Project Information

Bid Title

UP-Thompson Bathroom Renovations

Issuing Agency

Pennsylvania State University

Location

Pennsylvania

Published Date

Nov 21, 2025

Closing Date

Dec 11, 2025

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

00-10256.00

Original Source

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Inquiries

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Documents

Join to Access Full Details

Project Description

UP-Thompson Bathroom Renovations (00-10256.00)

Project Number

00-10256.00

Project Status

Architect/Engineer and Design/Build Selection

Construction Manager Selection and Other Services

Campus

University Park

Project Description

This Pennsylvania State University Capital Plan project supports the Thompson Bathroom renovations. The project is a targeted renewal effort intended to reduce backlog and modernize the building by replacing the original and existing shared common bathrooms with shared individual private bathrooms clustered in the original "wet core" groupings.  The anticipated total project cost (assuming two stacks for the renovation) is $8.4M.

Two-phased bathroom renovation. Other improvements include infrastructure and accessibility upgrades.

Penn State Project Leader Name, Email

Richard O'Donald

Architect/ Engineer and Design Build Selection

Capital Project (>$10M)

No

Project Stage for Architect/Engineer and Design/Build Selection

Long List

Additional Information for Architect/Engineer and Design/Build Selection

Attached please find the RFP with the long list of firms and project information.  We thank you for your participation and look forward to seeing the proposals.

Date of Appointment Selection

Jan 05, 2026

Attachments for Architect/Engineering and Design/Build Selection

251024-rf-loi-thompson-bath-reno_0.pdf

RFP with Long list

Block Plans

Construction Manager Selection and Other Services

Project Stage for Construction Manager Selection and Other Services

RFP

Attachments for Construction Manager Selection and Other Services

Thompson RFP

Due Date

Thu, 12/11/2025 - 12:00

Additional Information for Construction Manager Selection and other Services

The proposal should be sent to Jason Little's attention via email .

Attachment Preview

DATE: October 24, 2025

SUBJECT: Request for Letters of Interest - Architecture/Engineering Team Selection

Thompson Bathroom Renovation – Penn State, University Park Campus

University Park, PA

TO:

Architectural/Engineering Firms

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is excited to begin the Architecture/Engineering (A/E) Team

selection process for the anticipated Capital Plan project in support of Thompson Bathroom renovations. The

project is a targeted renewal effort intended to reduce backlog and modernize the building. Penn State is utilizing

a condensed version of its qualification-based A/E Team selection process for this project.

Penn State considers the West Halls Housing complex at its University Park campus, with its three prewar buildings

designed by Charles Z. Klauder, to be historically significant. Thompson Hall, designed by H2L2, was constructed

along with four other postwar buildings. Thompson Hall was named after Moses Thompson, a local ironmaster

with varied business interests. Thompson offered land and financial support for the creation of Penn State and

served as a trustee.

Figure 1 – Thompson Hall Elevation from Original Construction Documents

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Thompson Hall, built in 1950, is approximately 132,600 GSF and houses approximately 470 students. The original

contract for Thompson also included Hamilton and McKee Halls. The three buildings were built concurrently with

Waring Commons. These 1950 buildings, combined with the prewar buildings of Watts, Irvin, and Jordan Halls,

comprise the housing area known as West Halls at the University Park campus.

Recently completed work at Thompson Hall includes the following: slate roof replacement, flooring replacement,

fire alarm system upgrades, and the construction of additional bedrooms in the existing attic space. In 2024 Penn

State created a plan to renovate the bathrooms in several unrenovated residence halls at University Park. The

intention of this project is to renovate two existing stacks of bathrooms per year, one in the spring and one in the

summer. Thompson Hall has three stacks. Initial work of this project will determine which stacks will be renovated,

and if it is feasible to renovate two stacks in the summer to complete the entire building in one year with one

project.

Request for Letters of Interest - Architecture/Engineering Team Selection

Thompson Bathroom Renovation – Penn State, University Park Campus

University Park, PA

Page 2

PROJECT GOALS AND PROGRAM

The project will renew the original and existing shared common bathrooms by replacing them with shared

individual private bathrooms, clustered in the existing bathroom footprint in “wet core” groupings. Each private

bathroom will have a sink, shower, and water closet. In each grouping, one bathroom will be provided without a

shower for quicker turnover. Each wet core grouping will have a sink area open to the corridor. The target

bathroom to student ratio will be one to six.

The project will focus on minimizing the impact on the existing bed count and may include work in adjacent areas

to reallocate beds, baths, and other spaces to achieve this goal and to balance the distribution of fixtures on each

floor and in each area. Work will also include replacing hot and cold distribution lines throughout the building that

serve the bathrooms. Abatement work will be specified by others and included in the bidding documents.

The renovation work done in the spring shall be planned to minimize the impact on the students in residence.

Work areas will be planned to sequester construction away from students, providing a safe and secure

environment for the building occupants. The A/E Team will be an active participant in developing the phasing plan

and will take the lead relative to egress and life safety.

The anticipated Total Project Cost of the project (assuming the renovation of two stacks) is $8.4 million.

PROJECT SCHEDULE AND DELIVERY METHOD

The selected A/E Team will

begin by understanding the

program and evaluating

potential modifications to the

program and its spaces. The

project will follow the standard

design phases – schematic

design, design development,

construction documents,

bidding, and construction

administration, in accordance

with Penn State’s standard 1-P

agreement.

Penn State will execute the

Architect-Engineer contract

shortly after the A/E firm

selection. The program

Figure 2 – 1950s Picture of Thompson Hall

validation and design will begin immediately after. The target project milestones are design completion in late

summer 2026, procurement and approvals complete in fall 2026, construction start after the end of the fall 2026

semester, and construction complete in time for fall arrival 2027.

The successful A/E Team will work in conjunction with Penn State’s selected third-party Construction Manager

(CM) throughout the design and construction phases. The CM selection process is anticipated to be concurrent

with the AE selection. The project will be delivered by the CM at risk, with a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP).

Penn State will manage the design and construction process in a manner similar other Penn State funded capital

projects.

Request for Letters of Interest - Architecture/Engineering Team Selection

Thompson Bathroom Renovation – Penn State, University Park Campus

University Park, PA

Page 3

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING (A/E) TEAM SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE

The University will perform a two or three step A/E Team selection process for this project with two or three

assessments: Letters of Interest (LOI), Reponses to a Request for Proposals (RFP), and optional (to Penn State) In-

Person Interviews. Each assessment will be separate and distinct. The result of the process selects the full

Architectural and/or Engineering design team, including the architectural team, engineering team, and any

specialty consultants. Firms may identify the full or partial team at this initial LOI phase. However, teams must

identify the entire design team in their responses to the RFP.

A/E Team Selection Schedule

 Letters of Interest are due

from lead firms by Noon,

Eastern Standard Time (EST),

November 7, 2025.

 The Screening Committee

will review the received

Letters of Interest and

determine a long list of firms.

 The Screening Committee

will send the long-listed firms

a Request for Proposal. The

long list of firms and the RFP

will be posted on the OPP

website by the end-of-day,

November 14, 2025.

 A tour of the existing

Figure 3 – Toilet Room Plan & Elevations from Original Construction Documents

building will be held at 1 PM,

Eastern Standard Time (EST), November 24, 2025.

 Proposals from the long-listed teams are due at Noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST), December 9, 2025.

 The Screening Committee will either make a selection or choose three firms from the RFP respondents. If

a selection is not made, short-list results and interview notice will be posted on the OPP website by the

end-of-day, December 15, 2025.

 On January 9, 2026 optional in-person interviews are scheduled at a location yet to be determined. This

date will not change, so please plan accordingly. The venue will be shared after the RFP stage.

 The A/E Team selection process results will be posted on the OPP website in January 2025. We plan to

start immediately to align with the project schedule.

LETTER OF INTEREST SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

If your firm/team is interested in pursuing this project, please submit a Letter of Interest that, at the least,

includes the following:

1. A brief statement detailing the firm/team’s profile (size, characteristics, unique qualifications, etc.). The

architectural and/or engineering major team members should be identified at this stage.

2. Outline the firm/team’s experience in the planning/design/execution of facilities of similar higher

education programs, scope, size, and complexity. Convey any experience with bathroom renovations and

work in occupied student housing.

Request for Letters of Interest - Architecture/Engineering Team Selection

Thompson Bathroom Renovation – Penn State, University Park Campus

University Park, PA

Page 4

3. Narrate the firm/team’s understanding of water management in student housing bathrooms. Then

discuss some of the unique and critically important issues in designing a project of this type.

4. Include images (captions encouraged) of the firm/team’s most relevant design experience related to this

particular project.

* As applicable throughout the Letter of Interest, provide professional credit to architectural partners

(including design architect and architect of record) for all projects discussed within the proposal and for

all project images shown.

Submit a PDF file of the Letter of Interest by Noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST), November 7, 2025. Limit the

submission to five (5) total letter-size pages. A cover letter, if included, must be within the five (5) total pages.

Send a PDF of the submission electronically to reo100@psu.edu and jvh6712@psu.edu by the submission

deadline. Include the team’s primary contact name and email address for the A/E selection process. Filename of

PDF shall include name of firm and project.

Teams may visit the exterior site during this selection process. Do not enter the building as it is a private student

residence. A guided tour of the building’s interior is planned during the RFP part of the selection process.

Participation in this A/E Team selection process is voluntary, with no cost to or obligation from Penn State. Penn

State reserves the right to waive any irregularity in any submission and to reject any submission or portion thereof.

Penn State reserves the right to modify dates as it deems necessary.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE

A/E Teams may not make news releases about this project without prior approval from Penn State and then only in

coordination with Penn State. In addition, all information, documents, and correspondence shared within the A/E

selection process are to remain confidential and, as such, are not to be made public in any manner.

Please contact me (information below) and the Project Manager, Richard O’Donald (reo100@psu.edu), in writing

with any questions.

Kindest Regards,

Julie Hedgeland, RA

Sr. Architect

The Pennsylvania State University

Direct: 814-863-5474

Email: jvh6712@psu.edu

cc: Selection Committee

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 236220Commercial and Institutional Building Construction

* Disclaimer: Government BidHub provides information on bids, RFPs (Requests for Proposals), and RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) solely for convenience and informational purposes. This site is not an official public notice board. For official details, responses, or inquiries, please contact the relevant government agency directly.