Turnblad Mansion Master Plan: Construction Documents for Restoration and Repair Activities

The short term expected impact was that completed Construction Documents would provide the necessary knowledge for ASI to bid the work for the construction phase, would provide ASI with internal alignment with key stakeholders, and would solidify a framework for a case for support for ASI?s capital campaign. The indicator of progress was completion of the Construction Documents and scope of work forms.

In November 2019, ASI used the 60% completed Construction Documents to draft a call for proposals to secure a firm to undertake construction activities in the next project phase. ASI and HGA felt that the 60% completed documents adequately outlined the scope of work to allow for conversations to begin with prospective construction firms.

The Construction Documents have been shared with key staff, with ASI?s Board of Trustees, and with other stakeholders, to deepen the collective understanding of this major project. This understanding empowered ASI to create a full project phasing plan to addresses in detail how construction work will impact all aspects of ASI?s activities ? programming and otherwise ? over the next three years. With a deeper understanding of cash flow and project phasing, ASI leadership have begun to align capital campaign phasing, messaging, and milestones to ensure fundraising goals are met and cash flow remains consistent. At both 60% and 90% completion, the Construction Documents were successfully employed as tools to help build a case for support during private capital campaign fundraising meetings with important lead donors.

The intermediate term expected impact was that ASI would hold a public bidding process for work outlined in the Construction Documents, contractors will be hired, and that critical path repair items will be addressed for the Turnblad Mansion, Carriage House, and historic site features. The indicator of progress was that ASI would have selected a contractor to complete construction activities and work will have begun on critical items and repair projects.

In September, ASI publicly distributed the call for proposals, receiving numerous responses from local and national firms. Upon review of submitter qualifications, ASI ultimately accepted a bid from Minnesota-based JE Dunn.

Once selected, JE Dunn immediately began to work with HGA Architects and Engineers to outline construction workflow, resourcing, and solidify cost estimates. As part of this, JE Dunn and HGA began work to address the critical items and repair projects outlined in the Construction Documents alongside issues of less time-sensitive nature. At time of this submission, critical items such as the attic floor substrate being deemed a life safety concern have been worked into the project phasing plan to be addressed during construction work.

The long-term expected impact was that the Turnblad Mansion will remain an iconic and well-preserved publicly accessible historic asset that celebrates the region?s heritage and will contribute to the vitality of the community for many years to come. The indicator of progress will be that the typical visitor to the Turnblad Mansion reports that their visit has personally deepened their understanding on immigration, increased their understanding of the historical context around the Turnblad Mansion and Turnblad family, and has caused them to reflect more on their own stories of immigration and how they relate to others od differing backgrounds throughout the community.

The creation of construction documents was the critical next step to address the issues identified by ASI?s Historic Building Conditions Assessment. It was also the next step in bringing to life areas of the Mansion that have been inaccessible to the public for decades for myriad reasons. Thanks to this grant support, ASI is now ready to enter the next phase of this project. ASI has been able to secure commitments of financial support from numerous members of the community which will make the full project possible, indicating that the Turnblad Mansion continues to remain a valued resource.