The City’s most significant construction in decades – the new Pacific Street Operations Center – is complete. Community members are invited to a dedication ceremony and tours of the new facilities 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
The event will begin with remarks by Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood at 4 p.m. at the entrance to the new building on Carolina Street, followed by a ribbon-cutting and tours of the new structures as well as the entire Operations Center site.
The new five-story building at the corner of Pacific and Carolina streets and the new vehicle barn represent a generational achievement. The new buildings at the Operations Center are the first structural upgrade and major construction at the site since 1995. They are built to LEED silver standards and are all-electric, consistent with the City’s climate action goals. The facilities will provide central, co-located office and equipment space for many Parks and Public Works staff, which will support teamwork, create operational efficiencies and prepare for future needs.
“The new Pacific Street Operations Center is a vital, visible investment in the future of Bellingham,” said Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood. “We’ve envisioned the need for this building for a long time. Teamwork and cooperation are core organizational values of the City. We envision a lot of improved and increased efficiencies by having everyone together in one common location.”
Construction began Spring 2021, following City Council approval of the project’s bid award. The City’s Parks and Public Works Operations and Natural Resources staff will move in shortly after the March 1 dedication.
Parking for the dedication event is available on adjacent streets. For a map or more information, visit the event webpage: cob.org/event/psoc-open-house. Those who require accessible parking and/or ADA accommodation please email AskPW@cob.org or phone (360) 778-7700 at least three business days prior to March 1.
More about the Pacific Street Operations Center:
- Speewest Construction was general contractor for the $20+ million construction project;
- New buildings demonstrate 50-year commitment to the site and include a TV studio, work stations, meeting spaces, showers and changing rooms for field crews;
- Other site infrastructure investments include LED lighting, windows, stormwater retention vault and treatment facility, yard repair and resurfacing;
- New construction replaced a 20-year-old “temporary” portable building and a structure beyond its useful life that was no longer meeting the City’s operational needs;
- Operations Center site includes equipment for installation, maintenance and repair work within City parks and rights-of-way – from trees and trails to watermains, sewer lines, stormwater facilities, streets, traffic signals and playgrounds, as well as City vehicle maintenance.
Video tour of new Pacific Street Operations Center is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/p1uJTAWB5rQ .
