Canyons School District (CSD) is requesting a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for architectural services. This SOQ will help the District in the selection process for professional services for the new property purchased by the District, EBay building located at 583 EBay Way, Draper, Utah. The method of Contractor Selection has not been Determined at this time. The Canyons Board of Education on Tuesday, Aug. 20, approved a contract to purchase the 36-acre eBay campus in Draper to serve as the home for a new high-tech career-training center. Located in the heart of Salt Lake County’s tech sector, Silicon Slopes and adjacent The Point, a transit-oriented development on the site of the former Utah Prison, the spacious campus features a state-of-the-art 215,000-square-foot facility and 16 acres of developable land, putting the District in a position to consider setting aside acreage for a future west Draper elementary school. “With this forward-thinking decision, Canyons District positions itself to be part of the educational ecosystem of Silicon Slopes while also preparing for the influx of families to our District’s next big growth area. The timing of the availability of the property coincides seamlessly with the region’s economic trends and the District’s long-range and strategic plans,” said Board of Education President Amber Shill. “Furthermore, our innovative plan to retrofit eBay’s former offices into a school, instead of paying for new construction, will save millions in taxpayer money and perhaps serve as a blueprint for districts across the country.” Canyons District is acquiring the property at 583 W. eBay Way for roughly half what it would cost to design and build a new high school. The District plans to liquidate property it already owns to pay for the $50 million purchase. Existing capital fund revenue will also be put toward the purchase with the remainder coming from short-term lease-revenue bonds. The negotiated deal with eBay translates to $230 per square foot. By comparison, the cost of new construction and design in Utah is reaching some $500 per square foot, according to Canyons District Business Administrator Leon Wilcox. The eBay building also comes fully furnished and equipped with computers, servers, and other technology. Next steps include selecting an architect to assist in making minor alterations to the building to meet the needs of educational programs. CSD tentatively plans to begin the process of issuing bonds in September and hold a public hearing in October. The bonds will be issued in November with the expectation to close on the purchase in December.
Question Deadline 09/04/2024 at 12:00 PM MT
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