WSU Selects Firm to Review Jensen-Byrd Building

SPOKANE, Wash. – As part of development planning for the Pine Street Project, a Washington State University property in the University District, WSU has selected SERA Architects of Portland, Ore., to complete a facility assessment of the Jensen-Byrd building.

In choosing the firm, WSU selected three firms from their approved consultant roster and a selection committee then interviewed each.

The SERA team includes as subconsultants E.D. Hovee & Company – Economic Development (Vancouver, Wash.); KJM Associates – Cost Estimating (Spokane, Wash.); Coffman Engineers – Structural (Spokane, Wash.).

The firm began work May 4. The final report is anticipated to be complete by June 30, 2006.

During the consultant selection process, SERA Architects demonstrated extensive experience with warehouse adaptive reuse projects, including the development of associated economic development pro formas.

Their scope of work includes analysis of the existing building as well as some conceptual studies to examine the feasibility and costs of adaptive reuse.

“As we approach an exciting opportunity to continue building out the University District vision, we must practice careful stewardship of the public trust, fiscal prudence, and appropriate financial return to the taxpayers,” noted WSU Spokane Chancellor Brian Pitcher. “For any idea to come to fruition, it has to have a business model that works for everyone involved. A more complete understanding of the Jensen-Byrd Building’s condition will help all of us build the business plan for the entire Pine Street Project.”

In fall of 2005, WSU put out an RFP to establish a public-private partnership for development of the Pine Street Project, a 4.9-acre site on the southwest corner of Pine Street and Spokane Falls Boulevard.

The university is currently in discussion with Riverpoint Plaza LLC, a partnership of Northwest Architectural Company and Goebel General Contractors.

The development focus, in these negotiations, is a phased development strategy, where Phase I would be the corner of Pine Street and Spokane Falls Boulevard. The Jensen-Byrd Building would not be impacted by Phase I, which allows time to evaluate options.

While the Riverpoint Plaza LLC proposal holds promise and there is interest on both sides in working through the issues, the outcome is not assured. Discussions with Riverpoint Plaza LLC, and the assessment of the Jensen-Byrd Building, will be completed before proceeding with further development of a Master Plan for the property and an update for the overall Riverpoint Campus Master Plan.

Web sites:
Overview of Pine Street Project: https://www.spokane.wsu.edu/aboutWSUSpokane/
PineStreetProject.asp
Timeline on RFP process: https://www.spokane.wsu.edu/aboutWSUSpokane/
PineStreetProject_Timeline.asp