Atkins North America, Inc. - KeyWestCity.com

Atkins North America, Inc.
2001 Northwest 107th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33172-2507
Telephone: +1.305.592.7275
www.atkinsglobal.com/northamerica
June 29, 2011
City Clerk
City of Key West
525 Angela Street
Key West, Florida 33040
RE: Request for Qualifications No. 11-004 – Professional Landscape Architectural/Engineering/
Architectural/Land Surveyor Services for Truman Waterfront Upland Design and
Construction Administration
Dear Selection Committee Members:
The time has arrived! We know how much your City and the Local Redevelopment Agency want to realize the
vision for the Truman Waterfront, first conceived in the mid-1990s. While many folks have since come and gone,
much remains the same; the delightfully idiosyncratic character of the Conch Republic, and the incredible potential
of the Truman Waterfront. As a member of the ’96-’97 community planning team, I had the opportunity to
work closely with interested groups and citizens, and have followed the project ever since. Today the City needs
a consultant with world-class waterfront design experience, a deep understanding of parks planning and operations,
and intimate local knowledge and sensitivity. Our Atkins team has all these attributes.
World-class waterfront design. Before becoming Atkins earlier this year, PBS&J was established as one of
the pioneering firms in port and waterfront design and engineering. I also led several urban waterfront designs
combining multiple maritime uses and integrating public access and parks, particularly in smaller cities and
towns. This Atkins team has improved the quality of life in Clearwater, Florida, with a $16.5 million, half-mile
beachside linear park, and a waterfront park and related piers and moorings in historic Old Town, Alexandria,
Virginia. Our global portfolio of waterfronts, marinas, and mixed-use urban designs is unmatched, and those
same Atkins professionals are available to our team as-needed throughout the process.
Parks and planning depth. Our deputy project manager, Kristin Caborn, CPRP, FCP, is a former parks and
recreation director who synthesizes design, operations, public safety, and communications. Her in-house staff
of talented landscape architects and planners has created signature parks throughout the state, and will be
augmented in parks operations planning by our subconsultant, GreenPlay LLC.
Local resources and sensitivity. With local architect William (Bill) Horn, a fixture in the City and Monroe
County, we have more than 25 years of experience helping to shape the design vernacular and preserve the
historic character of Key West. Bill’s role as our team’s lead architect is critical to ensuring the appropriateness of
our solutions. Our understanding of local permitting, stormwater management, and utilities is further enhanced
by Meridian Engineering’s Richard Milelli.
All of these resources will be marshaled from the north end of “the 305” (Miami) by our highly skilled young
project manager, Victor Herrera, a civil engineer with direct relevant experience and a calming presence in staff
meetings and public interaction.
We appreciate your time and consideration and are enthusiastic about the opportunity to help Key West maximize
for generations its most important undeveloped asset. If you have further questions, please contact me at
laurence.levis@atkinsglobal.com or 305.514.3383.
Sincerely,
David J. Carter, CCM
Senior Vice President
Larry Levis, AIA, NCARB
Principal-in-Charge