Port commissioners get glimpse of future home
Project estimated at $10 million would consolidate staff in two buildings
By Rolf Boone
The Olympian
01 June 06
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OLYMPIA - Port of Olympia commissioners got their first look Wednesday
at the design for a two-building campus that would replace the existing
headquarters used by the port and marine terminal staff.

The design presentation was part of a public commissioners workshop.

At the meeting, port commissioners, port staff, one member of the public
and Executive Director Ed Galligan heard design proposals and ideas for
the campus that would occupy about 2 acres of port property at the
corner of Franklin and Market streets.

The new buildings would help consolidate port and marine terminal staff
under two roofs, rather than the five buildings they use today,
according to Kari Qvigstad, marketing and business development director
for the port.

It also would get the port's staff out of its existing administrative
building, which was built in the 1940s, she said.

Qvigstad, along with architect Mark Beardemphl, made the joint design
presentation at Wednesday's workshop.

In addition to the two three-story buildings, other ideas for the
property include more parking space, wetlands, a park and a pedestrian
path linking the two buildings.

The cost estimate for the two buildings, plus site development and
landscaping, is $10 million. But that figure is likely to change, as the
port wants to incorporate sustainable or environmentally friendly ideas
in the design of the two buildings.

Depending on the environmental guidelines the port chooses for its
"green-built" project, the up-front costs could increase from 1.5
percent to as much as

5 percent of the total project's cost.

But Galligan reminded the port commissioners that "green" buildings
could save the port money in the long run.

"You may spend more today, but my understanding is that you have a
building that may last another 35 years," he said. "Your life-cycle
costs on a sustainable building may be less to significantly less than
what it is in a traditional building."

Though port meeting dates haven't been scheduled, the commissioners are
expected to take action on the design concepts in August, Qvigstad said.

Reaction to the design presentation was mostly positive, though
Commissioner Paul Telford said he wasn't sure about the amount of
commission meeting space proposed for the port's new headquarters. It
appeared to be about twice the size of their meeting space today, he said.

"Let's not build any more than we need," Telford said.

He added that he didn't want to have to "defend the concept of a Taj Mahal."

Telford also suggested that the names of the two buildings be something
other than "Port Administration Building" and "Marine Terminal Building"
to take into consideration other tenants that might occupy space there.

While the 13,500-square-foot marine terminal would be used strictly by
marine terminal operations, the 30,000-square-foot port administration
building is proposed for port staff, other tenants and public space,
Qvigstad said.

Tenants for the port building would be marine related, she said.

Protests surprised port

In other port news, Commissioner Steve Pottle thanked the port staff for
its work during a week when protesters have demonstrated against the
presence of a military cargo ship bound for Iraq.

"None of us expected this to get to this point," he said of the
protests. "I think when it gets to serious confrontation, and when it
gets into serious destruction of our property, I think that's a surprise
to us."

Commissioner Bob Van Schoorl complimented those protesters who used
chalk to make a temporary political statement.

"When they start spray-painting our stuff (facilities), that's where I
draw the line."

/Rolf Boone covers business for The Olympian. He can be reached at
360-754-5403 or at rboone@theolympian.com./

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