Citing an effort to protect the integrity of the process, Lafayette Central Park keeps a lid on finalists.
On Wednesday several reps of Lafayette Central Park Inc. clarified to The IND why the organization declined our request for the names of the two finalists still in the running for the job of designing and converting the Horse Farm into a community park.
LCP board chair Lenny Lemoine, Executive Director David Calhoun and Director of Planning and Design Elizabeth "EB" Brooks explained that the two finalists were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 after six potential master planning teams made their pitches to the selection committee and some LCP board members Sept. 13. Calhoun and Brooks also heard the presentations, and while everyone in attendance had a say, the selection committee was charged with choosing the two finalists.
LCP's Planning, Design and Construction Committee, which served as the selection committee for this process, had narrowed a field of 16 teams that vied for the project down to the six that were invited for interviews. View the six teams here.
Discussions began immediately with the No. 1 ranked team and were still going on Wednesday, Lemoine says. While the talks were progressing well, he says if they should break down for any reason, the board will begin negotiating with the No. 2 team and would even go to the third ranked team if necessary. For that reason, and because the teams don't yet know who made the cut (because they could still be in the running), the board decided not to release the names of the top two teams.
Calhoun tells The IND that the board meets Friday at 7 a.m. Once the board votes to approve the winning team, the remaining five teams will be notified by email that they were not chosen. Once all confirm receipt of the email, a press release announcing the winning team will be distributed.
Earlier this week, at The IND's request, LEDA President and CEO Gregg Gothreaux released the names of the Planning, Design and Construction Committee. Gothreaux, a master gardener, chairs the committee. Also serving are:
Carlee Alm-LaBar assistant to City-Parish President Joey Durel
Chris Richard civil and environmental engineer, chairman of the board and chief engineer, Domingue, Szabo and Associates
Tom Sammons architect and director, UL School of Architecture and Design; director of UL Community Design Workshop
Raymond Reaux divil and environmental engineer, vice president of engineering, Fenstermaker and Associates
Herman Mhire visual artist and designer
Geoff Dyer urban designer, director of design, DDA
Adam Lemoine, client program manager, CB&I
Cecilia Gayle landscape architect, Lafayette MPO Planning Office
Mark Wiley electrical engineer, vice president, Compass Engineering; president of Master Gardeners