For architects , City Hall job is a prize

Architects from Eugene and Portland know a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when they see one.

Eugene is looking for an architect to design its next City Hall, which will replace the closed downtown City Hall on East Eighth Avenue.

Architectural firms have until Thursday afternoon to apply for the job. The city will select a firm in April.

City officials expect the new City Hall will be built in 2 years.

Some of the citys largest architectural firms are forming teams of engineers and other experts to apply for the work by Thursdays deadline, architects said.

Every architect whose firm has the capability to work on a project such as this would jump at the opportunity, Eugene architect Paul Dustrud said.

Architects view the City Hall project as a rare opportunity to design an important building, both for the community and for their firms.

How often does an architect have the opportunity and privilege to vie to work on rebuilding and reinventing the government center of their town? said John Lawless, a principal with TBG Architects & Planners.

The city asked for proposals starting on Feb. 11, but it expects to get applications up until the 2:30 p.m. Thursday deadline, said Jaime Garner, a city purchasing analyst.

Illustrating the interest in the project, 28 people, including representatives from several architecture and engineering firms from Eugene and Portland, attended a Feb. 21 meeting to learn about the citys selection process.

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For architects , City Hall job is a prize