HOK Smith Forkner Chosen for State Fair Study

LINCOLN: Senator Philip Erdman, Chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Legislature, announced the selection of HOK Smith Forkner to provide professional consulting services for a state fair modeling study authorized by legislation enacted during the 2007 legislative session. LB 435 directs the Agriculture Committee of the Legislature to examine facilities and programming that are needed for a contemporary state fair and to serve other year-round functions of a state fair facility. A contract with HOK was signed on Friday, July 6, and work on the project will begin immediately

HOK Smith Forkner, a subsidiary of HOK Sports Venue in Kansas City, specializes in the planning and design of fairgrounds, equestrian facilities, arenas and events complexes. Its principles, Charles Smith, AIA and David Forkner, ASLA, have been responsible for the planning and design of over 180 fairgrounds throughout the United States and Canada. HOK Smith Forkner will partner with Economic Research Associates (ERA) and their considerable experience and reputation in providing economic analysis of attractions and entertainment-related developments. ERA has evaluated hundreds of public and commercial entertainment and recreation facilities, and has analyzed many high-profile special mass attraction events and public facility venues, including world's fairs.

"I am pleased that we have been able to secure the services of a very qualified and experienced team to assist the Agriculture Committee in examining issues related to the state fair" Senator Erdman commented. "I am confident that HOK's approach to this important project will provide the objective, independent analysis we need during the discussion about the future of the fair."

Erdman anticipates the study will help to answer questions about what investments are needed for Nebraska's State Fair events and facilities to be comparable to other state fairs. He cautions that moving the fair is not imminent and the Agriculture Committee has not reached any conclusion that relocation of the fair is a preferred or viable course of action. According to Senator Erdman, the study should help to better inform the discussions arising from recommendations by City of Lincoln planning groups to relocate the state fair and adapting the existing state fairgrounds to other uses. The scope of work the consultant is to perform includes providing tools for evaluating the current site and the suitability of any alternative site for hosting the state fair as well as arriving at a method of accurately estimating the costs of improvement or relocation.

Senator Erdman thanked all three firms that had responded to the request for proposals and were interviewed for the project. In addition to HOK Smith Forkner, the selection committee also considered proposals submitted by Keffer/Overton Associates of Des Moines, IA and Bahr Vermeer Haecker Architects of Lincoln. Erdman also thanked the City of Lincoln and the Vision 2015 group that is leading efforts within the Lincoln community on a number of development ideas including state fair issues, and the State Fair Board for their willingness to fund the study and to agreeing to be a willing partner in providing sound information upon which decisions about the future of the Nebraska State Fair can be based.