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Energizing East Bay
Imagine the possibilities…a public waterfront plaza, a new expanded Hands On Children's Museum, a new administrative building and WET Science Center for the LOTT Alliance showcasing reclaimed water, a destination hotel, vibrant shops, and restaurants. These projects are all part of the redevelopment of 14 acres of the Port of Olympia's East Bay property.
Partnership
A working partnership between the City of Olympia, LOTT Alliance, Hands On Children's Museum, and the Port of Olympia has created an opportunity to develop a series of dynamic projects that will energize the East Bay area. This joint effort provides numerous public benefits, including:
- Vibrant, open, inviting public spaces
- Destination activities to draw regional visitors to downtown
- Comprehensive environmental cleanup
- Unparalleled learning opportunities
- Focus on sustainability with a rare cluster of LEED-certified buildings
- Improved connection between East Bay, the Port peninsula, downtown Olympia, and surrounding communities
- Revitalization of the East Bay waterfront
Public Plaza
The focal point of East Bay Redevelopment is a public plaza to be located between the Hands On Children's Museum and the LOTT Education Center. The plaza is designed to be an attractive meeting space for visitors to each of those destinations, complete with an interactive water feature and interpretive elements that teach about the interconnectedness of our water resources.
LOTT Alliance
The LOTT Alliance constructed a Regional Services Center and WET Science Center on its property at the south end of the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant. The Regional Services Center allows for consolidation of LOTT staff onto the plant site, eliminating the need to lease office space. The Regional Services Center is certified LEED Platinum, which is the highest level of certification for sustainable design from the U.S. Green Building Council. Many energy and resource conservation ideas were included in the building's construction, ensuring that building operation is energy and water efficient. Some of the building's green features include:
- Salvaged Materials – The wood on the office walls and in the ceilings is salvaged from an old industrial warehouse formerly located on a neighboring Port of Olympia site.
- Green Power – The building is powered by electricity produced by the site's cogeneration system, which generates electricity and heat from methane gas produced as part of the wastewater treatment process.
- Water-Conserving Fixtures – Restrooms in the building feature high-efficiency fixtures such as toilets, faucet aerators, and urinals, minimizing the amount of water required. The toilets and urinals are plumbed to flush with Class A Reclaimed Water, produced on-site at the Budd Inlet Reclaimed Water Plant.
- Green Roof – The roof's vegetation and soil take up rainwater, reducing the amount of stormwater runoff that would be generated by a standard, hard-surface roof.
- Reclaimed Water – The fountain and pond, and the irrigation system, are supplied with Class A Reclaimed Water, which is produced on-site here at the Budd Inlet Reclaimed Water Plant.
- Recycled, Recyclable, and Renewable Building materials – Many materials used in construction of the building are recycled, recyclable, or renewable, creating a "cradle to cradle" system for use, recycling, and reuse of materials which helps to reduce waste and conserve resources.
- Native Vegetation – The site is landscaped primarily with native plant species, which are naturally drought-tolerant and well-adapted to our local area
- Daylighting – The building is designed to maximize natural light, with large banks of windows in all offices and meeting rooms. Clear glass partitions allow the light to travel from these rooms deep into the interior of the building.
The building also houses the WET Science Center, where visitors can enjoy interactive displays and learn about the mission of LOTT, the need for water conservation, the benefits of reclaimed water, the science of wastewater treatment, and important water quality issues. To watch the WET Center video, and check out our interactive green screen to learn more about green features at LOTT's Regional Services Center, click here.
Hands On Children's Museum
The new, and permanent, Hands On Children's Museum will improve access to early learning for our children, attract regional visitors to our communities, stimulate economic development, and provide an ideal location to view and appreciate our waterfront. The Museum's proximity to LOTT's WET Science Center provides an exciting opportunity to coordinate learning opportunities surrounding water resources, assuring that age-appropriate experiences are offered.
City of Olympia
Construction of Olympia's new City Hall and Police Headquarters, on 4th Avenue in downtown Olympia, is now complete. The site is two blocks south of the Port's East Bay redevelopment area. The new City Hall is designed to meet Gold LEED certification. The building offers customers the convenience of one-stop shopping for city services.
Port of Olympia
The Port is spearheading the work needed to make the East Bay vision a reality. Connecting streets and infrastructure were put in place to make the individual projects possible. The Port is also gauging private interest in developing mixed use in the area, including a possible hotel, retail shops, and restaurants.