Request for Information (RFI) to Explore the Possibility of Partnering for the Establishment, Management and Operation of a Heri
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Request for Information (RFI) to explore the possibility of partnering for the establishment, management and operation of a Heritage and cultural activity center at Reading A (long-term project) Israel Electric Corporation Ltd. (Hereinafter: the “Corporation” or "IEC") Is looking into the option of promoting a long-term project for the establishment, operation and management of a heritage center of the IEC, together with a cultural-experiential center, for the public benefit, at Reading A site of IEC Tel Aviv. The IEC considers it appropriate to review the implementation of the said project jointly with an entity or entities (hereinafter: the "Partner” or "Partners"), which will constitute cultural, content and activity anchors at the site, in addition to IEC's Heritage Center. The assimilation of content and activities will contribute to making the place a vibrant and lively cultural hub that will connect the old with the new, heritage and history alongside contemporary culture, innovation and all other relevant content, thus creating a center of attraction for a diverse and wide audience. With this RFI, IEC wishes to obtain information from various entities that consider themselves relevant to take part as partners in the said IEC project. All this, as a preliminary step and prior to IEC’s decision on whether to embark on the said project, in what format, and whether to publish a competitive procedure on the issue. 1. General: IEC plans to open the historic power plant building, Reading A in Tel Aviv, to the general public, and establish a cultural complex next to a 1 heritage center that tells the story of the electric company, the story of the "electrification" of the land of Israel. IEC is currently in the midst of reforming the electricity sector. The reform, launched in 2018, is expected to change the face of the old IEC, as we know it. Nowadays IEC considers it very important to preserve its legacy, as drafted by the Zionist founder, Pinchas Rotenberg. IEC's rich legacy, and its role in the construction and development of Israel, and the legacy of Israeli society, are intertwined throughout history. IEC’s power station structures, as well as architectural gems from early last century, stand as a living and moving testimony and tell the story of the past; The story of the society, the country and early Zionism. 1.1. One unique and special building in this respect is the building of Reading A, built in 1938 in the international monumental style, customary in those days. 1.2. In the course of time, along with the continued production at the Reading site, the building was renovated by IEC, in collaboration with the Council for Conservation of Heritage Sites in Israel, and Tel Aviv Municipality, under the guidance of Architect Aryeh Shawar. 1.3. For the renovation of Reading A building, IEC was awarded the Site- Conservation prize by Israel's President in those days, Ezer Weizman. 1.4. Since 1998, for nearly a decade, cultural, heritage and art activities have been conducted in the main hall (the turbine hall) for the general public. In these events over a million people came to visit the site. 1.5. During this past decade, the site has been closed to visitors for safety reasons. 1.6. Reading A building is part of the historic power plant complex located along Tel Aviv coast, which is included in TAMA 10A3, and defined in 2 it as a building under preservation, with the extent of preservation set in accordance with the guidelines of the Tel Aviv City Engineer. 1.7. IEC regards this site a national historic asset, and aims to make it a vibrant cultural center, open to the public. Therefore, the company seeks to explore collaborations for the establishment of a cultural and heritage center, which will become an integral part of the urban experience within the growing cultural environment emerging in this area. 1.8. Cleaning work is currently underway on the site, as well as on parts of the site (lobby, turbine hall, gallery and control room), as well as preservation work, as per the preservation guidelines, in collaboration with Tel Aviv Municipality Preservation Department, and works for the adaptation of these halls to their designation as a building open to the public, in accordance with the standards prescribed by law. These works will cumulatively take about 36 months. 1.9. Transforming historic industrial buildings into cultural assets is a common practice worldwide, and the phenomenon of establishing other types of museums and cultural facilities in restored historic buildings is currently expanding - especially in industrial buildings whose original purpose has been terminated. 1.10. The sites maintain their vitality and dynamic nature, while gaining renewed popularity thanks to the visitor traffic, activity, and changing exhibitions exhibited within these spaces. 1.11. These sites have a unique reputation: They attract audiences thanks to their impressive architecture, and the unique exhibitions exhibited in them, but especially due to the surprising gap between the two. 1.12. Prominent examples of cultural leverage and inspiration inherent in heritage preservation - culture and recreation activity in favour of the public, are evident in major cities such as London, Lisbon and Shanghai. 3 1.13. Reading Power Station is located north of the Tel Aviv port, by the Yarkon River estuary leading to the Mediterranean, at a strategic location in Tel Aviv, which has become one of the main entertainment centers in Israel as a whole and in Tel Aviv, more specifically. The strategic location of the building and its potential, offers plenty of options for leveraging and activities of a cultural and heritage center. 1.14. Reading A site is part of the development of the area and it's transformation into a cultural and recreational complex open to the promenade and the Tel Aviv port. 1.15. IEC finds it appropriate to consider the execution of the said project at Reading A, in collaboration with a partner or partners, who would assimilate significant content and diverse activities, and provide a cultural anchor in addition to the IEC heritage center. 1.16. The complex/ area spaces of Reading A are many and varied and include the area of the generation halls, associated areas such as the transformer rooms, the workshops and the roof of the building. The appearance of these spaces is unique and impressive, due to their historical industrial character, and their architecture. 1.17. In addition, there are offices near the generation station. IEC shall formulate the decision regarding the extent of the areas and spaces for the said activity, and the stages of construction of the project. All of these are to be formulated, inter alia, in accordance with the information received within this RFI, and to the extent that it is decided to advance the said project. 2. Characterization of the content and activity: 2.1. IEC is looking into the option of contracting in this project with a partner/s for the establishment of an Israeli experiential cultural center, incorporating IEC's legacy and other contents or activities to be proposed by the partner/ partners, which will be of cultural/educational/teaching/artistic/ technological and scientific etc. 4 value, and which may serve as a powerful and effective attraction for a large and diverse audience. 2.2. The initial and non-binding assessment at this stage of the time schedules for the launch of the activities - of the parts that are already in the process of renovation - is for the first quarter of 2023. The works require, inter alia, coordination with various statutory bodies, including the Tel Aviv municipality’s planning and preservation bodies. 2.3. The built-up site area designated for the joint activity at Reading A site is approximately 6,700 sq.m., which in part will be dedicated to the presentation of the legacy story. 2.4. The site also hosts IEC offices, covering an area of 3,500 square meters. 2.5. IEC sees potential in converting the building's roof, of an area of about 1,400 square meters, into a restaurant/ cafe, or any type of activity that would take advantage of the beauty of the terrace overlooking the promenade and the sea. 3. Highlights At this point, IEC's premises regarding the partner/s and their part in the project include, inter alia, the following highlights: 3.1 The partner/s shall bear the costs of adapting the building, to the extent required, including the requirements of the Tel Aviv Municipality's Preservation Department, to the needs of the dedicated activity of the partner/s, the establishment of the exhibition/s, the contents and the activities on its/their behalf at the site, and the operating costs. In addition they will also pay their proportionate share in compulsory payments, such as: taxes, levies, and current payments such as: electricity, municipal taxes and water and any payment resulting from current use, to apply to, or arising out of, the use for the contents and activities of the partners in the "Reading A" building. 5 3.2 The partner/s will formulate fixed contents/ activities, accompanied by changing activities/ exhibitions, which will attract the public to revisit the site. 3.3 The partner/s shall have the ability and experience to operate businesses or ventures of similar, or other, public or commercial characteristics: The partner/s shall exhibit proven ability to establish, manage and operate an activity of a similar scope of the venture proposed under this RFI, and alternatively, an entrepreneurial ability to recruit partners with proven experience in the management, establishment and ongoing operation of an activity of a similar size to the above venture.