Mystery around how Minnesota architect firm landed major D.C. renovation project

A Golden Valley firm best known for Minnesota school projects is now the lead architect for the Kennedy Center’s $257 million renovation. The federal government’s selection of a firm with little experience in large, historic performing arts project has raised questions about the project’s contracting practice. It appears to have involved a Minnesota purchasing cooperative that vets and then links suppliers to public agencies, school districts and municipalities. ATSR is an architecture, planning and engineering firm that typically works on Minnesota school expansion projects ranging from $3 million to $40 million, according to its website, social media posts and Secretary of State records. Available records and public statements offer little explanation as to how the 60-person firm was picked as the architect of record for the controversial renovation project. The news did not become public until an article last week in the Washington Post. Advertisement The firm is also new to doing business in Washington, D.C. Industry professionals and politicians point out the Kennedy Center did not use the traditional public bidding process usually required for federal projects of this size. ATSR referred questions about its contract to the Kennedy Center’s administration. Last year, President Donald Trump replaced board members and administration, changing how the center does business. Critics say these changes included sidestepping the traditional public bidding process for large contracts such as the renovation. The selection of ATSR may be because it received certification from a government supply purchasing cooperative in Staples, Minn.