Moses Lake city complex project progresses

Council hears outline of project

MOSES LAKE - Plans for a new Moses Lake city complex continue to move forward.

The Moses Lake City Council listened to a presentation Tuesday night about the construction of a future municipal complex.

Plans for a 41,000-square-foot structure, designed by Miller Hull Partnership architecture firm, include housing city hall departments, the Moses Lake Museum and Arts Center, and will be able to host community events to draw people to downtown.

The structure will be built along South Balsam Street between the Municipal Services Building and the Moses Lake Police Department.

The building is expected to cost between $8 million and $10 million and the project is slated to go to bid in early 2009. The cost includes a $1 million grant to build a new Museum and Art Center awarded from the Washington State Historical Society.

There were few changes made since a previous presentation. The changes include the type of doors and the relocation of storage space. The design will continue to be altered and the council will hold a special meeting in May to decide on the final design.

A 13,000-square-foot museum space will be built on the first floor and feature exhibit space, classroom, office space and storage space, Architect Bob Hull said. The first floor will also include the finance department, council chambers, bathrooms and an auditorium capable of seating approximately 200 people.

In an interview, City Manager Joe Gavinski said the auditorium is a place for people to meet in the downtown area for presentations, musical performances, lectures and small plays.

A strip of open space dubbed "The Ave." goes through the center of the first floor allowing people to view museum exhibits and reach city hall departments, Hull said. The glass walls to the museum facing The Ave. can be removed for better visibility.

The second floor is placed above the city hall portion of the first floor. It holds more municipal offices and office space for the mayor, city administration and city manager.

The roof above the museum may be reserved for the placement of solar panels to help the building be energy efficient, Hull said. The proposal for the panels is still under consideration.

Hull said during most months the building can heat and cool itself using natural weather and during the day it can save energy by using natural sunlight.

The basement features more storage space, mechanical room, shower facilities, sickroom and a small gym, he said.

Gavinski said there is a health program in place through the city's insurance company encouraging exercise.

During the council meeting, Councilmember James Liebrecht asked Hull to consider building a covered walkway from the new complex to the Municipal Services Building to protect employees from weather.

Gavinski said there is property within the complex being considered for construction of a new library on the corner of Alder Street and Fourth Avenue.

Plans and funds are being generated by the Moses Lake Public Library Foundation to help the city, according to foundation president and Columbia Basin Herald Managing Editor Bill Stevenson.

No action was taken during the meeting because it was a study session scheduled to review the progress of the complex.

Mayor Ron Covey was absent from the meeting.