Pierce County recently won Project of the Year—Structures $25 million to $75 million at both the Washington State Chapter and the National level of the American Public Works Association (APWA) for its new Sewer and Traffic Operations facility.

The South Hill facility, a grouping of six interrelated buildings, brought staff from Sewer Division Maintenance & Operations, Traffic Operations, and a portion of the Equipment Services Section into a centralized location. The site was chosen for its mid-Pierce County location where the greatest concentration of both sewer and traffic infrastructure currently exists.

Better known as the STOP facility, the Sewer and Traffic Operations facility is the result of a countywide effort to consolidate programs and services and realize cost savings from shared space and resources, ultimately providing better customer service to the citizens of Pierce County.

“Staff can provide faster and more reliable response times to service and emergency calls,” said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. “In addition, we will see reduced fuel consumption and emissions by county vehicles estimated at approximately 36,500 miles per year.”

The property includes several sustainability features such as pervious paving in the parking lot, rain gardens, and the use of reclaimed and regional materials. The use of LED lighting and natural ventilation throughout the buildings is both environmentally responsible and resource-efficient.

The national honor will be awarded during the APWA International Public Works Congress and Exposition, which takes place Aug. 30-Sept. 2 in Phoenix, AZ