Pierce County’s Sewer and Traffic Operations Center brings together two essential public services under one coordinated campus—an innovative response to decades of operational separation. The new facility unites the Sewer Collections Division, the Traffic Operations Division, and the Equipment Services Division in a purpose-built environment that enhances efficiency, safety, and collaboration for more than 100 employees.
Pierce County Public Works and Utilities
At the outset, Pierce County’s Sewer Collections and Traffic Operations Divisions faced critical decisions about how and where to modernize their facilities. Working closely with TCF, the teams explored operational models, facility needs, and site alternatives—discovering unexpected compatibility along the way. The result is a unified, centrally located campus designed to support efficient service delivery and long-term adaptability for decades to come.
The vision began as a practical conversation and evolved into a model of interdivisional synergy. Crews responsible for maintaining sewer infrastructure, traffic signals, and street systems now share a centralized site designed to streamline deployment across the region. The result is a facility that functions as a “virtual machine”—an interconnected system that optimizes resources, reduces maintenance costs, and strengthens communication between teams.
The 28-acre complex is comprised of six primary structures arranged to balance the dual nature of the work—clean and dirty, quiet and noisy, secure and open, civic and industrial. The campus layout promotes safe circulation for staff and vehicles while emphasizing transparency and visibility throughout. Extensive interior glazing creates an open, connected environment, reinforcing teamwork and accountability across departments.
Sustainability and stewardship shape site and structure. Once a gravel mine, the site now features gabion walls, native plantings, rain gardens, pervious paving, and stormwater detention systems that restore ecological function. Below ground, a geo-exchange system heats floors throughout the campus, and inside, structures are graced by daylight, transparent views and natural ventilation. A public trail along the western edge reconnects the site to its surrounding neighborhoods, demonstrating Pierce County’s commitment to community accessibility.
A consistent material palette—gray and white metal cladding, glass, masonry, and reclaimed cedar—unifies the campus. The main crew and administrative building anchors the site with a civic tone, marked by a gently rising roofline and clerestory form that draws daylight deep into the workspace. Inside, reclaimed cedar from County road signs is reimagined as linear ceilings and interior signage, connecting the new facility to the County’s own history of service.
This design reflects a forward-thinking public agency that values both performance and people. Through intentional planning and pragmatic design, the Sewer and Traffic Operations Center turns an operational necessity into a civic asset—efficient, transparent, and deeply rooted in Pierce County’s identity.
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