Exhibit A - Project Description.pdf

EXHIBIT A - PROJECT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

West Virginia University Board of Governors on behalf of West Virginia University (“WVU”) is requesting Proposals from qualified firms to provide comprehensive architectural and engineering (A&E) services for the planning, design, and construction administration of a new Health Sciences Education Building on the Health Sciences Campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. This project represents a strategic investment in WVU’s health sciences education mission and the long-term healthcare workforce needs of West Virginia. The facility will expand educational capacity, modernize the learning environment, and support the University’s role as a primary pipeline for the state’s health professionals.

The project will be delivered in two phases: Phase 1 – Programming and Conceptual Design and Phase 2 – Final Design and Construction Administration Services. The proposed construction budget is approximately $68 million, with an anticipated building size of approximately 120,000 gross square feet (GSF). WVU intends to deliver the project using a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method. A separate procurement process will be conducted to select the Construction Manager. The selected A&E team will coordinate closely with the Construction Manager throughout Phase 2 to support cost estimating, value analysis, and alignment of the design with the project budget.

The selected Proposer shall be a qualified architectural and engineering team with demonstrated experience designing higher education facilities, with a strong emphasis on health sciences education buildings. Experience should include classroom environments, instructional laboratories, simulation spaces, and interdisciplinary learning environments.

The team shall demonstrate the ability to collaborate with academic and clinical stakeholders, translate program requirements into efficient and flexible design solutions, and deliver projects that meet budget, schedule, and institutional goals.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

The building is anticipated to be a new, stand-alone structure located on the Health Sciences Center (HSC) campus to support strong connectivity with the existing Health Sciences Center. While WVU has identified a preliminary site, the selected Proposer will be expected to evaluate this location alongside other potential sites during Phase 1 to confirm suitability based on program needs, site constraints, access, utilities, and long-term campus planning objectives. The evaluation should consider pedestrian and vehicular circulation, integration with existing campus infrastructure, and opportunities to enhance the overall campus environment.

Connectivity to the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system is highly desirable and should be a key consideration in site selection and design. Site planning should support a cohesive campus experience while accommodating future growth and potential expansion.

COORDINATION WITH WVU’S USE

The Health Sciences Center (HSC) campus and associated WVU Medicine operations will remain fully operational throughout the duration of this project. The selected Proposer shall coordinate closely with University staff, WVU Health Sciences leadership, Facilities Management, and WVU Medicine representatives to ensure continued access to existing facilities and minimize disruption to clinical, academic, and research activities.

Particular attention shall be given to maintaining safe and efficient pedestrian and vehicular circulation, preserving access to critical WVU Medicine healthcare functions, and coordinating all site investigation activities. All field verification, photography, and measurement efforts shall be scheduled and conducted in a manner that minimizes impact to ongoing operations.

The selected Proposer shall also coordinate closely with other major capital projects occurring within the HSC campus. These include a planned Central Energy (Steam) Plant, a new Cancer Center Tower, and a potential expansion of the Mountaineer Station parking garage. Both the Steam Plant and Cancer Center Tower projects will be led by WVU Medicine. The Steam Plant will be located in close proximity to the anticipated project site and is expected to be approximately 30,000 square feet, with a connected parking structure accommodating approximately 730 spaces. The Cancer Center Tower will be located at the current site of the WVU Eye Institute, which is planned to relocate in 2027. The Proposer shall consider the impacts of these concurrent projects on site selection, utilities, access, and construction logistics, and work collaboratively to ensure alignment and minimize conflicts.

PROJECT PURPOSE AND PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

As West Virginia faces ongoing healthcare workforce challenges, WVU plays a critical role in preparing the next generation of physicians, nurses, and other health professionals.

This project represents a strategic investment in expanding the University’s educational capacity and improving the quality of the learning environment to meet that need.

The facility will address existing space deficiencies that limit planned enrollment growth and long-term development goals for WVU Health Sciences. While this project may create opportunities to alleviate space constraints within the Health Sciences Center, development of backfill plans at HSC is not included in the Scope of this project.

The building program will include a range of instructional environments, including large lecture halls, medium and small classrooms designed for active and team-based learning, and spaces that support experiential and interdisciplinary education. These environments will be modern, flexible, and technology-enabled, accommodating a variety of teaching methods and fostering collaboration across the Health Sciences Center through shared instructional and student-centered spaces that reflect the team-based nature of healthcare delivery. The facility will serve as a central hub for health sciences education, with classrooms and student resource spaces comprising the majority of the building, followed by office and support spaces.

The building design should prioritize adaptability and flexibility to support evolving pedagogical approaches, advancements in educational technology, and future program growth. It should also create an inviting, student-centered environment that encourages collaboration, informal learning, and community building.

The selected A&E team will work closely with WVU stakeholders to develop a detailed program aligned with academic, operational, and strategic goals. Anticipated program elements include:

• Two large lecture halls (approximately 200 seats each)

• Medium and small classrooms designed for active and team-based learning

• Group study rooms and breakout spaces

• Student commons space to support informal gathering and collaboration

• Simulation suite to support hands-on, experiential learning

• Two instructional labs

• Offices and office support spaces for faculty and staff

• Shell space for future growth, as program needs and available funding allow

By increasing both capacity and quality, the project will strengthen WVU’s ability to recruit and retain students, faculty, and academic programs, while reinforcing its role as a leader in health sciences education and a key contributor to the state’s healthcare workforce pipeline.

SCHEDULE

The anticipated solicitation process is expected to span approximately 10–15 weeks from issuance of the RFP through contract award. This schedule assumes that interviews will be conducted as part of the selection process. The University reserves the right to modify the schedule at its discretion.

Anticipated Solicitation Schedule Publish RFP May 20, 2026 Non-Mandatory Pre-Proposal Meeting May 28, 2026 Cutoff for Questions June 17, 2026 Proposals Due July 1, 2026 Short List Interviews (Week Of) July 20, 2026 Select Firm July 31, 2026 Anticipated Contract Award (Week Of) August 10, 2026

The anticipated duration for completion of Phase 1 and 2 is approximately fifteen (15) months from contract execution to submission of the final deliverables. Due to the CMAR delivery method, pre-construction activities will overlap with the design phases, and early packages will be issued to improve schedule efficiency.

Anticipated Project Schedule Phase 1 – Programming and Conceptual Design Aug. 2026 – Dec. 2026 Phase 2 – Final Design Services Jan. 2027 – Nov. 2027 Pre-Construction March 2027 – Oct. 2027 Construction Nov. 2027 – July 2029 Setup & Move In Aug. 2029 – Oct. 2029

SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR PHASE 1: PROGRAMMING AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

The selected Proposer shall provide comprehensive architectural and engineering services for the planning, design, and construction administration of a new Health Sciences Education Building. The project will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 will include programming and conceptual design to establish the project scope, program, design direction, and preliminary budget. Upon completion of Phase 1, the project will advance into Phase 2, which will include schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration services.

The selected Proposer will work closely with WVU and the Construction Manager during Phase 2 to support coordination, cost alignment, constructability, and overall project delivery. The Construction Manager will be engaged following completion of Phase 1 and will not participate in programming or conceptual design. Upon onboarding, the Construction Manager will review the Phase 1 conceptual design and provide input to inform progression into schematic design. The Proposer shall incorporate this input and continue coordination with the Construction Manager throughout Phase 2.

Phase 1 – Programming and Conceptual Design

Phase 1 will establish the foundation for all subsequent project phases. During this phase, the selected team will complete the following tasks:

• Develop a detailed space program, including space needs, adjacencies, and functional relationships

• Evaluate and refine potential building sites, including access, utilities, and site constraints

• Develop conceptual design options and massing studies

• Prepare preliminary cost estimates utilizing a qualified third-party estimator

• Prepare a high-level project schedule

• Develop conceptual design documentation and supporting graphics to support decision-making

• Develop three (3) exterior and three (3) interior high-quality renderings and visualizations suitable for marketing, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising efforts

• Participate in a minimum of five (5) project meetings, including at least three (3) in-person meetings and two (2) virtual meetings, to facilitate stakeholder engagement, review progress, and support decision-making

Phase 2 – Final Design Services & Construction Administration

• SEE EXHIBIT B

PHASE 1 DELIVERABLES

The selected Proposer shall provide all deliverables necessary to support Phase 1.

Deliverables shall be clearly organized, coordinated across all disciplines, and submitted at key milestones to support WVU’s review and decision-making. All deliverables shall be provided in digital format, and in hard copy if requested.

Deliverables shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

Phase 1 Deliverables – Programming and Conceptual Design

• Programming summary report, including space needs, adjacencies, and functional relationships

• Documentation of stakeholder engagement and program development

• Site evaluation summary, including analysis of proposed and alternative sites

• Conceptual design options, including plans, diagrams, and massing studies

• Preliminary cost estimates and project schedule

• Conceptual renderings and visualizations to support decision-making

• High-quality renderings and visualizations, including exterior and key interior views, suitable for marketing, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising purposes