Client: City of Tacoma
Size: 80,000sf
Location: Tacoma, WA

This project is a three-story building that will house the City of Tacoma's Science and Engineering, City Laboratories and Solid Waste Management divisions. The project is located strategically on a reclaimed EPA Superfund landfill site. The new facility will show how reclaimed and remediated landfills can be used successfully and sustainably. Opportunities include the use of treated groundwater previously polluted by 20th century landfill techniques, electrical power generated by landfill gases and composite panels utilizing recycled materials from the landfill enterprise. The project will provide many interpretive elements and ultimately serve as an ecological park while addressing the City's facility needs. The building will include a sectional cut through the landfill much like a giant terrarium showcasing layers and decades of waste reminding us of the effects on groundwater, waste and materialism, decomposition and the possibilities for waste minimization and energy recovery. This project will set an example for the City’s commitment to the environment by demonstrating sustainable development and design and setting LEED Platinum as a goal.