AVONDALE – Following a public request for proposals process, the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) has selected Perkins+Will to develop a master plan for the Churchill Technology & Business Park in the Fairfield area of Avondale.
The award-winning global multi-disciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm will begin developing the plan in late February. The entirety of the planning process will span ten months, culminating in a presentation of the final master plan in early 2019.
Under the contract, Perkins + Will will provide an analysis of existing conditions and uses of the Churchill Technology & Business Park, a public participation plan to interview and engage with area stakeholders, a master plan of the park including land use plan, identification of needed infrastructure improvements, implementation plan and an analysis of and recommendations for amendments to the park's covenant restrictions.
The development of a master plan is a priority initiative of the Jefferson EDGE 2020 plan and will be fully funded by private EDGE Investor contributions.
"We believe our evaluation committee has chosen a firm that will deliver a quality master plan that aligns with our vision and Jefferson Parish's interests. Perkins+Will brings to us unique experience in developing a variety of well-known sites with attributes similar to those found at Churchill Park," said Jerry Bologna, JEDCO president and CEO.
The Jefferson EDGE 2020, the parish's long-term economic development strategic plan, identified a need to develop a master plan for the Churchill Technology & Business Park, a 480-acre swath of land ripe for development on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish.
The Park is home to JEDCO, JEDCO's Conference Center and Business Innovation Center, and the Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy, a top-performing magnet school emphasizing STEAM curriculum.
It is also the home of the Delgado Community College River City Campus and Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, which is currently under construction.
In October 2017, JEDCO issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified firms to create the plan. It was the first step in taking a critical look at the future of the park and the role it will continue to play in the advancement of the Parish's economic climate.
In response to the RFP, JEDCO received ten proposals from a mix of locally-based and non-local planning and design-related firms. The proposals were reviewed and scored by an evaluation committee comprised of JEDCO commissioners and employees. Perkins+Will's submission emerged as the winning proposal. The JEDCO Board of Commissioners, with concurrence by the Jefferson Parish Council, approved JEDCO's contract with Perkins+Will.
The company will engage with a number of subcontractors for the project including Point A Consulting, a strategic planning practice focused on technology-based economic development initiatives; NelsonNygaard Consulting Associates, Inc., a full-service transportation firm; and Morphy, Makofsky, Inc. (MMI), a civil, structural and foundation-engineering firm. All firms bring with them a long resume of experience in the planning and development of successful research parks and innovation districts, and have successfully collaborated with Perkins+Will on previous projects.
"Given our focus on design of campuses and communities of innovation, we see the potential to align a fresh placemaking strategy to the community's target industries and economic strategy," says Stephen Coulston, managing principal in Perkins+Will's Austin office.
