Innovate
Planned tech hub advances as Pinellas County starts looking for designers
Plans for a freestanding home for the Tampa Bay Innovation Center Incubator are moving forward, as Pinellas County officials have begun seeking bids for architectural services to design the building.
The 45,000 square foot state-of-the-art business incubator is designed to catalyze the formation of new technology and advanced manufacturing companies in the Tampa Bay area, Pinellas County Economic Development said in a notice announcing the bid process. The incubator is expected to help create 466 jobs and leverage $66.6 million in private investment, bid documents said.
The two-story structure will include about 30,000 square feet of client space, plus coworking and collaboration spaces, offices and a conference/community room. There will be parking under the building and at the back of the facility.
Related story: Here’s Pinellas County’s plan for financial sustainability for the Tampa Bay Innovation Center business incubator
The project is a partnership between Pinellas County and the city of St. Petersburg. The incubator will be located on the southwest corner of 11th Avenue South and 4th Street, and will be operated by the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, currently housed at 501 1st Ave. N. in St. Petersburg.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration said in July that it would invest $7.5 million to design and construct the facility. The total cost is expected to be $12 million.
The request for proposals for architectural services is due by Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. A recommendation on the design-bid-build RFP is expected in March, with the Board of County Commissioners awarding a contract in May. The expected construction start date is July 9, 2021 with the project expected to be completed two years later.
The company that wins the bid for design services will help the county select a general contractor who will build the structure.
Details of the requested proposal information may be obtained by visiting the Pinellas County Purchasing Department web site http://www.pinellascounty.org/
