Two architects shared their visions for the future of North Bend’s City Hall at a public workshop last week, bringing their ideas and concepts for a brand new building that would sit between North Bend’s Public Works building and the fire station, between E. North Bend Way and S.E. Cedar Falls Way.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, the North Bend City Council held a public workstudy to receive the initial presentations from TCA Architecture and Lawhead Architects, detailing their concept designs for a new city hall. Each firm had approximately 40 minutes to walk the council, staff, and audience of citizens through the concept and explain the purpose of the design choices they felt would fit the building.

No final decisions were made during the meeting. City Administrator Londi Lindell said the final decision will be made at the Nov. 15 North Bend City Council meeting.

In August the council approved an allocation of $20,000 for each firm to begin work on their designs for a new city hall.

City staff set up boards in the room last week for citizens to write their comments and impressions of the two designs.

Based on parameters and requests set by the city, both architects featured similar elements in their designs, including large council meeting space, a public gathering area, outdoor elements, entrances from both sides of the block and interconnected office space. Both architects also presented one- and two-story versions of each design.

After the presentations from both parties, the city council members shared what they each felt were highlights and concerns about the designs. Mayor Ken Hearing said he felt confident that both firms could complete the task but the process of how the work is done would be the defining factor.

“Either one of them can do the job,” Hearing said. “Which one is going to be the easiest one to work with, which one will bring the project in at our budget?”

Council members liked both presentations, but were split on which they preferred. Two of the main points discussed were the city’s familiarity with TCA Architecture and Frank Lawhead’s experience in construction management and administration.

The mayor and city staff said the city had worked with TCA to build the fire station that sits next to the proposed city hall site and that they completed the project on time and on budget. The council also discussed how Lawhead’s management ability could be valuable on this project.

Both Lindell and Councilmember Travis Kostanich discussed how Lawhead’s management ability could be vital in making sure the construction stays on schedule and within the budget, which is approximately $5 million.

Lindell also reminded council that, according to state law, price of either project cannot be the primary deciding factor in their decision, as it would conflict with state law. According to RCW 39.80, architecture and engineering contracts must be awarded based on the bidders’ qualifications, not cost.

All of the council members agreed that they wanted to factor in the public’s opinion and feedback gathered that night as they made their decision. Lindell said she would be compiling a list of the feedback the city has received and will be receiving over the next few weeks.

Councilmember Ross Loudenback ended the meeting by reinforcing the fact that more public feedback is needed to determine which of the two firms the city will move forward with.

“We are going to need to work with whoever we select to incorporate the elements we found attractive in both, so we deliver to the citizens of North Bend the product we really want to have,” Loudenback said. “You are making a major investment in taxpayer money. It has to be done right and has to be done on budget and on time… I look forward to seeing what the public has to say and where their votes came in and I think once we establish who it is we really want to work with, then we make our feelings known about what design elements may or may not we want to see in the final product.”