The City of Sumner is in process of replacing its existing Public Works maintenance facility. Within seven buildings planned for a 6-acre site, the program allocates space for administrative, crew, vehicle and maintenance staff, supported by shops and storage for vehicles, materials and equipment. A satellite site is also anticipated to hold a decant facility, material storage and other miscellaneous items. Through long-term thinking, the new facilities are expected to accommodate the City’s needs for the next 20 years and beyond.
City of Sumner
Over recent years, local farmland has become increasingly claimed for light commercial and industrial development. The new maintenance facility sits between warehouses and single-family homes, a transitional location to serve as a noise and visual buffer between these disparate uses. As another gesture of respect to nearby neighbors, the new operations center softens public-facing facades through form and materials.
Fronting the campus, the administration building references residential construction through accents of wood cladding and trellis elements. A mix of gabled and low-sloped roofs create forms compatible with adjacent homes and warehouses. Even the shops and storage buildings reinforce ties to the City’s agricultural past: external structural systems intentionally break down their length, providing pleasing visual rhythm.
Interior finishes in the shop and storage buildings express a straightforward, industrial character. The adjacent administrative and crew building builds on this language with a refined palette of concrete, steel, and wood. A restrained, monochromatic scheme is warmed by generous natural light and high wood ceilings, creating a sense of openness and ease within the workspace.
Work
