April 1, 2011

The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) is moving ahead with plans to meet the dramatic record increases in enrollment in technical education across the state. In early 2009, the state appropriated more than $70M in bond funds for ten new capital construction projects which is also a TCSG record. That urgently needed group of projects are about to become realized on TCSG campuses statewide over the next one to two years. TCSG is currently procuring construction services through several different delivery methods including: Competitive Bid, Construction Manager / General Contractor at Risk, Design Build, Pre-qualified / Most Qualified Competitive Bid and Best Value QBS selection. We evaluate each project on a case by case basis to determine the appropriate course of action for both the design and the construction of each project based on the specific circumstances of that project.

The state of the overall economy the last two years has had both a positive and negative impact on all capital projects for TCSG. The lower cost of construction during 2009/2010 allowed us to get much more value for the dollar; however, recent material price increases seem to be eroding much of that advantage. The corresponding reduction in state tax collections have resulted in fewer additional capital projects being funded by the state in 2011/2012. Thus forcing TCSG colleges to become more efficient and creative in dealing with the increased enrollment of the last two to three years. The solutions have come in various forms including: lease of commercial space, interior renovations and re-use projects, as well as small additions and portable classroom buildings.

TCSG colleges are also confronted with significant challenges with ageing facilities, rising energy costs and deteriorating infrastructure. The system office of Facilities Management continues to assist the colleges and provide strategic planning to meet these challenges. LEED silver certification is a system wide goal of all new construction projects in an effort to lower energy costs as well as do what is right for Georgia's environment. The Governor's energy challenge of 2008 is a driving force behind many of our conservation strategies across the state.

TCSG continues to seek out like minded architects, engineers and construction (A.E.C.) professionals who understand and are willing to team with TCSG to meet these challenges head on in the years to come. We are obligated to provide the highest quality learning facilities for our students, as well as ensure that our state dollars are being spent wisely.

The mission of TCSG has evolved over the years, and we now strive to be the best technical college system worldwide. A major component of the goal is the quality of the physical environment in which our colleges provide their educational instruction. The manner in which we provide our services has changed dramatically over the last10, 20 and 30 years. The way we approach how we design and construct the facilities in which we deliver these services will be changing as well. A.E.C. partners with demonstrated experience with higher education projects, building information modeling (BIM), LEED certification principles and state of Georgia contracts will be positioned well in the future to assist us with our needs and goals.

We look forward to meeting and exceeding our goals and challenges going into the fourth decade of technical college education in Georgia.

Below you will find links to "Future Projects" that have been approved by the state legislature and "Current Projects" that are in the design process currently and will be out for construction bids shortly. "Construction Projects" are those that are currently under construction across the state. These links will provide general information about the project, critical dates, as well as contact information.

We look forward to working with you to keep Georgia working and competitive.

Thank you,
 
Rob

Robert P. Alden, AIA, LEED AP
Executive Director of Facilities Management
Technical College System of Georgia
1800 Century Place, Suite 400
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
T.  404.679.1617  F. 770.679.1638  E. RAlden@TCSG.edu