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Kennewick Council reviews City Hall replacement study; consultants present three site and design options
Summary
Consultants presented a City Hall replacement study May 12, outlining a 37–40,000 sq ft program, six guiding principles, condition findings that include a roof overdue for replacement and three site options; council asked staff to refine one new-construction option and return with detailed cost, phasing and museum-relocation plans ahead of a June 23 report.
Kennewick Mayor McShane convened a May 12 City Council workshop to review a consultant-led City Hall replacement study that lays out program needs, an assessment of the existing municipal building and three site/construction options.
The consultant team — led by Marcus Valentine of Architects West and Lauren Roosevelt of OPSIS Architects — presented six guiding principles for the project and a data-driven program that targets roughly 37,000–40,000 square feet for a long-term city hall. "The data needs to be thorough enough clear enough that the council can make a defensible decision," Valentine said, emphasizing the study's focus on fiscal stewardship and measurable metrics.
Why it matters: Council members repeatedly raised fiscal constraints and long-term planning trade-offs during a discussion that ranged from roof repairs and seismic upgrades to whether the site should prioritize a civic lawn, a visible gateway, or preserve adjacent civic uses such as the museum. Council asked for refined cost comparisons and a clearer phasing plan because the city faces both an urgent roof problem and long-lived capital decisions that will outlast other campus facilities.
What the study shows: The consultants reported a detailed condition assessment of the existing facility that identified saturated roof underlayment, clogged internal drains and multiple rooftop HVAC units near the end of their service lives. The team said a 2020 Tremco roof report called for restoration that has not been completed and estimated immediate roofing and equipment work could run into the millions. The consultants also said a full, long-term renovation would require upgrades to meet current energy and seismic codes.
Program and adjacencies: OPSIS architect Lauren Roosevelt described a program developed from department surveys, including adjacency diagrams that place public-facing services on Level 1 (council chambers, a one-stop public desk and museum-display elements) and more secure or administrative functions on Level 2. The team said IT requirements account for about 3,200 square feet in the program.
Site options: The consultants presented three high-level site concepts. "Option 1" places a new building adjacent to the existing footprint to allow staff to remain in the current building through construction and to create a south-facing plaza and stronger civic lawn. "Option 2" locates a two-story city hall on the southeast corner as a visible gateway at Auburn and 6th, preserving more commercial land for future development. A third option considers demolition with temporary relocation of staff and building anew on the central site. Council members debated the trade-offs: some favored Option 1's campus feel and public plaza, while others preferred Option 2's flexibility for future civic projects.
Museum, circulation and civic campus questions: Council members raised concerns about the local museum's size and the consultants' 500-square-foot exhibit allocation within the new lobby plan. Council discussion made clear the museum's storage and conditioned-archive space (described by consultants as larger than lobby allocations) would influence siting and potential relocation costs. The design team also flagged opportunities to improve pedestrian connections into downtown and to reconsider the function of 6th Avenue through the campus — including partial closure or reconfiguration — to create continuous green space and plazas.
Timing and next steps: The consultants estimated new-construction work would take roughly 18–24 months; they said the final report will be delivered to council on June 23. Council asked staff to return with more complete campus-level planning, comparative cost estimates for renovation versus new construction (including museum impacts and temporary relocation costs), and a refined single new-construction option to carry forward for more detailed budgeting and public-engagement planning.
The workshop produced one formal motion early in the meeting to excuse the absence of Councilmember Beacham; that motion passed unanimously. No siting or construction decision was made at the May 12 workshop.
