A Centennial District Planning Initiative:
Ideas Exchange + Subdistrict Design Plan

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with the Fairmount Park Conservancy, and West Fairmount Park’s largest anchor institutions (The Mann Center, Philadelphia Zoo, and the Please Touch Museum) are working together on a planning initiative to identify the next series of ambitious projects that will transform the physical landscape of a portion of the Centennial District. The City and the Centennial District partners are looking for a mix of bold concepts that can unify a diverse series of unarticulated open spaces between the anchor institutions into a family-friendly vision that will attract residents, visitors and, importantly, funding.

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation is excited to release this RFP. The attached PDF outlines the project background and submission requirements. The City, the Fairmount Park Conservancy, and the Centennial District anchor institutions are excited to work with a design team that has a focused commitment to diversity and a firm that can demonstrate the capacity to be a creative thought partner. We are looking forward to being inspired by your bold, new ideas for this area of Fairmount Park.

VIEW RFP
VIEW SELECT BACKGROUND MATERIALS

Some Key Dates:

  • Prequalification submissions due March 15, 2023.
  • City will select a limited number of applicants to participate in an Ideas Exchange (with an honorarium). The teams will be notified the week of March 27, 2023.
  • Select number of teams will develop responses to the Ideas Exchange problem statement from April 3, 2023 to April 21, 2023.
  • Internal review of submitted Ideas Exchange materials April 24, 2023 – May 5, 2023.
  • Final Revisions to Ideas Exchange materials and completion of subdistrict design plan proposal May 8, 2023 – June 9, 2023.
  • Final and complete RFP (including Ideas Exchange materials and subdistrict design plan proposal) submitted by June 9, 2023.
  • Public Event to be held in mid-late June.
  • Final team selected to complete subdistrict design plan in early July 2023.

 


If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Patrick Morgan
1st Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Engagement
patrick.morgan@phila.gov

Ryan Debold
Managing Director, Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation
rjd86@drexel.edu