Valpo seeks proposals for new Recreation & Enrichment Campus
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The city of Valparaiso has issued a request for proposals seeking firms interested in providing design and construction services for the Valparaiso Recreation & Enrichment Campus project.
The project, being developed in the former McGill factory near the city’s downtown, will feature about 130,000 square feet of sports and recreation space.
The Valpo REC facility will include 25,000 square feet of courts for different sports, 32,000 square feet of indoor turf, a 20,000-square-foot interactive children’s space, and nearly 54,000 square feet of flexible space for “youth and senior enrichment areas.”
It will also include a walking track, cafe, and support spaces, according to the RFP document.
Valpo Parks Director Kevin Nuppnau says the project represents an exciting step forward for indoor recreation in the city.
“We are excited to partner with a team to bring this space to life, offering opportunities for sports, learning, and community engagement for all ages,” Nuppnau said in written remarks. “This facility will be a hub for health, wellness, and connection in our city.”
The building encompasses a total of 225,000 square feet, but the city noted that the project will involve a combination of renovation, selective demolition and new construction. Only 163,000 square feet of space of the existing space is being made available for the REC project.
Proposals are being accepted through Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. and will be opened the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety during its meeting at 11 a.m. that day.
The board could announce the winning proposal at its meeting on Sept. 12. The city aims to begin work on the design and build of the facility in October, with the project slated for completion in late 2027.
The McGill factory, located at 909 Lafayette Street, was acquired by the city earlier this year for $2.5 million, according to our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana. The building’s most recent owner, Regal Beloit, closed the facility in 2021.