B. BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF CMAR SERVICES 1. The Town has acquired the former Rutherfordton Elementary School Campus known now as the Isothermal Community College Rutherford Learning Center (RLC). This 5.8-acre campus sits on the edge of Downtown Rutherfordton with frontage along S. Washington St, Maple Street, and N. Mitchell St. The campus features 2 buildings, building 1 contains approx. 17,617 square feet and was built in 1957 while building 2 contains approx. 14,522 square feet on the main level, and 11,534 square feet on the second level, for a total of 26,056 square feet, and was built in 1967. This campus will allow for the renovation of the 2-story 1967 building to house Police, and Town Hall and provide opportunities for indoor recreation, a commercial kitchen, and a multitude of large community gathering spaces as well as ample parking that would not overburden downtown. Plans for Building 1 have not been established and will be part of the overall site master plan. The Campus currently houses Isothermal Community College and the Rutherford Arts Council, the Town will work with Isothermal Community College as their space needs will expire upon the construction of the new allied health building to be constructed on the Main Campus off College Ave in Spindale. Rutherford County Schools as a part of the agreement will work with the Arts Council on future space needs as the Town begins to utilize the property. The Town is also working with the architectural firm of CPL Architecture to shift the focus towards the renovation of the school site for these purposes. This project affords the Town a new opportunity to grow Downtown with the use of the properties originally under review for alternative public purposes and economic development as well as the ability to react to the recent public survey data and focus groups that called for a mix of large and small gathering spaces with the opportunity to provide recreational spaces. This facility gives the Town the ability to control costs, take advantage of a building renovation budget instead of new construction costs, and get a much higher return on square footage costs. A building of this scale would have been financially unachievable under a new construction budget. Rutherfordton looks to keep moving forward this fall with the Master planning of this campus and construction planning for this renovation project. Subsequently, the Town operations of the Police and Town Hall will not have to seek temporary locations during this project. “Overall this is a winwin for the Town and the School System and provides the Town of Rutherfordton with a wonderful opportunity to tackle housing options, as well as craft a new municipal operations center and surrounding uses to support the health of the community and downtown”, said Mayor Dancy. The property will also benefit from the upcoming investment in the community from the 2022 RAISE grant award that will improve Charlotte Rd from Maple St to Oakland Rd in Spindale with pedestrian improvements, intersection improvements, as well as a connection between the Purple Martin Greenway and Thermal Belt Rail Trail. 2. The Town has retained CPL Architecture Engineering Planning (CPL) and their consultants for design services. CPL has begun the Programming and Schematic Design phases of the project; and will be providing services through the Construction Administration phase. Procurement of CM services will be made in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 143-64.31 which requires that CM firms be selected on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualification for the type of professional services required without regard to fee. After selection of a qualified CM, the
