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District outlines capital projects: Maritime Skill Center, central kitchen, PDC demolition
Summary
District staff updated the board on capital projects: the Maritime Skill Center is on schedule for substantial completion in May, central kitchen design work continues toward a 2027 opening, and portions of the PDC complex are planned for demolition to cut operating costs.
District capital-projects staff delivered a detailed update on multiple construction and conservation efforts across Tacoma Public Schools.
Chris Morris, speaking for the capital projects team, said the Maritime Skill Center project is on budget and on track for substantial completion in May, with furniture scheduled to arrive in June. He described the School of the Arts exterior work, Whittier Elementary at about 50% design with a ceremonial groundbreaking planned for May, and Loyal Elementary slated to turn over to the district in May as well.
Morris outlined progress on IDEA High School design-team selection and central-kitchen planning, which also includes maintenance-facility work and on-campus equipment upgrades necessary to receive prepared food from a centralized kitchen. The presentation set a target opening year for the central kitchen work in 2027.
The district also plans to reduce its administrative and operations footprint. Staff said the PDC complex (Building C and an adjacent building) will be demolished this summer to lower operating costs and free space that could be repurposed as green space in partnership with Parks Tacoma. A cited example showed the complex carries a high monthly electrical cost (reported as $16,000/month).
Other items included roofing, site-specific fixes (Jane Reed polished-concrete classroom changes planned for summer), safety and courtyard improvements at Foss High School, and an athletic-fields program switching to olive-pit infill on new turf. Morris said conservation work and TPU utility rebates have returned roughly $227,311 in rebates and $256,400 in incentives over the past three years.
Why it matters: Several capital projects affect school openings, program space and operating costs over multiple years; the PDC demolition and conservation measures are intended to shift local operating dollars into classrooms.
Next steps: Staff will return with contracting items and implementation details for board approval on future agendas.
