Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI), in collaboration with the SMG Venue Management (SMG) and Van Andel Arena (VAA), is seeking proposals to conduct Final Design, Construction Documents, and Bidding Services for the redesign of the Van Andel Arena Plaza at Fulton Street.

This RFP also requests additional services to conduct Preliminary Design and Design Development for the Ionia alley and pedestrian-way along the east side of Van Andel Arena.

Van Andel Arena is located at 130 West Fulton Street. The plaza space extends the length of the Arena along Fulton and acts as the Arena's front door. It is essential for cueing crowds during large events. Refer to aerial photo below for approximate location of plaza project area.

Additionally, the alley and pedestrian-way has been identified as an important pedestrian connection between the Van Andel Arena Plaza and the currently underway Studio Park project. This pedestrian-way will terminate at the Studio Park piazza and movie theater. Refer to aerial photo to the right for approximate location of the alley/pedestrian-way, which extends from Fulton Street to Oakes Street.

PROJECT GOALS

The PLAZA reconstruction project has the following goals:

• To provide enhanced security to the Arena by limiting vehicular access within the plaza space and front of the building.
• To provide "greening of the plaza" through the design and installation of canopy trees and landscape planters.
• To provide more opportunities to linger in the plaza by creating public seating, outdoor cafe seating, outdoor lighting, and new paving.
• To provide enhanced cueing for event patrons that is more predictable, secured, and flexible.
• To provide a new snowmelt system to replace existing snowmelt throughout the plaza space as part of the reconstruction effort. (existing snowmelt system will be removed as part of construction).

The ALLEY redesign project has the following goals:

• Create a design that is integrated into the design of the plaza as the plaza designs are being developed.
• To provide enhanced public space activation and meaningful public space connection through a design that is informed by the business and property owners along the alley edge, including but not limited to, Hop Cat, Grand Rapids Brewing Company, Divani, and J Gardella’s Tavern. This collaboration will also include representatives from the Studio Park development team, VAA, and SMG.
• Balance the service needs related to drop-offs and trash storage/removal for the Ionia Street restaurants with the design of a high-quality and activated pedestrian space. This may include the design of a shared streetspace as part of the solution.
• Provide and enhance "greening" of the pedestrian space through the design and installation of canopy trees and landscape planters.
• Provide more opportunities to linger in the space by creating public seating, outdoor cafe seating, outdoor lighting, and new paving.

RFP may be found at this link: RFP for Van Andel Arena Plaza