The Orlando Performing Arts Center (OPAC), a nonprofit corporation, selected Hines as their development partner during an OPAC Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, September 1. OPAC received five responses to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a development partner to construct a multi-faceted performing arts complex which will include educational facilities, public plaza, parking structures, and potential commercial expansion.
The OPAC Executive Committee interviewed three developers on Wednesday, August 31 who had previously been short-listed through the Request for Qualifications process. The short-listed firms include Carter of Atlanta, Ga.; Hines International of Houston, Texas; and KUD International of New York, N.Y. Based on the interviews, the Executive Committee made a recommendation to the OPAC Board of Directors for a development partner. Upon successful negotiation of the contract, OPAC and Hines will work together to present a feasibility plan for the performing arts center to the Ex-Officios, who are City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty, and University of Central Florida (UCF) President Dr. John Hitt.
"We look forward to working with Hines as our development partner," stated OPAC President and Chairman Jim Pugh. "Although every firm under consideration possessed exemplary qualifications, we believe Hines best supports our mission and vision for a performing arts center."
Hines is an international real estate firm with more than 2,800 employees based out of Houston, Texas. Their performing arts center development experience includes the Alice Pratt Brown Hall and the Wortham Theater Center in Houston, Texas, as well as the 2,300-seat Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Calif. They were also involved with hotel expansion and golf course development for the Marco Island Marriott.
"Of the five developers that responded to our RFQ, Hines has the most experience in developing performing arts facilities," said Pugh.
Source: Hines
