Firms compete to oversee Miami Beach Convention Center

Seven consulting firms are vying to oversee the overhaul of the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Today reported, with a final decision to come from city commissioners in the next two weeks. An evaluation committee is set to meet on July 1 and 5, said Miami Beach Procurement Director Gus Lopez, and the city manager’s recommendation will be presented to the mayor July 13.

The selected firm will be paid around $100,000 to help find necessary funds, conceptualize a plan, bring in key participants and negotiate terms, Miami Today said.

Architectural firm Arquitectonica was paid more than $500,000 to develop a design for the new center. It proposed a $640 million overhaul but Miami Beach only has only $55 million for the project so far.

The hopefuls are Jones Lang LaSalle, partnership Convention Center Hotel Advisors, Florida-based Ocoee, New York-based HR&A Advisors, Georgia-based Duluth, Chicago-based HVS Convention, Sports, & Entertainment Facilities Consulting and Chicago-based CH Johnson Consulting. [Miami Today]