not responsible for any costs incurred by Firms in preparing a
response to this RFQ.

Project Goals
The project objectives include:
Construct a modern Town Hall serving approximately 70 Town employees.
Align the project with the Town's High Performance Building Policy and Downtown
Area Plan.
Reinforce the character of downtown Carrboro as well as the character of the
original building through high-quality civic architecture.
Minimize disruption to aected Town operations during construction.
The project shall comply with the Town of Carrboro High Performance Building Policy,
dated June 26, 2026, which is incorporated into this RFQ by reference. The selected design
team shall identify, integrate, document, and verify all applicable policy requirements
throughout planning, design, construction, commissioning, and post-occupancy services.
Any waiver or exception must be supported and approved in accordance with the policy.
The Town intends to procure these services through a two-phase process. Phase 1 will
focus on project definition, feasibility analysis, programming, existing conditions
assessment, conceptual design, and cost estimating. Upon successful completion of
Phase 1, acceptance of the recommended approach by the Town, and subject to
availability of funding and authorization by the Town, the contract may be amended to
include Phase 2 for final design and construction administration, with fees for Phase 2
negotiated separately at that time. The Town makes no guarantee that Phase 2 services will
be authorized.
SCOPE OF WORK
The selected design team shall provide comprehensive architectural and engineering
services in two phases.
Phase 1 - Project Definition and Concept Development
The purpose of Phase 1 is to evaluate existing conditions, define the project, and establish
a recommended implementation strategy.
Existing Conditions Assessment
Evaluate existing conditions aecting the project, including:

Assessment of opportunities to reuse or reinterpret elements of the original
building.
Identification of shared utilities and building systems serving occupied areas of the
building.
Evaluation of temporary departmental continuity requirements and operational
impacts associated with construction.
Identification of applicable code, accessibility, and regulatory requirements.
Identification of project constraints and risks that may aect design, budget,
schedule, or construction.
Programming and Project Definition
Working with Town sta and stakeholders, the design team shall:
Develop a detailed space program and functional requirements.
Confirm operational, accessibility, security, and circulation needs.
Prepare a High Performance Building Policy compliance matrix identifying
applicable requirements, responsible disciplines, required analyses and
deliverables, decision points, and verification methods.
Develop design objectives that complement the Downtown Area Plan.
Concept Development
Develop conceptual design alternatives and evaluate implementation strategies that
address:
Building layout, massing, and architectural character.
Consideration of the original building's character , integration with the surrounding
downtown, and alignment with the Downtown Area Plan.
Sustainable and resilient building strategies.
Conduct preliminary energy modeling and identify and evaluate at least three
energy conservation measures using life-cycle cost analyses consistent with the
High Performance Building Policy.

Present the energy modeling, preliminary daylight analysis, and life-cycle cost
analyses to the Town's Project Review Committee early in design and before
completion of schematic design.
Continuity of Town operations throughout construction.
Utility modifications and construction sequencing.
Preliminary project costs and schedule.
The consultant shall present alternatives to Town leadership and recommend a preferred
approach.
Phase 1 Deliverables
Existing Conditions Assessment
Space Program and Design Narrative
Building Character , Sustainability, and Downtown Area Plan Alignment Strategy
Conceptual Site and Building Designs
Implementation Strategy and Recommended Alternative
Preliminary Energy Modeling and Life-Cycle Cost Analyses for at Least Three Energy
Conservation Measures
High Performance Building Policy Compliance Matrix
Project Review Committee Presentation Materials
Preliminary Cost Estimate and Project Schedule
Phase 2 - Final Design and Construction Administration
Upon Town acceptance of the Phase 1 recommendations, the design team shall provide
complete architectural and engineering services through project completion.
Design Services
Provide schematic design, design development, and construction documents, including:

Architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and
technology design.
Incorporate high-performance building requirements including building
electrification, renewable energy evaluation, energy-eicient building systems,
building automation systems, and other sustainable design features required by the
Town's High Performance Building Policy.
Update energy modeling and life-cycle cost analyses during schematic design,
design development, and construction documents to inform design decisions and
verify policy compliance.
Updated project cost estimates and schedules.
Complete construction documents suitable for permitting and bidding.
Bidding Assistance
Assist the Town during procurement by:
Preparing bid documents and addenda.
Responding to bidder questions.
Participating in pre-bid meetings.
Assisting with bid evaluation and contract award recommendations.
Construction Administration
Provide construction administration services through project closeout, including:
Review of submittals, shop drawings, substitutions, and RFIs.
Regular construction site observations and progress meetings.
Review of pay applications and change orders.
Preparation of punch lists and substantial/final completion inspections.
Review of record drawings, closeout documents, warranties, and operation and
maintenance manuals.

Phase 2 Deliverables
Schematic Design Documents
Design Development Documents
Final Construction Documents and Specifications
Updated Cost Estimates and Project Schedule
Permit and Bid Documents
Construction Administration Services
Final High Performance Building Compliance Report and updated compliance
matrix documenting satisfaction of all applicable policy requirements, required
analyses, Project Review Committee decisions, commissioning, and any approved
waiver or exception.
Policy-required first-year post-occupancy monitoring and one-year performance
review.
Record Drawings and Project Closeout Documentation
RFQ Administrative, Submission, and Selection Requirements
CONTACT INFORMATION
All technical or scope of work questions should be directed to:
Capital Projects Manager
Email: mjohnson@carrboronc.gov
Phone: 919-918-7424
All questions pertaining to this solicitation must be submitted in writing no later than 3:00
PM on October 1, 2026. Only written questions will be considered. Information provided by
telephone or other informal means shall not be considered oicial.
Responses to questions that may be relevant to all respondents will be issued by the Town
as an addendum.
A pre-submittal site visit will be held at the Century Center, 100 North Greensboro Street,
Carrboro, NC 27510, on September 28, 2026 at 8:00am.

Any addenda or modifications to this RFQ will be posted on the Town's bid opportunities
webpage. Respondents are responsible for monitoring the webpage and acknowledging
receipt of all addenda in their Cover Letter.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES
Statements of Qualifications must be received by 3:00 PM Eastern Time on October 9,
2026. Submittals received after the deadline will not be considered.
SOQs shall be submitted electronically in PDF format. The email subject line shall read:
RFQ # PW-2026-TH - [Firm Name]
Submit responses to both:
Chaz Oenburg Capital Projects Manager
Finance Director Town of Carrboro
Town of Carrboro Email: mjohnson@carrboronc.gov
Email: coenburg@carrboronc.gov
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
Firms and subconsultants providing professional architectural, engineering, landscape
architecture, surveying, or other regulated professional services shall be properly licensed
to practice in the State of North Carolina, as applicable.
The selected team shall maintain all required professional licenses and certifications
throughout the duration of the project.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Statements of Qualifications should be concise and limited to a maximum of 25 single-
sided pages. Use a font size no smaller than 11 point.
Submittals shall be organized according to the following sections, which correspond to the
evaluation criteria and weighting described under Selection Process and Evaluation
Criteria.
1. Cover Letter

Briefly state the firm's interest in and understanding of the project.
Identify the prime consultant and primary point of contact.
Acknowledge receipt of all RFQ addenda.
2. Relevant Firm Experience (30%)
Provide a brief description of the prime firm and proposed subconsultants.
Provide examples of comparable projects demonstrating experience with municipal
and civic facilities, occupied facilities or departmental relocation, complex
demolition and construction, building character integration, and integration with the
surrounding downtown.
Describe the firm's track record of delivering comparable projects within
established budgets and schedules.
3. Key Personnel and Project Team (25%)
Identify key personnel, their project roles, professional licenses and credentials,
and relevant individual experience, including the individuals responsible for energy
design, building electrification, energy modeling, life-cycle cost analysis,
commissioning, and high-performance building certification.
Describe the team's organizational structure, availability, and capacity to complete
the project.
Describe prior collaboration and coordination experience among the proposed
prime and subconsultant team members.
4. High-Performance Building Experience (20%)
Describe the team's experience with energy-eicient and all-electric building
design.
Describe experience with energy modeling and life-cycle cost analysis.
Provide examples of projects delivered to LEED Gold (v5.0) or a comparable high-
performance building standard.
Describe experience integrating renewable energy, commissioning, and other
sustainable design strategies required by high-performance building policies or
rating systems.

5. Project Approach (20%)
Describe the team's proposed approach to:
Programming, existing conditions assessment, and conceptual design.
Considering the original building's character , integrating with downtown, and
aligning with the Downtown Area Plan.
Planning for temporary departmental relocation and maintaining continuity of Town
operations throughout demolition and construction.
Integrating, documenting, and verifying the Town's High Performance Building Policy
requirements throughout design, construction, commissioning, and post-
occupancy services.
Managing project budget, schedule, quality control, and stakeholder engagement.
6. References (5%)
Provide at least three and no more than five client references for comparable
projects, including client name, contact information, project description, and date
of completion.
SELECTION PROCESS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA
The Town will evaluate Statements of Qualifications based on demonstrated competence
and qualifications for the professional services required. The Town may shortlist firms and
conduct interviews prior to final selection.
SOQs will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Relevant Firm Experience - 30%
Experience with municipal and civic facilities of similar size and complexity.
Experience with selective facade retention and integration with the surrounding
downtown.
Successful delivery of comparable projects within established budgets and
schedules.
Key Personnel and Project Team - 25%
Qualifications and relevant experience of key personnel.

Team organization, availability, and capacity.
Experience, collaboration, and coordination among proposed consultants.
High-Performance Building Experience - 20%
Experience with energy-eicient and all-electric building design.
Energy modeling and life-cycle cost analysis expertise.
Experience with LEED Gold or comparable high-performance building standards.
Experience integrating renewable energy, commissioning, and other high-
performance building strategies.
Project Approach - 20%
Understanding of the project's unique opportunities and constraints.
Approach to evaluating potential retention in place and incorporation of elements of
the original brick facade, downtown integration, and alignment with the Downtown
Area Plan.
Approach to temporary departmental relocation and continuity of Town operations
throughout demolition and construction.
Approach to integrating, documenting, and verifying the Town's High Performance
Building Policy requirements throughout the project, including coordination with the
Project Review Committee.
Approach to budget, schedule, quality control, stakeholder engagement, and
project delivery.
References - 5%
The Town reserves the right to request additional information, conduct interviews, contact
references, and negotiate with the highest-ranked firm.
CONTRACT
The Town intends to select a qualified design team in accordance with applicable North
Carolina laws governing the procurement of professional architectural and engineering
services.