Top Projects of 2002 -- Seattle DJC.COM

#5. Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center

Project cost: $57.85 million ($51.62 million maximum allowable construction cost)

Tacoma’s convention center will feature a blend of classical and contemporary design elements.
Rendering courtesy of MulvannyG2 Architecture

Project address:
1500 Broadway, Tacoma

Start of construction: Dec. 12, 2002

Expected completion date:
Fall 2004 (pending owner’s wishes to accelerate)

Owner:
City of Tacoma

Type of contract:
General contractor/construction manager

Description The focus of the new Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center is to capture the city’s character by respecting the established history and blending classicism with a new contemporary vision for downtown.

Mortenson is emphasizing on-site sensitivity, program responsiveness and cost effectiveness. In addition, the company is allowing for expansion flexibility and numerous development options. Co-development options for the project include an adjacent hotel, retail space, residential units and parking.

The convention center’s first phase encompasses approximately 236,000 square feet, with the potential to double in size in the future.

The ultimate size of the convention center determined how to design the public center without destroying the scale of the community. The detail at street level meets the human scale while creating a visual excitement.

In the current phase of construction, Mortenson will complete approximately 229,000 square feet of enclosed building space, 53,270 square feet of unenclosed building space, 72,799 square feet of enclosed parking and 86,153 square feet of unenclosed parking — for a grand total of 439,671 square feet and enough parking for 637 cars.

Footings and foundations, now under construction, are expected to be complete by early summer 2003. Structural steel erection will follow. That operation should be finished by fall 2003. Next up will be the building enclosure, including roofing, curtain wall and metal wall panel systems. Building dry-in is expected for spring 2004.

Once enclosure is achieved, interior finishes will proceed throughout summer and fall 2004, with substantial completion anticipated for November 2004.

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

Contractor:
M.A. Mortenson Co., 14719 N.E. 29th Place, Bellevue, WA 98007, (425) 895-9000

Architect:
Merritt + Pardini, 1119 Pacific Ave., Suite 1600, Tacoma, WA 98402, (253) 383-8700

Other Participants

Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire
(structural engineer)

Holaday-Parks (design-build mechanical)

Sasco Electric (design-build electrical)

KPFF Consulting Engineers
(shoring engineer)

Nakano Associates (landscape architect)

Syska Hennessey (city’s consultant, including mechanical and electrical)

Con-Tech Consultants (telecommunications consultant)

BRC Acoustics
(intercom consultant)

FSA Design (kitchen/food services consultant)

Mulvanny/G2 (consultant)