Gig Harbor is a quiet, waterfront community rich in maritime history and unparalleled scenery.  The town’s population has doubled in the last few years and is expected to grow to more than 20,000 as urban growth areas are annexed. City staff size has grown, too, and current facilities were becoming inadequate. BLRB designed a new civic complex to unite municipal offices, provide much needed space for city staff, allow for public use and future expansion, and merge with adjacent park land. 

A collaborative approach was employed during the planning process of the new Civic Center. Along with city officials, the design committee included members of the Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society.  They requested the design team establish a visible link to significant historic structures. A major design influence was the historical boat and net sheds that commonly abutted the harbor. It is their unpretentious form and framing system that provided the model for the new design. 

The use of sloping shed roofs, large overhangs, and natural materials all contribute to a contextual design reflective of Gig Harbor’s history and character. The centerpiece of the project is the main two-story building that houses primarily city offices and council chambers. Two one-story wings house the planning and public works departments and the police department. The central structure contains an open public lobby, and the main corridor is a display space for art exhibits. As the city administrator noted, “The facility expresses commitment to durable public use, linkage to the city’s existing character and heritage, harmony between environment and materials and site design, sensitivity to human interaction, and respect for the surrounding neighborhood.”

The Civic Center project sets an example of environmental sustainability and stewardship for the Gig Harbor community. Major sustainability issues of site preservation, safeguarding water, resource management, and environmental quality were all part of both site and building considerations. Features include a storm water infiltration system that recharges the aquifer, the use of drought resistant landscaping, recycled content building materials and recycling of construction waste, controlled daylight and natural ventilation in occupied spaces, and the use of low-VOC finish materials.

“The master planning schedule for development of the facility—including architectural programming, schematic design and development, construction preparation and bidding, and construction—has proven accurate and timely from inception of the project to completion. The City Council and the citizens of Gig Harbor are without exception proud of this building, and the municipal staff is elated with the appearance and functionality of the new workspace.”

-Dr. Mark E. Hoppen, City Administrator

35,053 SF
Total Project Cost: $6,415,000
Completed 2002