For Immediate Release: 3/14/2019 4:38 pm
The City of Worcester Selection Committee for Polar Park has made a recommendation to the Worcester Redevelopment Authority (WRA) that Gilbane-Hunt, a Joint Venture, be offered a contract as the Construction Manager (CM) for the project.
The WRA will vote on the recommendation at its next scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 19 at 8 a.m. in the Levi Lincoln Chamber of City Hall.
Polar Park, the future home of the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, is scheduled to open in Worcester’s Canal District in April 2021. A groundbreaking for the project is expected in July 2019.
The Selection Committee was comprised of the lead architect from D’Agostino Izzo Quirk Architects, a representative from Skanska, the owner’s project manager, and three City staff. The Committee reviewed five proposals and interviewed all the firms before making a recommendation to the WRA based on qualifications. As a condition of the contract, Gilbane-Hunt is fully committed to the WRA’s Responsible Employer & Inclusionary Participation Policy.
Gilbane-Hunt combines longstanding local relationships with vast national sports and baseball expertise. Both Gilbane Building Company and Hunt have extensive experience working on complex ballpark projects across the country, especially at the Triple-A level. Gilbane has completed projects at landmark venues such as Fenway Park and Cleveland’s Progressive Field, while Hunt has worked on nine Triple-A facilities across the country and more than 30 Major League ballparks. Gilbane has also completed 20 projects in Worcester, including the Sports and Recreation Center, Parking Deck/Playing Fields and Residence Hall/Garage at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in addition to the Worcester Trial Court Complex, Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, the parking garage at Union Station and the construction of North High School.
The Gilbane-Hunt partnership has successfully completed high-profile projects in the past, namely the Connecticut Convention Center and Rentschler Field, home of the University of Connecticut Huskies.
“With the addition of Gilbane-Hunt as Construction Manager, we’ve assembled the final piece of our All Star Team that will bring Polar Park to life in April 2021,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. “Their impressive resume of work both nationally, and locally here in Worcester, really speaks for itself. I extend my sincere thanks to the Selection Committee as well as the Worcester Red Sox for their work in evaluating the proposals.”
The Worcester Red Sox offered the following statement regarding the decision: “Although the Worcester Red Sox are not voting members of the Selection Committee, members of our front office sat through all five candidates’ exceptional presentations. We support the Committee’s recommendation and look forward to working with the Gilbane-Hunt team, which has both deep experience in sports and baseball and substantial local ties.”
