Town of Munster Community Development Department NICTD West Lake Corridor Main Street Commuter Rail Station Architectural Design Services RFQ | APRIL 5, 2021 listen. think. deliver. Table of Contents Cover Letter1 Firm Information2 Portfolio3 Staff Expertise4 References5 Town of Munster | NICTD West Lake Corridor Main Street Commuter Rail Station Architectural Design Services Cover Letter11. Cover Letter Dee Road Metra Station Section 1 Cover Letter CDM Smith Inc. | 125 South Wacker, Suite 700 | Chicago, Illinois 60606 | tel: 312-346-5000 1 April 2, 2021 Town of Munster Community Development Department The CDM Smith ATTN: Thomas Vander Woude, AICP 1005 Ridge Road Advantage Munster, IN 46321 3 Full-service design team Subject: NICTD West Lake Corridor Main Street Commuter Rail Station combining the talents of CDM Architectural Design Services Smith, KMI, and Hitchcock Design Dear Mr. Vander Woude and Selection Committee Members: Group CDM Smith Inc. (CDM Smith) is pleased to submit our response to this 3 Vast experience in the design of Request for Qualifications for Architectural Design Services for the Town passenger train facilities of similar of Munster’s new NICTD Main Street Commuter Rail Station. We are very excited for the opportunity to work with you and the Town of Munster’s scope and scale stakeholders to facilitate an aspirational vision for the character of the 3 Experts at community vision with station and then guide the implementation of the concept. experience offering flexible and We understand the significance of this once in a lifetime chance for buildable solutions Munster to set the stage for the future of the community and to create a new architectural landmark. Our passionate Project Manager Benjamin 3 Team members with NICTD and Harber will lead our team of professionals in realizing Munster’s Town of Munster experience objectives. We will always be an independent advocate for the Town 3 Strong experience with robust as we have not been involved on the agency side of the West Lake public engagement efforts expansion to date. 3 Expertise with station Our Team construction cost estimating While CDM Smith is a global architecture and engineering firm 3 Experience with federal grant specializing in the transportation, facilities, environmental, and water procedures to ensure funding is industries. We are proud of our local presence of more than 100 staff. expended properly For the last 50 years, our Chicago, Lisle, Gary, and Indianapolis offices have supported transportation efforts throughout the region not only for municipalities like the Town of Munster, but also directly for service agencies like Metra, CTA, IndyGo, Pace, etc. to plan, design, and oversee site and building improvements for commuter stations following FTA requirements. We offer our specialists to the Town to cover a wide array of scopes of work that may arise from this project. Within our team organizational chart and resumes, you will be introduced to team members that cover disciplines spanning from interior and exterior architecture, sitework, track and bridge engineering, transit and TOD planning, structural engineers, and mechanical, plumbing, and electrical engineers. We know that while only limited services may be required, it is important to have a wide variety of perspectives to ensure that concepts are not only aesthetically pleasing but they can be shown to work technically, and we can clearly articulate the efforts to accomplish and coordinate with agencies and stakeholders. In addition, we have team members on staff that have worked with NICTD and the Town of Munster. Town of Munster | NICTD West Lake Corridor Main Street Commuter Rail Station Architectural Design Services 1-1 Section 1 | Cover Letter In addition to our internal members we offer two unique team resources: At CDM Smith, Listen. Think. Deliver. is more Kaltsouni Mehdi, Inc. – CDM Smith has partnered with John Mehdi of KMI for many of our recent station projects. No one than a tagline—it’s how we work. Our teams single individual offers more of a lifetime of local Metra station stands committed and ready to begin delivering experience than John. He has completed planning, architecture, this next project with you. We will listen to you and engineering services at 50+ Metra stations, including many with a solution-driven attitude, tap the best on the Metra Electric line, and architecturally significant stations such as Park Ridge’s Dee Road, Tinley Park’s 80th Street Station, minds to apply ingenuity, and create a lasting and Orland Park’s 143rd Station. He has executed these alone or in solution. collaboration with other firms such as CDM Smith. Hitchcock Design Group – Joel Baldin and Hitchcock Design Group have a rich history in municipal and agency landscape design and planning. CDM Smith is pleased offer Hitchcock’s expertise in the design and implementation of landscapes for 12 regional commuter stations, including icons such as LaGrange Stone Avenue Metra Station, and expertise in “betterments” such as their recent NICTD Michigan City station work. Our Approach As architects and designers, we know that there is not a single “right answer” when it comes to architecture and aesthetics. What our team offers is years of experience in developing a process with our clients to educate stakeholders regarding options and considerations, and then navigate the path through alternatives before arriving at a preferred design. We understand the need to articulate these alternatives and concepts in user friendly ways, including renderings, computer models, and even augmented reality. We are experienced with developing plans with our clients to navigate the decision-making process and determine the right level of involvement at the right time for the public, committees, staff, and agencies. Together, the CDM Smith team commits to bring you the right resources to help the Town of Munster elevate your new Main Street Station as a community asset and notable transportation hub. We are excited for the opportunity to support the Town in this exciting transportation project. If you have further questions about our qualifications, feel free to contact me at 312‐718‐0056 or [email protected]. Sincerely, Christopher Martel, PE, BCEE, LEED AP Benjamin Harber, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, PMP Vice President Senior Project Manager CDM Smith Inc. CDM Smith Inc. 1-2 Town of Munster | NICTD West Lake Corridor Main Street Commuter Rail Station Architectural Design Services Firm Information 22. Information Firm Tinley Park Oak Avenue Metra Station Section 2 Firm Information Comprehensive Transit Design 2 and Engineering Services CDM Smith Inc. (CDM Smith) is a planning, consulting, engineering, construction, and operations firm specializing in the transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, and water industries. With more than 5,000 global staff in 135 offices, legal firm name we maintain the size, stability, and resources to take on a wide range of projects CDM Smith Inc. successfully and tackle any challenge that may arise with in-house resources. federal employer ID CDM Smith employs a robust staff of transit planners, architects, and engineers 04-2473650 to achieve optimum results in terms of cost, function, efficiency, and aesthetics in form of business design. With all disciplines represented by in-house professionals cross-trained in Corporation various disciplines, projects benefit from improved communications and overall date of establishment project efficiency. Between our Chicago and Indianapolis offices, we have one 71 Years–Since 1947 of the largest design centers in the country. Our offices offer comprehensive planning, design, and construction oversight of local transportation projects. office to support activity 125 South Wacker Drive, Suite 700, CDM Smith's professionals will bring our wealth of direct experience working Chicago, IL 60606 on similar projects for other local clients. Our local transit-focused staff has 563 South Lake Street, Suite 1B successfully delivered billions in infrastructure projects for Metra, CTA, Indiana Gary, IN 46403 Department of Transporation (INDOT), IndyGO Transit Indianapolis, and dozens of 201 South Capitol Avenue, Suite 1220 communities in the northwest Indiana and the northeast Illinois region. Indianapolis, IN 46225 Firm overviews for our team members are on the following pages. Town of Munster | NICTD West Lake Corridor Main Street Commuter Rail Station Architectural Design Services 2-1 Section 2 | Firm Information Understanding Your Needs CDM Smith’s team understands that transit connections provide profound impacts on the communities that are served both through opportunities provided to residents as well as economic development. Historically commuter and interurban rail stations have been anchors for the development and have helped define the style and character of the communities they serve. The Chicagoland region and Northwest Indiana have a rich example of these patterns of development dating back to the late 1800’s. Towns and villages located their businesses, civic buildings and parks within walking distance of these stations and TOD Planning Review development patterns expanded to create vibrant and The location of the terminal station at a new western walkable downtowns, the origins of modern transit oriented extension of Main Street offers a relatively blank slate for development (TOD). The Munster Main Street Station and comprehensive planning around the site. The CDM Smith Ridge Road Station, created through