A new Civic Campus will soon house Ferndale’s government facilities. Take a look
The city of Ferndale is moving forward in the development of its new Civic Campus after the City Council accepted a project bid from Bellingham-based Dawson Construction.
The Ferndale Civic Campus will be a two-story, 19,000-square-foot structure built between the existing City Hall and the Ferndale Public Library on Main Street in downtown Ferndale. The new facility will house the City Council Chambers, Municipal Court and administrative offices.
“This is a historic investment in Ferndale’s future,” Ferndale Mayor Greg Hansen said in an announcement about the Dawson contract approval. “The Civic Campus will provide a modern, accessible and secure facility for our residents and staff, ensuring that the heart of our local government can serve the community for decades to come.”
It will replace the current City Hall, which the city said is “undersized and no longer meets the needs of the growing community.” That facility is expected to be remodeled in the future to house local nonprofit partners and create a centralized location for community services.
The project is expected to be fully ADA-compliant with improved courtroom access, enhanced public meeting space and better security, according to the city.
“After years of planning, this approval positions Ferndale to be able to continue providing the services expected of a modern City,” Mayor Hansen said. “With the support of our state and federal partners, we are delivering a long-term investment in public access, transparency, and efficiency.”
The City Council authorized the city to execute the construction contract with Dawson for a total approved amount of $14,058,480, which was the “lowest responsive and responsible bid” among six qualified bids the city received for the project.
“Dawson’s extensive experience with municipal projects in Whatcom County and their capacity to meet the city’s construction timeline made them the ideal choice,” according to the announcement.
The project is being funded with a mix of state and federal grants, city funds and a general obligation municipal bond. Construction is expected to begin this fall.
