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Phone payments, Pay Boxes, and MyAccount will be unavailable on Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. due to maintenance. Check payments left in the drop box at TPU (3628 S 35th Street, Tacoma) over the weekend will be processed on Monday.

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Community & Environment > Projects > Tacoma Water Operations Building

Tacoma Water Operations Building

Design is underway for a new 60,000-square-foot warehouse and shop facility at Tacoma Water’s property at 3506 South 35th St., just south of the existing building. The new facility will house warehousing, hydrant, meter, and pipe shops, along with administrative and support spaces for our operations staff. 

Tacoma Water identified the need for the new facility after a 2016 seismic assessment of the existing c.1939 building. Because this site supports essential, 24/7 operations, the utility developed a 20-year master plan for the site between 2018 and 2023. This project is the first phase of that plan. Project goals include building a seismically resilient facility, improving operational effectiveness, and planning for growth.

The utility will deliver the project using the Progressive Design-Build method. Following approval from Washington State Capital Projects Advisory Review Board,  Tacoma Water selected Absher Construction and DLR Group architects as the Design-Build team, with Parametrix serving as the owner’s advisor. 

November 2025 Project Update

The Design-Build team has completed schematic design and is proceeding with design development which is expected to reach 60 percent by January 2026. The image below is an early conceptual rendering of the new building provided by DLR Group.

Process for design and construction: 

  • Validation (verification of requirements) 
  • Schematic design to 30% 
  • Design development to 60% 
  • Negotiate the Guaranteed Maximum Price to construct the project 
  • Finalize design to 100% and receive permits 
  • Mobilize to the site and prepare for construction 
  • Install and relocate utilities 
  • Demolish the existing loading dock  
  • Construct the building 
  • Complete site work and required offsite improvements 
  • Commission the facility 

Project Manager: Carol Powers, PE 

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Need Help? 

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

  • For information about water quality, call 253-502-8207. 
  • To report water leaks, meter issues, outages, and emergency turn on/off, call 253-502-8384. 

Outside of regular business hours: 

  • If you have a water concern or emergency, call 253-502-8344. 
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