The City of Tacoma recently published a few photos on its Facebook page ( http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=183665&id=346684257828 ) of the green roof currently taking shape atop the Center for Urban Waters, a new $40 million 51,205 square-foot office and laboratory building completed this spring. The new facility was constructed to house the City’s Environmental Services Division labs and offices, University of Washington Tacoma (UWT) research labs, and an office for the Puget Sound Partnership.

About 95 city employees moved into the building in April. UWT and the Puget Sound Partnership are expected to move in this summer. The building is at 326 East D Street on the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway, across from downtown Tacoma and not far from I-5. A 75-foot dock has been constructed to accommodate water-monitoring vessels. The project was built by a non-profit company created specifically for the project. The building is being occupied by the City under a lease-to-own contract.

The City is pursuing LEED Platinum certification, the highest possible rating awarded under the LEED rating system.