Plymouth-Canton Schools Choose Bond Architect

Plymouth-Canton Schools have taken the next step towards having a new middle school for students in 2015 by choosing TMP Architecture as the bond architect for all aspects of both Series 1 and Series 2 bond work. 

Along with choosing the architect, Board Members decided on a two-story building for the new middle school, based on designs of Walled Lake Middle School.

The West Bloomfield firm was recommended to the board by the Architect Selection Committee, which included Deputy Superintendent of Business and Operations Brodie Killian, Board Trustee Mark Horvath, Central Middle School Principal Anthony Ruela and Discovery Middle School Principal Roche LaVictor. 

Killian said the committee narrowed down its choices to TMP and Fanning Howey Associates, who designed Discovery Middle School.

"It was very clear they were both very highly qualified firms," he said. "In the end, through the scoring rubric we used, we felt that TMP would be the best provider of services for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. Their fees were very competitive. They provided a great deal of value as it relates to that, as well as provided us with what we felt in the end, which is really important from an educators perspective, from an instructional prospective, the prototype design that fit best with the educational model that we were looking to deliver."

Brodie Killian. Mid July. recommendation around process to use for hiring. Went out with RFP to selected group. two stand outs from TMP and Fanning Howey. 

The scoring rubric included criteria such as the local presence of the design team, actual building design, professional fees and the firm's design experience and knowledge of Western Wayne County to name a few. 

Killian said the district sent the job out to bid then the committee reviewed proposals, conducted interviews and toured prototype designs before making its final recommendation to the board. 

Vice President Judy Mardigan said she was happy with the outcome because the district saved $750,000 by going through the bidding process.  

The two-story school, with additional features of an auxiliary gym, an autistic/impaired center and collaboration center is expected to cost $21,828,800. The bond budget for the building is $22,680,000.

The next steps will be for the district to finalize its agreement with TMP, hold design sessions with middle school staff members and architects to consider design options which include the new middle school, as well as the STEM additions to existing schools. The board will also consider other initiatives like Geo-Thermal, LED lighting and site enhancements. 

The board will also look to McCarthy Smith for cost estimates based on designs to see what is and is not affordable. 

The new school will be located on a 24-acre property at Canton Center and Cherry Hill roads in Canton.