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Construction Site Camera
Check on the progress of construction at the Center for Urban Waters, thanks to this on-site camera provided by Turner Construction:
- Click here.
- Enter this user name: urbanwaters@tcco.com
- Enter this password: cuwcam
See the Photo Gallery for additional photos.
Center for Urban Waters Construction Project
The City of Tacoma has begun construction on a new 51,205 square-foot office and laboratory building. The new facility, the Center for Urban Waters, is located on the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway and will house the City's Environmental Services Division labs and offices, University of Washington Tacoma (UWT) research labs, and an office for the Puget Sound Partnership.
A dock approximately 100 feet long will be constructed to accommodate water-monitoring vessels.
For a map showing the site at 326 East D Street on the Thea Foss Waterway, click here. To see a vicinity map showing the location within the city and the site's proximity to I-5, click here.
The project is being constructed using an alternative approach to traditional public works projects. It is being built by a nonprofit company created specifically for the project. The building will be occupied by the City under a lease-to-own contract. See the Project Development section for an overview of the approach being used.
In addition to highlighting the City's dedication to urban water quality, the new facility will be a showcase for the City's commitment to sustainable building practices and energy conservation. The City is pursuing LEED Platinum certification, the highest possible rating awarded under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system. More information on LEED, the nationally recognized standard for green buildings, is available from the US Green Building Council.
Artist Robert M. Horner has been chosen to create artwork for the Center for Urban Waters. The selection process started with a call-to-artists issued by the City of Tacoma in November 2008. More than 50 applications were received from individual artists and artist teams.
The Artist Selection Committee included representatives from the Tacoma Arts Commission, Lorig Associates, Perkins+Will, University of Washington Tacoma, and NDC/TES Properties. The process was facilitated by the City of Tacoma’s Municipal Art Program.
The committee chose four artists to interview and then selected Horner for the project.
Horner is currently in the concept stage of design. Construction of the art piece is slated for early spring 2010.
Lorig Associates LLC, the company developing the Center for Urban Waters, is producing a newsletter to provide brief updates on the project and the development process. This newsletter is distributed to the City's Environmental Services employees who will be moving to the new facility and others interested in the project.
Click here for a PDF of the December 2009 issue.
Older issues are posted on the News page.