Choice of Perth City Hall design team slammed

Long-running saga continues as architects claim council didn’t follow own rules

There was yet another twist in the longrunning Perth City Hall saga yesterday as a row erupted over the choice of design team for the multi-million-pound revamp.

Architects have slated Perth and Kinross Council for selecting Dutch firm Mecanoo for the job, even though the firm only came third in a list of finalists.

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) was appointed by the local authority to help establish a selection process.

The organisation has now accused the council of deviating from the agreed procedure by not plumping for the highest scoring firm.

President Stewart Henderson said his disappointment was shared by other unsuccessful finalists.

Architects have accused council bosses of not sticking to an agreed process when picking the design team for the Perth City Hall revamp.

Perth and Kinross Council has been forced to defend its selection panel, which recommended Dutch firm Mecanoo for the job, even though the company was placed third in a shortlist.

The five finalists, featuring big-name designers from across the world, were revealed to the public earlier this year.

Although other designs scored higher, Mecanoo’s construction costs (at £11.4 million) were significantly cheaper, with the four other proposals estimated at between £14.7m-£16.9m.

The companies’ fees have been kept under wraps. However, according to public papers Mecanoo scored just 4.6 for its fee, while the top designer scored 20.

Now the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has written to council leader Ian Campbell expressing its disappointment the local authority seemed to deviate from the selection process set out in bid documents.

The scoring criteria to assess the shortlisted entries against the brief were weighted 80% to architectural quality and 20% to fee. This was to “reflect the importance of the design concept of the council.”

In a letter to Mr Campbell, RIAS president Stuart Henderson said: “You will appreciate this is contrary to the RIAS report following the recent quality/prize driven process for which we were appointed.

“Unsuccessful parties have expressed their disappointment at the variance from the procedure set out in the bid documents. We can only concur.”

A council spokeswoman responded: “The project brief had three core requirements – a building which delivers the operational needs of a major museum attraction; responds sensitively to the surrounding public realm and is affordable and deliverable within the £20m budget.

“Mecanoo’s design best met these requirements of the brief in terms of quality and the ability to be delivered within the council’s agreed budget for the project.

“This design also attracted the greatest support from local residents and businesses and taking into account initial views from Historic Environment Scotland.”

Work is expected to begin in 2018 and the venue scheduled to open in 2021.

Mecanoo’s design best met these requirements of the brief in terms of quality and the ability to be delivered within the council’s agreed budget for the project. PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL