Center for Civil & Human Rights Issues Design RFQ.

Atlanta Center Opens Design Competition to Architecture Teams

ATLANTA -- The Center for Civil & Human Rights (CCHR) today released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking architectural design services for the new $125 million Center to be located in Downtown Atlanta. CCHR is seeking design firms with significant and relevant experience in architectural design for the projected 100,000 square foot, LEED certified building.

The process for selecting the final firm will include three rounds; the RFQ, a Request for Proposals (RFP), and the final design competition. Following the RFQ process, select teams will be invited to submit a response to the RFP and four to five firms will be invited to submit a design concept, which will be evaluated by a jury of experts and key stakeholders to be announced. The RFQ is available at www.cchrpartnership.org and responses are due by 5 p.m. EST on November 26, 2008. The winning firm will be selected in late-February 2009.

In March 2008, the Center confirmed its 501(c)3 nonprofit status and has continued to progress along an aggressive development timeline, which is driven by many factors including the desire to capture first-person stories from the unsung heroes of the Civil and Human Rights movement while the opportunity exists. Among other key milestones already met, including establishing a permanent organization and announcing the acceptance of the Pemberton Place site recently donated by The Coca-Cola Company, the Center's architectural design plans will have significant impact on fundraising efforts. Additionally, the Center will achieve each milestone through significant collaboration and input from stakeholder organizations and the public.

CCHR has selected Gallagher & Associates to lead the exhibit design effort for the Center and has engaged the team of Cousins Properties/Gude Management Group to assist in the management of the project.