CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: November 12, 2025 CONSENT CALENDAR SUBJECT: APPROVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NO. 25Q414 WITH LMN / O2 JOINT-VENTURE FOR CONVENTION CENTER
ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Wayne Olson, Chief Economic Development Officer
SUMMARY:
This action will award a professional services agreement with LMN / o2 Joint-Venture (LMN+o2) for architectural and engineering services for the Convention Center renovation and expansion project for a contract amount not to exceed $1,000,000.
RECOMMENDATION:
1) Approve Professional Services Agreement No. 25Q414 with LMN /o2 Joint- Venture to provide architectural and engineering services for the convention center renovation and expansion project for a term commencing on November 13, 2025, and continuing through December 31, 2028, for an amount not to exceed $1,000,000;
2) Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documents.
BUSINESS PRINCIPAL DISCLOSURE:
According to the Public Integrity Disclosure forms (Attachment B) submitted on September 23, 2025, LMN Architects LLP is registered in the state of Washington and Lance C. O’Donnell, An Architectural Corporation dba o2 Architecture, is registered in the state of California.
BACKGROUND:
The Palm Springs Convention Center, a cornerstone of the city’s hospitality and tourism economy, has served as a premier venue for conferences, exhibitions, and community events since its original construction in 1984. A major expansion and modernization effort was completed in 2005, significantly increasing the facility’s capacity and enhancing its amenities. Despite these improvements, many of the Convention Center’s core systems,
City Council Staff Report
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Approve Professional Services Agreement No. 25q414 With LMN / O2 Joint-Venture
finishes, and functional spaces now require further upgrades to meet current industry standards and user expectations.
In response to evolving market demands and the need to maintain competitiveness in the regional convention landscape, the City of Palm Springs is initiating a comprehensive renovation and expansion of the Convention Center. This project is intended to address deferred maintenance, improve operational efficiency, and enhance overall visitor experience through renovation, expansion and updating the master plan. It also supports the City’s broader goals of economic development, sustainability, and community engagement.
On September 10, 2025, the City Council unanimously authorized staff to advance the Palm Springs Convention Center modernization and connectivity project. The award of the architecture contract is a milestone and is reflective of months of planning, engagement, and fiscal diligence, and the dedication of the City Manager’s Stakeholder Group. A subset of the Capital Improvements working group, a subgroup of the Stakeholder group, participated in the development of the RFP, reviewing and scoring of written proposals, and scoring of interviews.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
On September 4, 2025, the Procurement and Contracting Department issued a Request for Qualifications 16-25 (RFQ 16-25) for Convention Center Architectural and Engineering services for the renovation and expansion project for the Economic Development Department. RFQ 16-25 was advertised in the local newspaper, published on the PlanetBids website with notification to 844 registered vendors, 500 vendors through Bid Broadcast, and citywide notification through the Department of Communications. This extensive outreach resulted in 94 attendees for the pre-qualification conference on September 18, 2025.
The following firms submitted statements of qualifications for consideration by the October 8, 2025, deadline.
Bell Architects, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Fieldtek Electric LLC, Huntington Beach, CA
HMC Architects, Ontario, CA – Non-Responsive
John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects, Los Angeles, CA
LMN / o2 Joint-Venture, Palm Springs, CA
Populous, Kansas City, MO
Richard Kennedy Architects, Phoenix, AZ
SPF: Architects, Culver City, CA
Stantec Architecture, Inc., Loa Angeles, CA
Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, Inc., Atlanta, GA
City Council Staff Report
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Approve Professional Services Agreement No. 25q414 With LMN / O2 Joint-Venture
An evaluation committee consisting of City staff from the Economic Development, Engineering Services, and the City Manager Departments, as well as external committee members representing Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Chair of Convention Center Capital Improvement working group, Hilton Palm Springs, and three local architects from Studio AR&D Architects, Prest Vuksic Green Wood Architects, and John Walsh Architects reviewed and scored the proposals received against the criteria published in the Request for Qualifications. Criteria included the firm’s experience, references, staff’s experience, and understanding of the scope of work.
In response to RFQ 16-25, a statement of qualifications (SOQ) was submitted by a joint venture between LMN Architects LLP and Lance C. O’Donnell, An Architectural Corporation dba o2 Architecture. LMN Architects LLP and o2 Architecture have formed a joint venture for the purpose of collaboratively providing architectural and design services for this project. Under the joint venture agreement, both firms will share responsibilities, resources, and professional services in accordance with the terms outline in the SOQ and professional services agreement. The joint venture structure allows the City to benefit from LMN Architect’s national design experience, large scale project management expertise combined with o2 Architectirue’s local knowledge, experience with the desert climate design, and established presence within the Coachella Valley.
Based on the review of the statements of qualifications, interview and scoring, staff recommend approval of the professional services agreement with the highest scoring firm, LMN / o2 Joint-Venture, for architectural and engineering services for the Convention Center renovation and expansion project for a contract amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for a term commencing on November 13, 2025, and continuing through December 31, 2028.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The requested City Council action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The requested action is to approve contracts for the above-mentioned services, and is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15378(b), in that a “Project” does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:
Approval of this action supports City Council priority for Economic Development to support a vibrant economy, including tourism.
City Council Staff Report
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Approve Professional Services Agreement No. 25q414 With LMN / O2 Joint-Venture
City Council Staff Report
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Approve Professional Services Agreement No. 25q414 With LMN / O2 Joint-Venture
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Measure J Commission approved expenditures up to $7M in design costs related to the Palm Springs Convention Center Modernization. The approval was conditioned by reimbursement to Measure J from debt proceeds issued when the capital project begins later in 2026. Therefore, this initial $1M not to exceed will be funded entirely by Measure J funds, with reimbursement to Measure J once debt is issued.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Wayne Olson
Procurement & Contracting Manager: Tabitha Richards
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Professional Services Agreement No. 25Q414
B. Public Integrity Disclosures