Basketball & Academic Performance Center Addition

Fairfax County is soliciting bids on construction services for a 30,000 square foot addition and Level 2 alteration of 14,500 square feet to the existing gymnasium at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, with proposals due August 18, 2026. The project manual spans four volumes with comprehensive specifications across all construction trades and is hosted at 4350 Banister Creek Court, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.

The scope includes construction of a mixed-use facility (Type IB occupancy) housing practice courts for women's and men's varsity basketball teams and an academic center for student athletes across three stories with a maximum height of 46 feet. Work is subject to strict operational constraints: standard business hours are 6 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday, with noise-generating activities permitted only between 10 PM and 9 AM with prior written approval and seven days' advance notice. Contractor must coordinate with ongoing University operations, maintain fire watch procedures, and implement interim life safety measures to preserve existing facility access during construction.

Specifications require extensive delegated design submissions for structural steel connections, sheeting and shoring, curtain wall systems, and mechanical/electrical/plumbing supports, signed by qualified professional engineers with a minimum ten years' relevant experience. All fire suppression submittals must be signed and sealed by a licensed Fire Protection Engineer with at least five years' experience. The project mandates LEED v4 BD+C compliance, strict VOC and EPA/OSHA material requirements, Critical Path Method scheduling submitted and approved before payment requests, and comprehensive shop drawings approved within three weeks. A two-year warranty covering all materials and workmanship is mandatory; all equipment must be new current models with minimum three-year service history and UL or FM Global listings where applicable. Contractors are required to provide operation and maintenance manuals, one-year spare parts, and at least four hours of training to Owner personnel.

The project follows the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and incorporates UL-listed fire-rated assemblies including 2-hour fire barriers and 1-hour fire-rated floor construction. Work is governed by DGS-30-054 (CO-7) General Conditions and HECO-7 modifications, requiring performance and labor-and-material payment bonds. A pre-bid site visit is mandatory to familiarize bidders with existing conditions and coordinate multi-trade work.