1. General Conditions
1.1 Introduction
This document outlines the competition conditions for Stage 2: Schematic Design of the CentreStage international competition for the design of Western Australia's state-of-the-art performance venue.
In Stage 1, five finalists were selected to proceed to the schematic design stage of the competition. The challenge for the finalists is to develop their initial concepts into inspiring design solutions that satisfy the design brief, exploit the urban design opportunities of the site, and contribute to the vitality of the Perth Cultural Centre and the Northbridge neighbourhood.
This document is part of a package of information pertaining to Stage 2 being provided to applicants. The Stage 2 documentation package comprises the following documents:
Competition requirements: general conditions, submission requirements and evaluation procedures for Stage 2.
Schematic design brief: detailed design brief for the building outlining, contextual information, stakeholders’ expectations and functional requirements for the project. (See Section 1-15 in left-hand side menu bar).
Contract document: contract that will be offered by the Department of Housing and Works (DHW) to the Stage 2 winner for continuing architectural services to complete the project.
The Stage 2 information package incorporates all the site and context information provided in Stage 1, with the exception of AutoCAD files and site images. These files remain downloadable from the Stage 1 section of this website. Additional AutoCAD files showing the greater Northbridge area and renovations to Arts House have been included in the Stage 2 documentation.
1.2 Participants
Delivery of a new performing arts venue in the city of Perth is the responsibility of the Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA). Design and construction of the project will be contracted and managed by the Department of Housing and Works (DHW), on behalf of DCA.
The competition is administered by the Urban Design Centre of Western Australia (UDC), a non-profit research and design advocacy organisation associated with The University of Western Australia and Curtin University of Technology.
In selecting the site for the facility and developing a project brief, DCA has consulted widely with State and local planning and development agencies, the arts industry, special interest groups, and a variety of technical advisers including design professionals, theatre design and management experts, quantity surveyors and heritage specialists. These consultants will remain "on call" throughout the competition process to answer technical questions about the proposed facility and the site.
1.3 Stage 1 and other preceding documents
If there is any variance or discrepancy between the express contents of this document, and any preceding documents pertaining to Stage 1 or the introductory announcement of the CentreStage competition, this document will govern.
1.4 Scope of work
The scope of work for this project includes all of the building and landscape elements proposed within the site areas indicated in the diagram above.
1.5 Changes to entrant teams
In the event of changes to the team selected in Stage 1, such as a reorganisation, merger or name change in the period between selection as a finalist and submission of entries in Stage 2 of the competition, the entry may be accepted if, in the judgement of the Competition Jury, the new entity is sufficiently related to or associated with the pre-selected finalist. The Competition Administrator should be immediately notified by email sent to centrestage@udcwa.org of any team changes, and provided with information regarding the reason for the change and the impact on the team qualifications.
1.6 Development of Stage 1 concept
The finalists were chosen on the strength of the concept design submitted in Stage 1 of the competition. Stage 2 submissions should represent further development of the initial concept, in response to the comments provided by the Competition Jury and the additional information on building requirements presented in the Schematic Design Brief.
1.7 Confidentiality
(a) Finalists, including their staff and consultants, shall not communicate either directly or indirectly on the matter of the competition in any manner whatsoever with any member of the Competition Jury, or officers, employees and consultants of the Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA), the Department of Housing and Works (DHW), or the Urban Design Centre of Western Australia (UDC). All communications are to be e-mailed to the Competition Administrator at centrestage@udcwa.org and will be answered according to the procedures outlined in Section 6: Question and Answer Process below.
(b) Jury members and the officers, employees and consultants of the departments listed above are likewise instructed not to communicate either directly or indirectly in any manner with the finalists during the Stage 2 competition period. Questions that arise during the evaluation process are to be directed to the Competition Administrator.
(c) Submissions shall bear no names or marks that could immediately identify their authors. The method of identifying submissions is detailed in Section 4: Submission Requirements below.
1.8 Information disclaimer
This information is provided by the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Department of Housing and Works in good faith for the purpose of enabling applicants to compete in the competition, and should not be relied upon for any other purpose.
The reliability and accuracy of information, whether contained in the competition documents or in data or documents disclosed or otherwise provided to competitors at any stage in the competition process, cannot be guaranteed.
The Department of Culture and the Arts and the Department of Housing and Works and their respective officers, employees, agents, consultants and advisers expressly disclaim liability, including liability in negligence, for any act or omission done in reliance on any information or any oral or written advice provided to competitors at any stage in the competition, or for any consequences, whether direct or indirect, of any such act or omission.
1.9 Liability
(a) Each applicant, by providing a submission, accepts all of the terms and conditions set out in this document, and acknowledges and agrees that, other than the commitment to pay the amount as described in paragraph 2.1(a), the State of Western Australia (the State) has no liability or obligation to any applicant except the winner, selected by the Competition Jury. Each applicant further agrees that, if not awarded the contract, then, whether or not any express or implied obligation has been discharged by the State, the State shall be fully and forever released and discharged of all liability and obligation in connection with the competition and all related matters, and all actions and procedures which preceded.
(b) Each applicant waives the right to any and all claims for damages or other recovery against the State in connection with the competition and related matters, including the conduct or outcome of the competition, but excluding the commitment to pay as described in paragraph 2.1(a).
The release and limitations of liability provided for in this section 1.9 will extend to and apply to and for the benefit of all members of the Competition Jury, the Competition Administrator, and all officers, employees and agents of the State and the UDC.
1.10 Copyright and licence
(a) The applicant shall retain copyright in the schematic design for the project and in the finalised design, as specified in DHW’s contract document.
(b) The State shall have the irrevocable and perpetual right and licence to use the schematic and finalised designs developed for the new performing arts venue, and all purposes related to the new performing arts venue, and to carry out additions, modifications and alterations to the original design.
(c) Each applicant grants to the State an exclusive, transferable and irrevocable licence to reproduce the schematic and finalised designs and to publish them and to convey them to the public by any means, including presentations and exhibitions for promotional and publicity purposes. Applicants, in responding to and participating in this process, agree that the State shall retain unrestricted, but not exclusive, rights to publish and display all written and graphic material from the competition with appropriate credits, without further notice or additional compensation to the applicants.
1.11 Acceptance of winning design
Where anything contained in a submission contradicts or is at variance with any of the terms and conditions of this document, the terms and conditions of this document will prevail, unless explicitly accepted and adopted in writing by DHW.
1.12 Disposition of entries
All materials submitted in Stage 2 of the competition are the property of DCA and no materials will be returned to applicants on completion of the judging.
1.13 Termination
The Competition Jury, at its discretion, may reject all submissions and not select a winner of the competition. If no winner is selected, the competition may be terminated without naming a winner, and the State will have no liability or obligation to the applicants, and the applicants will have no claim of any sort against the State for, without limitation, cost, expenses, loss of profit, or loss of opportunity. DHW may then proceed to select an architect for the project through its usual tender process. The competition places no obligation on the State to develop the project or the site, or to proceed with any development or design.
1.14 Acceptance of conditions
Submission of a design will constitute acknowledgement and acceptance of these conditions for Stage 2 of the CentreStage competition.
2. Fees and Contract
2.1 Fees
(a) Each of the finalists who makes a submission will be paid a fixed fee in the amount of $AUD 40,000, inclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and expenses, provided that the submission is complete and is judged by the Competition Administrator to be compliant with the submission requirements outlined in Section 3 of this document. This fee will be paid as follows:
- Upon selection as one of the finalists - 25% ($AUD 10,000 inc GST)
- Upon determination by the Competition Administrator that the submission complies with the requirements of this document - 75% ($AUD 30,000 inc GST)
(b) The winning applicant's fee of $AUD 40,000 will be considered an advance on the professional fees for the project, as payable under the DHW contract document. The $AUD 40,000 will be deducted from the fees payable under the component of the architect's services relating to the finalisation of the schematic design.
2.2 Contract
The applicant selected for the commission will be required to enter into a contract with DHW in the form of the Western Australian Government’s General Conditions of Contract, adapted for this project. Finalists are required to indicate acceptance of its terms and conditions prior to making their submission to Stage 2 of the competition.
A copy of DHW’s contract document is included as part of the Stage 2 information package. The contract must be executed by both parties prior to further services being rendered.
3. Evaluation
3.1 Evaluation criteria
Submissions to Stage 2 of the competition will be evaluated on the six factors outlined below. The relative weight of each factor is indicated as a percentage of the overall “score” of a submission.
1. Design excellence ................................................................................. 25%
The winning scheme will combine architectural and urban design excellence in a facility that, on the inside, inspires creativity and enhances appreciation of the performing arts, and on the outside, adds interest and excitement to the Cultural Centre and the City of Perth, enhancing the vitality and sense of place of this unique quarter of the city. For further definition of the design qualities expected in the new facility, see the Schematic Design Brief, which forms part of the Stage 2 information package.
2. Functionality .......................................................................................... 25%
The design brief was prepared with extensive input from industry experts and represents the consensus of this specifically qualified group of advisors on the functional requirements of the new performing arts venue. As primary stakeholders in the success of the new facility, their expectations of its operational characteristics must be met – or preferably, exceeded.
3. Budget compliance ................................................................................. 20%
The schematic designs submitted in Stage 2 must meet the project budget established by the State Government of Western Australia.
4. Constructability ...................................................................................... 20%
The schematic designs submitted in Stage 2 must be able to be constructed within the time frame established by the State Government of Western Australia for this project.
5. Team and management ............................................................................ 5%
A facility of the complexity and scale of the new performing arts venue requires the successful collaboration of a multi-talented professional team, providing high-level expertise in every component of the building program. Coordinating the work of such a diverse design team within the time and budget constraints of the project will be a significant challenge to the architectural consultant selected to lead the initiative.
6. Local content ............................................................................................ 5%
The Western Australian Government maintains a policy of maximising supply opportunities for local businesses when participating in State government projects. In Stage 1 of the competition, architects or firms outside Western Australia were encouraged to enter in collaboration with an appropriately registered local architect or architectural firm, forming a partnership, joint venture or consortium. Stage 2 submissions will be evaluated on how effectively proposals maximise the participation of local architectural firms, and what other local industry participation benefits may be delivered to the State.
3.2 Selection process
The process for selecting a winner of the competition will proceed through the following steps:
- On receipt of the Stage 2 entries, the Competition Administrator will review each submission for compliance with the conditions and requirements of the Stage 2 documentation. Where a submission is irregular or otherwise fails to conform to the instructions and requirements set out in the competition conditions, the Competition Administrator will document the discrepancies in a report that will be forwarded to the Competition Jury, and the Jury will evaluate the submission in consideration of the noted irregularities or non-conformities.
- Entries will be submitted to technical review for compliance with the functional requirements of the building brief and the construction schedule, including a budget review by an independent Western Australian Quantity Surveyor. The findings and conclusions of the technical review team will be summarised in a report and presented to the Competition Jury. Any submission that does not conform to the requirements of the building brief may be disqualified and eliminated from further consideration.
- The Competition Jury will evaluate the presentation boards against the evaluation criteria without the methodology statements in the first instance, to ensure anonymity of the competition entries.
- The presentation boards will then be matched with their associated methodology statements. The Competition Jury will evaluate the submissions against the evaluation criteria, taking into account accompanying reports of the technical review team and, where applicable, the Competition Administrator.
- The Jury will assign each submission a score out of a possible total of 100, according to the percentage specified for each criterion. From these scores, the Jury will identify the winning applicant and rank the other entries in order of merit below the winning scheme.
- DHW will proceed to enter into a contract with the winning applicant as outlined in the DHW contract document. Should this process fail to reach a satisfactory conclusion within an appropriate time frame, the winner will be dismissed and DHW will proceed to negotiate with the highest ranked of the remaining applicants.
- The results of the competition will be announced once a contract agreement has been secured.
4. Submission Requirements
4.1 Submission components
Each finalist may make one submission only. Each submission will be comprised of the following components:
- Graphic presentation
- Methodology statement
- Digital copy
All drawings, models and other design information shall be provided in metric units of measurement, with the scale of each drawing clearly indicated under its title.
4.2 Graphic presentation
The following drawings must be included in the presentation. Each drawing should be clearly labelled, with appropriate identification of surrounding elements, such as the names of streets or adjacent buildings.
- Context plan or diagram: at a scale of 1:1000, showing key functional and formal relationships to surrounding development, connections to downtown, parking locations, vehicular and pedestrian circulation patterns.
- Site plan: at a scale of 1:500 over the area indicated in Section 1.3: Scope of Work, showing relationships to adjacent buildings and the treatment of all external spaces, including drop-off and service areas.
- Floor plans: at a scale of 1:200, of all levels of the new facility, identifying each component of the building brief.
- Sections: at least two through key areas of the building, at a scale of 1:200 or larger, showing the relationship of interior floor levels to surrounding grades.
- Elevations: of all four sides of the building, at a scale of 1:200 or larger, indicating exterior materials and finishes.
- Exterior perspectives: at least two, showing critical views of the building from William Street and James Street.
- Interior perspective: at least one, of the main theatre or foyer, illustrating the spatial experience of an audience member or visitor to the building.
Submissions are limited to a maximum of 10 panels. Within this limitation, finalists must present all the required drawings and any additional graphics provided at the competitor's discretion. Descriptive text and explanatory diagrams may be included on any of the panels.
All panels must be A1-size (594 x 841mm), in horizontal format, mounted on card or foam board of no more than 5mm in thickness. There are to be no identifying marks of authorship on the front of any of the panels. All panels, however, must be numbered on the front to indicate the order in which they should be displayed. All panels must also include hardware securely fastened on the back to facilitate wall hanging.
Physical three-dimensional models will not be accepted. Competitors, however, are encouraged to prepare digital models of the proposed building that may be used to generate the required interior and exterior perspectives, and additional views of key features of the proposal, as appropriate, within the maximum of 10 presentation panels. Should a competitor elect to prepare study model(s) in the development of the design, photographs of the model(s) may be included as part of the presentation, but the actual model(s) should not be submitted.
4.3 Methodology statement
This document will provide information on how the applicant plans to deliver the proposed building within the budget and schedule established for the project. The following information is to be provided in a maximum of 15 pages:
- Design concept: Provide a brief description of the salient features of the proposed facility, identifying any innovative functional arrangements, building elements or systems; and any proposed deviations from standard construction methods, atypical materials or custom manufactured components.
- Schematic design checklist: Provide a completed checklist of the key functional aspects of the building, using the template included in Section 6 of the Schematic Design Brief, which forms part of the Stage 2 information package.
- Consultant team: List the range of specialist consultants that will make up the final design team. It is not necessary to identify specific consultants in the Stage 2 submission, but where a particular consultant is recommended by the architect or architectural team, indicate any special experience or unique qualifications that the consultant brings to a project of this type and scale, and whether the architect has previously worked with the individual or firm.
- Management approach: Describe how the design team will be managed, including approaches to design coordination, scheduling, and liaison with government agencies, and key stakeholders. Provide a draft schedule for completion of the project, showing critical deadlines in each stage of the design process and the level of participation of members of the architectural team as well as specialist consultants in each phase of the work.
- Budget management: Using the area schedule template provided in Section 6 of the Schematic design brief, indicate the area allocated to each of the building components, noting any deviations from the requirements of the Schematic Design Brief and providing a rationale for such changes. In addition, state how the design will be able to meet the requirements of the brief within the budget, identify any apparent risks to the indicative cost plan summary and describe what procedures would be put in place to maintain the project budget.
- Local content: The Western Australian Government maintains a policy of maximising supply opportunities for local businesses in State government projects. Describe how the proposal maximises the participation of local architectural firms and what other local industry participation benefits it may deliver to the State.
- Eligibility documentation: Provide written evidence of:
(a) licence to practice architecture in Western Australia;
(b) insurance as specified in the DHW contract document.
The Methodology Statement is to be provided in six copies of an A4-size (210 x 297mm) bound booklet or report with the following information printed on the cover or clearly visible under an acetate cover:
(a) Applicant's name (firm, partnership, joint venture or consortium).
(b) Competition Contact Person, including:
- name
- mailing address
- telephone number
- fax number
- e-mail address.
4.4 Digital copy
A digital copy of the submission, including both graphic components and written documentation, is to be submitted on a compact disk or DVD. All graphic files should be in .jpg or .tif format, at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch at A4 size. Text files should be in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Rich Text Format (.rtf).
These files will be used in post-competition media releases and competition publications. To ensure a complete and accurate record of the finalists' submissions, the disk must contain an identical digital copy of each panel submitted. Digital copies of the panels should not include any logos or other information that identifies the submitting applicant. In addition, applicants may include separate files, at a larger scale or higher resolution, of key drawings or sketches that are integrated into the composition of any panel.
5. Closing date and delivery
5.1 Packaging
All submissions are to include in a single package:
- Presentation panels: maximum of 10 at A1 size
- Methodology statements: six bound copies at A4 size
- Digital copy of the submission on CD or DVD
All submission packages shall be securely double-wrapped flat, with sufficient protection to resist damage during transportation and delivery. The Competition accepts no responsibility for lost, delayed or damaged submissions.
5.2 Closing date and address
Stage 2 submissions must be delivered to the following address before 2:30 pm Australian Western Standard Time (GMT + 8:00 hours) on Wednesday, 2 November 2005:
CentreStage Competition
Department of Housing and Works
Tenders Office
Ground Floor, 99 Plain Street
East Perth WA 6004
AUSTRALIA
Phone number for FedEx or DHL packages: +61 8 9222 4820
DHW's Australian Business Number (ABN) for Customs clearance: 40 122 932 289
6. Question and answer process
All questions in Stage 2 of the competition are to be submitted by e-mail to centrestage@udcwa.org up to the closing date for questions at 5:00 pm (AWST) on Friday, 16 September 2005. Questions and answers will be compiled prior to posting on the website. A new password to secure access to the Stage 2 questions and answers will be e-mailed to the finalists on 15 August 2005.
The Competition Administrator will give consideration to a request that a question be considered proprietary or confidential in advance of a response. If the question, in the judgement of the Competition Administrator, pertains uniquely to a finalist's specific design solution, the answer will be provided by direct e-mail to the finalist and will not be posted to the website or otherwise made available to the other applicants. If the Competition Administrator deems that the question is applicable to all finalists, the proponent who has made the request will be given the option of withdrawing the question before an answer is posted to the website.
The questions and answers posted on the website, including any modification of the this document and graphic materials provided to the applicants, will be considered addenda issued by the Competition Administrator forming an integral part of this document.
The text of the Stage 2 competition requirements, as a printable Portable Document Format (PDF) file: Stage 2 Competition Requirements
