March 22, 2024

Concept drawings unveiled for Tacoma's $73M Maritime Center

Images from Maritime Center website [enlarge]

TCF Architecture designed the project with a maritime theme that complements other architecturally noteworthy buildings in Tacoma.

The Port of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Schools have unveiled conceptual designs for their $73 million Maritime Center project slated for port-owned property adjacent to the Thea Foss and Wheeler-Osgood waterways.

The DJC reported in December that the address is 1203 E. D St., which is across the Foss Waterway from downtown Tacoma.

The port also announced this week that its commission approved funding to bring the project to 60% design. It's currently at about 30% design.

The progressive design-build project is a joint effort between the two agencies, with the port developing a 60,000-square-foot building for about 160 staff and the school district developing a separate 30,000- to 35,000-square-foot building for maritime-related sills education.

TCF Architecture is the designer and BNBuilders is handling the construction side. Parametrix is a consultant.

The school district's building, to be called Maritime 253, will have classroom/lecture spaces, lab/shop spaces, collaborative project work areas, office, storage, warehousing, administrative and support functions. Tacoma Schools will use the space to teach career and technical education (CTE) skills to 300 high school students from around Pierce County.

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The Maritime 253 building will house CTE classrooms and lab/shop space for high school students interested in maritime careers.

The port's two-and-half-story building will have a lobby, office spaces, conference rooms, a commission meeting room and support functions. The project website says the design is meant to evoke a maritime theme and complement the skills center and other architecturally noteworthy buildings in Tacoma.

In addition to Port of Tacoma staff, the office building will house staff from the Northwest Seaport Alliance, which is a marine cargo operating partnership between the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.

Site work will include utility extensions, parking lots, walkways and landscaping. Public amenities will include walking trails, a public plaza and waterway access.

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Redevelopment of the site will include landscaping and walkways.

The guaranteed maximum price for design and construction is estimated at $56.2 million. Of the $73 million total budget, the port is expected to contribute $38 million while the school district will kick in $35 million.

Environmental cleanup work at the site is expected to begin in August. A schedule posted on the project website indicates master planning will continue to the end of the year, when designs are expected to be 60% complete. Construction of the port building will start in March 2025 and should be finished in December 2026. Construction of the education center is also expected to begin in March 2025, but will be finished in July 2026.

The port and school district are seeking additional public input for the master planning process and will hold an open house 4-6 p.m. on May 7 at the Foss Waterway Seaport, 705 Dock St., Tacoma. More information can be found at portmaritimecenter.com and maritime253.org.