(Updated) Four Design Concepts Developed for Long Bridge Park

Published on October 18, 2017

Note:  A small technical correction was made to this updated version of the news release.

• Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center and park expansion


• Based on years of community interaction; community input invited through Oct. 29


• Four nationally recognized design and construction firms team up for Design-Build contract

Four design and construction teams will present their design concepts for the Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center and park expansion at a public event on Oct. 19 from 7-10 p.m. at 2011 Crystal Drive, 11^th floor. It is anticipated that the County Manager will make a recommendation to the County Board at their November meeting for approval to award a $54,700,000 contract based on a concept from one of the four designs. Construction could start as early as July 2018, with the new facility open in 2021.

"We are incredibly excited about these designs," said County Manager Mark Schwartz. "We've got four nationally recognized design and construction firms who are putting together their best ideas, based on their creativity and knowledge, for project options for Arlington. By using the Design-Build method, we can focus on the community's needs while completing the project within budget."

Design criteria compiled for the Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center and park expansion are based on community input accumulated over the last five years, particularly input from 2016, as well as direction from the Arlington County Board and the Long Bridge Park Advisory Council. See a timeline on the entire Long Bridge Park project.

Using a Design-Build approach, the project will focus on the Aquatic & Fitness Center design and 10.5-acre park, as well as all the core programs recommended by the Long Bridge Park Advisory Committee and already adopted by the County Board in the FY 2017-2026 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Community Input Invited

The community will be able to review the concepts and share feedback. Community feedback will inform the SAC committee as to how the designs reflect the community's expectations for Long Bridge Park. There are three ways to review the designs through Oct. 29:

• Attend the public event on Thurs., Oct. 19 from 7 — 10 p.m. at 2011 Crystal Drive, 11^th Watch the presentations, ask the firms question and share feedback.


• Visit the Courthouse Plaza lobby, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays (from October 19 to 29.) to watch the videos of the designs, view schematic drawings and share feedback.


• Starting on Oct. 19, go online to parks.arlingtonva.us to watch the videos of the designs and share feedback.

About Design-Build

This will mark the first time Arlington County will use the Design-Build approach for a new County facility. Design-Build is widely used by governments across the nation. In this approach, a competitive "design to budget process" establishes a budget at the outset of the project, which the contractor must not exceed.

The new facility will include the core programs that have been the mainstay of the planned aquatics facility and surrounding park improvements. These elements are a 50-meter pool; 1, 3, and 5 meter diving; family pool; and health and fitness spaces. A menu of potential options recommended by the Long Bridge Park Advisory Committee and outlined in the FY 2017-2026 CIP are to be considered if the contractor can add them within the agreed budget. The options could include advanced energy efficiency, a therapy pool, a 10-meter dive tower and more spectator seats, among other enhancements.

"This construction method allows us to accelerate the schedule," Schwartz said. "At the same time, the design competition allows the County to leverage private industries' creativity and expertise."

Four firms met the criteria set by the County to compete for the award of contract. The Selection Advisory Committee (SAC), comprised of six staff and a community representative from the Long Bridge Park Advisory Committee, will recommend the contract award based on written proposals, oral interviews, review of concepts, public feedback and negotiations.

The budget for the total Phase 2 project design and construction, as approved by the County Board in the FY 2017-2026 CIP, is $54.7 million. The budget includes, in addition to the aquatics facility, an extension of the esplanade, rain gardens, public gathering spaces, parking, public art and additional environmental remediation.

Next steps

The firm that is awarded the contract will complete the design and construction documents through 2018. Construction may start as early as July 2018. One of the ways costs are managed in the Design-Build process is that construction may begin while some design drawings are being finalized, therefore reducing the overall project duration and cost.

About Long Bridge Park

Long Bridge Park, north of Crystal City and adjacent to I-395, is a showplace of environmentally sound redevelopment of what was once a brownfield by the Potomac. The 30-plus-acre park features three full-size, multi-sport, lighted fields, walkways, an overlook with views of capital monuments, the Wave Arbor public art feature, a rain garden and more. It annually hosts the County's July 4 Celebration, Marymount University soccer and lacrosse home games and numerous tournaments and events.one of the four designs.