New Life Square is a $3.66 million facility for the Tacoma Rescue Mission that includes dormitory, classroom, kitchen and dining, counseling and management office space.

The original budget for the New Life Square was $3.8 million, but through value engineering Rushforth was able to complete the project under budget by more than $100,000 — despite encountering major soil contamination on the site. In addition, the completion and move in date were inalterable, calling for a true fast-track schedule.

To speed the process, Rushforth developed a separate contract for the site work that included the foundations and slabs. That way, drawings could be developed and value-engineered and permitted during the site work phase. Since part of the site did not require soil removal, the entire site was preloaded with pit run to avoid having to drive pile for foundations, which saved the owner approximately $40,000.

The 37,000-square-foot building houses the Good Neighbor Café, a men’s shelter, Challenge Learning Center and the New Life program, a drug and alcohol treatment service. The new facility increases bed capacity for the men’s overnight shelter and men’s recovery program, as well as increasing the adult basic education space.