DP OUA-25-044 State Botanical Garden of Georgia: Parking Expansion and Entrance Improvements

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (¿BOR¿) as (¿Owner¿), on behalf of University of Georgia (¿UGA¿), (¿User¿) is soliciting statements of Qualifications from firms interested in providing design professional services for the construction of a project known as Project No. OUA-25-044, ¿State Botanical Garden of Georgia: Parking Expansion & Entrance Improvements¿ at University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks to identify potential providers of the above-mentioned services. Some firms that respond to this RFQ, who are determined by the Owner to be especially qualified, may be deemed eligible and may be invited to interview for these services. All respondents to this RFQ are subject to instructions communicated in this document and are cautioned to completely review the entire RFQ and follow instructions carefully. BOR reserves the right to reject any or all statements of qualifications or proposals, and to waive technicalities and informalities at their discretion.
Comprised of 323 acres situated on the Middle Oconee River, the State Botanical Garden (SBG) serves as an educational, cultural, and recreational facility to the UGA community, its visitors, and the citizens of the State of Georgia. The SBG is home to numerous specialty gardens, including the Alice H. Richards Children's Garden. Within the SBG is the Porcelain & Decorative Arts Museum. Recreationally, there are 5 miles of nature trails that wind in and around the SBG and along the river.The Botanical Garden Main Entrance and the existing parking infrastructure (202 spaces, including 8 ADA spaces) are no longer adequate to meet the visitation demands. When designed decades ago, the parking was built to accommodate 50,000 visitors per year. In 2024, SBG welcomed more than seven times that number, recording over 370,000 visitors.

The parking expansion will increase parking capacity by 72%, adding 140 regular spaces and 5 ADA spaces, as well as a bus drop off area and connections to new trails in the SBG's natural areas. The design includes standard details of asphalt drive lane pavement with crushed 57 stone parking pads to address storm water i