An engineering firm will drill for soil samples the week of Sept. 29 around the site of Pierce County’s proposed new building for general government services in Tacoma.

The county is considering a proposal to consolidate 15 or so departments – mostly in leased spaces – into a new general-purpose administration building on the site of the county’s former human services campus. The 9-acre site is located at 3580 Pacific Ave.

As part of the planning, a geotechnical engineer from Hart Crowser will drill into the ground and gather soil samples at select locations on the site. The work should be completed by Oct. 3. Upon completion, Hart Crowser will verify that the testing locations are properly restored per state standards.

Hart Crowser is a sub-consultant to Wright Runstad, the developer selected by Pierce County to design and construct the building, which would house an estimated 1,300 employees. The project is being managed by County Executive Pat McCarthy, who expects to ask the County Council for a decision on whether to proceed with construction at year’s end. If approved for construction, the building would be expected to open in the second half of 2016.

More information about the project, including the ability to sign up for a project newsletter, is available at www.piercecountywa.org/facilities.