State of South DakotaIssuing agency·South Dakota·via the State of South Dakota posting board (ESM Solutions)RE: Residential Life & Dining Services Master Plan
Architectural & Engineering Planning Services
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57006
South Dakota State University is soliciting Statements of Interest from firms capable of providing professional architectural and engineering planning services to facilitate the development of a comprehensive Housing & Residential Life and Dining Services Master Plan.
The previous master plan was completed in 2012, and additional student affairs facility assessments have been conducted over the past decade. Many of the construction projects outlined in that plan have since been accomplished, creating a vibrant residential district, upgraded Larson Commons dining experience, C-store improvements, Hanson Hall dining upgrades, and a reinvigorated Union. South Dakota State University has determined that it is time to invest in a new Residential Life & Dining Services master plan that accurately reflects current campus conditions, enrollment trends, retention goals, and student needs. The plan will provide a framework for managing existing housing and dining facilities, while establishing a long-term strategy for capital investment and potential expansion to meet the needs of the university and align with the Pathway to Premier 2030 Strategic Plan and 2025 University Master Plan.
South Dakota State University is the state’s leading higher education institution. As South Dakota’s Morrill Act land-grant university, SDSU recorded a fall 2025 enrollment of 12,139 students from 48 states and 78 countries. Current residence hall capacity is 4,734 beds, with over 825,000 square feet of Residential Life space, 56,000 square feet of dining services space. This study will focus on the main campus in Brookings, South Dakota, which includes approximately 18 residence halls and large and small apartment buildings, 24 Garden Square & Southeast townhomes, single-family houses, and dining space in the Student Union, Hansen Hall, Dairy Bar, Starbucks, Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, and Larson Commons.
The plan must identify deficiencies in the physical environment and provide feasible solutions to address both current and anticipated long-term campus needs for Housing & Residential Life and Dining Services. The scope of work will include alignment with the university strategic plan and master plan, peer institution analysis, analysis of enrollment trends, student success metrics, market analysis for housing and dining services, phased construction project planning including constructability analysis and financial modeling. The final Housing & Residential Life & Dining Services Master Plan document will serve as a strategic framework to guide future development. Consultant services required to develop this planning framework will include the following:
Facilities and Services
Box 2150, FS 100
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57007-1698
Phone 605-688-4136
Fax: 605-688-4010
• Discovery and Data Collection
o Understand university enrollment management goals and trends
o Understand university strategic goals, identity, and vision
o Document trends in university housing and dining to include a review of peer, aspirational peer institutions, and general higher education trends
o Conduct a market study of off-campus housing
• Facilities Analysis
o Review and document existing space inventory, utilization, & facility conditions
o Link existing space needs to university strategic goals and campus master plan
o Corelate space needs with enrollment and general student service trends
o Outline specific capital improvement goals to realize the university’s strategic vision, organize these goals into short-term (3-5 years), mid-term (5-10 years), and long-term (10+ years) capital improvement phases.
o Obtain feedback from the university community, including students and student leadership organizations, Brookings community, University Senior Leadership Team, and University Housing & Residential Life and Dining Services Master Plan advisory team.
Firms interested in providing professional services for this project should send a Statement of Interest that outlines their qualifications and experience that would demonstrate expertise related to this project. Statements of Interest should include at a minimum:
• Specialized expertise in student housing, dining services, and campus master planning; technical competence as demonstrated by the team's capabilities, and the proposed approach and methodology. (35%)
• Resources available to perform the work, including any specialized services. (15%)
• Record of past performance, quality of work, and ability to meet schedules. (20%)
• Ability and project history in handling special project constraints. (15%)
• Proposed project management techniques. (5%)
• Availability to project locale. (5%)
• Familiarity with project locale. (5%)
A technical review committee will select the planning consultant based on the criteria shown and reserves the right to schedule finalist interviews if needed. The committee respectfully requests that Statements of Interest be limited to 20 pages or less. This is not a requirement, merely a request.
Copies of the Statement of Interest must be submitted by 3:00PM on Thursday, October 8th, 2026. Please submit an electronic copy or e-transfer link to the following contact:
Jonathan Meendering
Architect, Director of Planning & Design
South Dakota State University
Phone: (605)688-4975
Email: jonathan.meendering@sdstate.edu
Firms wanting additional project information or campus tours should contact Jonathan Meendering at jonathan.meendering@sdstate.edu or (605)688-4975.
Invitation Only · Ready for Responses
Documents (1):
• SOI Document.pdf (175 KB)
View the full solicitation and download documents on South Dakota's posting board.
The selected consultant will develop a master plan that includes discovery and data collection (understanding enrollment goals, strategic goals, peer trends, off-campus housing market), facilities analysis (reviewing space inventory, linking needs to strategic goals, outlining capital improvement phases of 3-5, 5-10, and 10+ years), and obtaining feedback from the university community. The plan will provide a framework for managing existing housing and dining facilities and establish a long-term strategy for capital investment and expansion.
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Source: South Dakota Procurement (event 19964), retrieved via the State of South Dakota posting board (ESM Solutions). View the official posting, and always confirm requirements and deadlines with the issuing agency.
