The Pacific Plaza project was a public/private partnership between the City of Tacoma & Pacific Plaza Development, LLC.
The South Park Plaza Garage evolved from a tired space into a newly renovated state-of-the-art, green facility. Project highlights include: a retrofit parking structure with an additional 102 parking stalls to complement the existing 381 stalls; two floors of Class-A office space and the conversion of the Pacific Avenue retail space; and the reconstruction of the public hill climb connecting Pacific Avenue and Commerce Street.
The project was designed to meet LEED Platinum certification, the highest possible rating awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. As part of the design some of the sustainable features include: a highly visible green roof covering approximately 85 percent of the building; a rainwater collection cistern which will reduce rainwater runoff from the site and will be utilized for water reuse in the facility and irrigation of the green roof; as well as a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENTThe Pacific Plaza project began in May 2005 when the City advertised a Request for Proposal for Mixed-Use private development. Two proposal packages were received and Pacific Plaza Development, LLC proposal was selected for the development. The Pacific Plaza’s team consisted of PCS Structural Solutions, Absher Construction, BLRB architects and Neil Walter Company.
The redevelopment details were:
- Development was to be performed by Pacific Plaza, LLC.
- City assembled the underlying land and business relocation.
- Pacific Plaza, LLC purchased existing garage and land from City; City retains parking revenues.
- Pacific Plaza, LLC constructed improvements.
- City purchased renovated/expanded parking structure back from Pacific Plaza.
Pacific Plaza fact sheet (pdf)
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Sept. 22, 2009
On Sept. 22, 2009, at 10 a.m. in the Pacific Plaza lobby, the City of Tacoma hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the work done in partnership with the Pacific Plaza Development, LLC for the redevelopment of the South Park Plaza Parking Garage.
"This is a great day in Tacoma," said Public Works Director Dick McKinley at the Pacific Plaza ribbon cutting ceremony on September 22, 2009. "I want to take a moment to say thank you to Mayor Bill Baarsma and the City Council, as well as the City team and many, many others - who had the courage and took the time to make it happen."
The redevelopment of the old South Park Plaza Parking Garage into Pacific Plaza included:
- Retrofit parking structure to “new” condition (381 Stalls).
- Additional public parking (102 new stalls).
- Provides two floors of Class-A office space above new parking level (approx. 67,000 SF).
- Conversion of the Pacific Avenue level frontage to attractive, highly marketable retail (approx. 36,000 SF).
- Provides for pedestrian enhancements around building and the reconstruction of the public hill climb connecting Pacific Avenue and Commerce Street.
- In addition to redeveloping the garage 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. Sustainable building features include:
- Green roof covering approx. 85% of the building and is highly visible from surrounding hotels and office buildings. The green roof soil medium utilizes the City’s TAGRO product, which is a special blend of Class A Biosolids.
- Rainwater collection cistern which will reduce rainwater runoff from the site and will be utilized for water reuse in the facility and irrigation of the green roof.
- Other features include a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system, energy efficient lighting, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, removal of polluted soil from the site, and an elimination of products with high-levels of VOC’s.
Artist Jill Anholt has been chosen to create artwork for Pacific Plaza. 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. Anholt is currently in the concept stage of design. Construction of the art piece is slated for early 2010.
The South 12th Street pedestrian hill climb project connecting Pacific Avenue to Commerce Street is underway. With the demolition of the area in September the design of the area can now be completed.
The construction of the art piece and pedestrian hill climb is slated for completion in early spring 2010.
-
Owners: City of Tacoma and Pacific Plaza Development, LLC
-
Developer: Pacific Plaza Development, LLC
-
Architect: BLRB Architects
-
Structural Engineer: PCS Structural Solutions, Inc.
-
Contractor: Absher Construction
-
Property Manager: Neil Walters Company
-
Parking Manager: Republic Parking Northwest
For more information about the Pacific Plaza project, contact Joshua Clarke, facilities project manager, at (253) 591-5395 or jclarke@cityoftacoma.org 