Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center

The Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center stands as a transformative landmark that reshaped Tacoma’s downtown core, filling a gap in the urban landscape and helping to accelerate the area’s growth. Today, the facility is recognized as a destination, drawing visitors, convention attendees, and local residents while reflecting Tacoma’s unique character and identity. The project successfully balanced respect for the city’s rich history with a contemporary vision for the future, creating a public gathering place that both honors its surroundings and contributes to a vibrant downtown experience.

Mortenson was selected to deliver the project based on its innovative construction approach, collaborative partnership, and commitment to meeting the City’s ambitious budget and schedule goals. The first phase of the convention center encompassed approximately 236,000 square feet and was strategically designed to accommodate future expansion, with the potential to double in size as demand grows. A key challenge involved creating a facility of regional significance while maintaining an appropriate scale and connection to the surrounding community. The design achieves this balance through carefully articulated street-level details that engage pedestrians, create visual interest, and reinforce a welcoming, human-scale experience.

Constructed on an extremely tight urban site, the mixed-use development includes both open and enclosed spaces, as well as parking for 637 vehicles. Throughout the project, the team incorporated a variety of sustainable design strategies to enhance building performance and improve the visitor experience. Interior spaces feature reclaimed lumber salvaged from original buildings on the site, thoughtfully displayed as suspended architectural elements that celebrate the site’s history while adding warmth and character to the lobby environment. The extensive use of glass and transparent materials brings abundant natural light into public pre-function and circulation spaces, reducing energy consumption while creating bright, inviting interiors.

The building’s design also takes full advantage of its prominent location by framing spectacular views of Mount Rainier, Commencement Bay, and downtown Tacoma. These connections to the surrounding landscape help establish a strong sense of place while enhancing the experience for guests and visitors.