The Charter Township of Meridian is seeking qualified design firms to develop a conceptual design and layout for the construction of a new Community/Senior Center. The Township Board previously established a Community/Senior Center Task Force (the Task Force) to evaluate the potential for this building to be constructed. The Task Force has estimated that a proposed building would be between 20,000 and 30,000 square feet and would house both a dedicated Senior Center and an overall Community Center.

The Task Force has determined that bringing on a design professional to assist with conceptual layout and design is the next logical step in the process. The Township currently does not have a community center and our senior center is housed in a public school that is scheduled to be demolished in the next five years. Our population of seniors is growing and there is a growing call in the community for a new facility to be built for the community and for seniors. 

Firms should have experience that includes, but is not limited to: architectural design, cost estimating for construction in the current environment, 2023 Community/Senior Center Design Proposals 2 environmental/sustainable design strategies, placemaking strategies for public places, community/senior center design, and work on publicly funded projects. The current list of “needs” for the Community/Senior Center, as determined by the Task Force, includes:

• Dedicated greeting/reception/security area
• Dedicated space for seniors, including offices, flex space for up to 100, integrated health space, and a smaller fitness equipment area
• A large meeting (size TBD) and several small meeting rooms
• A wood floor gym
• An interior walking trail/track
• Locker Rooms
• A warming kitchen
• Offices for the Parks and Recreation Department (est. eight employees)
• Storage space for immediate building programmatic needs

The current list of “wants” for the Community/Senior Center, as determined by the Task Force, includes:

• Commercial kitchen
• A performing arts stage
• Dedicated teen space
• Travel office integrated with the Senior space
• Long-term Parks and Recreation Storage
• Banquet Facility for up to 300
• Art and/or Craft room

Proposal Deadline: 3:00pm on Friday, October 20, 2023

New Community/Senior Center Design RFP