March 7, 2019

2019 Excellent 10

Image of 2019 Excellent 10 glass award made by Hilltop Artists

Congratulations to the 2019 Excellent 10 Award WinnersImage of 2019 Excellent 10 glass award made by Hilltop Artists

905 Main, Sumner

This downtown infill project creates a 4,500 SF building on a lot that sat vacant for more than a decade. While the site’s proximity to the commuter train station was a draw for developers Justin and Joleen Jones, the City of Sumner’s support sealed the deal. Once complete, the Joneses will move their civil engineering and planning firm, JMJ TEAM, to the second floor. Located in the active downtown and commuter node, the project will support business growth; bringing engineering staff and clients from across the region. Add Electric Coffee House leasing the ground-floor space, and the 905 Main project will attract people to Sumner for both work and play.

AIM Aerospace, Sumner

The advanced carbon fiber manufacturing company’s decision to consolidate operations meant revamping the Sumner site into a world-class aerospace manufacturing facility. With the expansion comes more innovation, including collaborative robots (or cobots) to assist employees with various tasks, such as heavy lifting and repetitive actions. By 2023, AIM Aerospace plans to expand its entire workforce in Iowa, California and Washington by 30 percent. For the Sumner facility, that means an additional 200 to 300 employees down the road. A $125,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce helped with expansion efforts and job creation.

Carlson Paving Products, Frederickson

Carlson Paving Products is the industry’s leader in screed technology and commercial class paver platforms, machines that are essential to the road building process. Carlson prides itself in producing all of its platforms locally. With growing demand for its products in North America, combined with emerging international opportunities, Carlson has undergone a massive expansion of its factory by nearly tripling its Frederickson footprint.

Lincoln District Streetscape Improvements, Tacoma

The City Council set a strategic objective in 2014 to revitalize the Lincoln District Neighborhood, which had historically lacked public investment. The neighborhood now enjoys a cohesive sense of place with public art, distinctive gateways, enhanced pedestrian access, traffic-calming measures, and improved landscaping. Since the project began, ten new businesses have opened in the Lincoln Business District, four community festivals have been held, a community garden was developed, and community leadership formed the Lincoln Stewardship group to encourage continued engagement.

Metro Parks Tacoma, Pacific Seas Aquarium and Eastside Community Center

The $51 million Pacific Seas Aquarium opened September 2018 and immediately generated tens of thousands of visits. It is a key demand generator for the tourism industry as well as an important resource to promote education and conservation. The $32 million Eastside Community Center provides much-needed resources for the surrounding community. Amenities include a large social hall, café, fitness and recreational spaces, a teaching kitchen, and a recording studio.

Pantages Theater Renovation, Tacoma

A decade of improvements and $21 million have ushered Tacoma’s Theaters into the modern age. The 2018 reopening of the Pantages Theater brought it to national historic standards, improved acoustics, and modernized patron safety and equipment. Seating 1,275, the Pantages Theater is the jewel of Tacoma’s Historic Theater District, whose venues are managed by Tacoma Arts Live in partnership with the Theater owners, the City of Tacoma. Tacoma’s Theaters attract audiences from the region and nationally, contributing to more than $137 million in annual economic impact from the cultural community.

Tool Gauge, Tacoma

Tacoma-based company, Tool Gauge, combines skilled talent with forefront technology to manufacture complex plastic and metal assemblies. Pursing new technology has led Tool Gauge to construct a world-class 80,000 SF plastics manufacturing facility, housing an expanded press range with collaborative robots, a vertical paint system, while creating 100+ new jobs over 5 years. Tool Gauge has received Boeing’s Silver Performance Excellence Award for 9 consecutive years.

Super Post-Panamax Cranes, Tideflats

At 295 feet tall, the Port of Tacoma’s new cranes are designed to accommodate the most massive ships in the world, called super post-Panamax vessels. The Northwest Seaport Alliance, a partnership between the ports of Tacoma and Seattle, approved the $50 million cost for the 8 cranes in 2016. The first four cranes arrived in February 2018, with the remaining four expected in March 2019. The cranes will allow the Port of Tacoma to keep up with global demands for larger vessels.

John W. Walstrum Center for Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Lakewood

The 63,000 SF professional technical education building will co-locate Clover Park Technical College’s manufacturing-related programs and workforce development activities in a signature, state-of-the-art facility at the main entry to campus. The new building will act as a magnet for attracting students, teachers and industry partners. Graduates move into careers as machinists, CNC programmers, industrial engineers, and process control technicians, ensuring the workforce pipeline for current and future businesses in Pierce County.

Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital, Tacoma

The Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital is a freestanding, two-story, behavioral health hospital with 120 inpatient beds that will provide voluntary and involuntary admissions with a focus on general adult psychiatric care, crisis stabilization unit and outpatient services. This $45 million, transformative non-profit behavioral health hospital will treat approximately 5,000 patients per year. Construction on the new behavioral health hospital began in September 2017, creating up to 200 construction jobs. The hospital has hired over 70 employees to date and anticipates hiring close to 200 employees by the end of 2019.

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