Site work and new construction of an educational facility in Mankato, Minnesota. Conceptual plans call for the construction of a educational facility; and for site work for a educational facility.

As of August 28, 2024, per owner, this project is on hold pending funding. The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to evaluate and select an A/E to assist the Owner in the performance of its obligations and enforcement of its rights during the design and/or construction of the Memorial Library, Lincoln Exhibit located at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Abraham Lincoln statue has been a landmark on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato since 1926. The statue has resided in three different University buildings. After two years of review by a campus committee, the University relocated the statue to Memorial Library in August 2022 alongside a temporary exhibit that contextualized the statue's history and discussed the complexities of studying the past, especially related to Minnesota's indigenous history, Lincoln's complex legacies, and the connections to Mankato during the U.S.- Dakota War. Library Services at Minnesota State University, Mankato is writing a proposal for state grant funds to create a more permanent exhibit (with a physical lifespan of 10 or fewer years and created in ways to accommodate new historical interpretations) that accompanies the Lincoln statue, with a focus on his contested legacy in Minnesota. The exhibit will also create a forum where individuals can learn about the impact of history and the role of public art in society from multiple perspectives and serve as a physical location where individuals can engage in dialogue on difficult and often polarizing topics. The Lincoln statue is a core component of the exhibit, which will also include text and images for approximately eight freestanding or suspended panels. The exhibit could be presented to the public in multiple ways. We are working with scholars to provide a critical assessment of the draft text for the panels. The exhibit is immediately adjacent to the American history general print collection. Viewers interested in further analysis of Native American or African American history and culture, for example, will find ample resources simply steps away. Similarly, viewers easily can consult the history of the Civil War, the many biographies of Lincoln, and historical sources from the period. The statue will also be located just a few steps away from the Marilyn J. Lass Center for Minnesota History. Viewers will also be prompted to access the library's digital resources. We have determined that a design firm should review the existing conditions and new set of panels, and provide design recommendations for the panels and exhibit space. The project will be subject to grant requirements, including phases and milestones. Services should also include bidding, materials, and construction administration services. The project will be constructed in one phase. The Owner intends to use the Design/Bid/Build delivery method for this project. Question Deadline 07/24/2023 at 4:00 PM CT