Washingtoner - City of Tacoma Launches Multi-Phase Tacoma Municipal Building Exterior Preservation Project

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~ The City of Tacoma has announced the launch of a new project aimed at preserving the historic structure of the Tacoma Municipal Building. The Tacoma Municipal Building Exterior Preservation Project will be a multi-phase effort to address years of deterioration and ensure the building's longevity.

According to assessments conducted on the building's exterior, it has suffered from various issues such as cracking, spalling, water intrusion, and organic growth. These problems have been attributed to previous sandblasting attempts that removed the smooth finish from the cast stone and made it more porous. As a result, the City has allocated over $20 million for a full refurbishment of the building's exterior.

To effectively manage such an extensive scope of work, the project will be completed in phases. The first phase, which is set to begin on October 20th, 2025, will focus on addressing critical areas such as the east facade (St. Helens Avenue) and west facade (Market Street). This phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 with a budget of $4.5 million.

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Key elements of Phase 1 include cleaning and sealing the cast stone, repointing joints with cracked or missing mortar, replacing damaged cast stone units, preserving supporting shelf angles, and treating exposed steel. For safety purposes, scaffolding will be installed during this phase but will only cover one story of the building's facade and not obstruct access to both entrances.

The lessons learned during Phase 1 will be used to refine subsequent phases' scope, methods, timelines, and cost estimates. Phase 2 will prioritize cleaning and preservation of the north and south facades. The City plans to secure funding for future phases through its budgeting process, legislative requests, and grants from programs like State Heritage Capital Projects.

More information about this project can be found on their website along with a high-level project schedule. With this preservation effort in place, residents can look forward to a well-maintained and historic Tacoma Municipal Building for years to come.

Filed Under: Government, City

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