Help Us Design the Tacoma Program Center

The Tacoma Branch Managing Committee is working with a Tacoma-based  design firm and an architect to develop the preliminary concept drawings for the Tacoma Program Center.  The concept currently features:

• A Great Hall for community gatherings and large classes.
• A classroom for class sizes up to 30 students.
• A conference room for committee and small group meetings.
• A climbing wall covering the rear of the building for training and practice.  The wall is partially covered by the roof eaves to provide protection from the weather.
• A professional kitchen to support Mountaineers events and rentals.

Front Elevation

The design calls for retaining most of the exterior walls of the existing clubhouse.  Several materials such as beams, cedar paneling and roof decking will be reclaimed for use in the new Program Center.


You can download the current drawings here:
Elevation A
Elevation B
First Floor
Second Floor

We want your design ideas.  What features would you like to see to help further our teaching and community outreach capabilities?  Post you comments below.

Our Design Partners

AHBL is a northwest design firm that has a great deal of experience in projects the size of the Tacoma Program Center and larger.  Their Tacoma office happens to be across the street from the Tacoma Clubhouse creating the perfect opportunity to seek out one of our neighbors in improving the Old Town community. You can read about other AHBL projects here.

Amy Dedominicis is a local Tacoma architect specializing in Rustic-Modern design.  She was the project architect for the Tillamook Forest Interpretive Center along with many other community and outdoor centers.

Brunhilde Wislicenus Grant Request

The Tacoma Branch of the Mountaineers' strategic vision is to become the center for outdoors and conservation activities in the South Puget Sound.  As a key component of that goal the Tacoma Managing Committee is developing a grant request for the Mountaineers Foundation Brunhilde Wislicenus Fund to develop the Tacoma Program Center by renovating the existing Tacoma Clubhouse.

Brunhilde Wislicenus, a long time Tacoma Branch member, donated her entire estate in 2007 to the Mountaineers Foundation.  It was her wish that the money benefit the Tacoma Branch and Pierce County. We believe a Mountaineers Program Center in Tacoma serving the South Puget Sound region will build a lasting legacy for Bruni's generous gift and honor her wishes to benefit the Tacoma Branch and Pierce County. 

Several things need to happen to successfully build the new Program Center.  

1) The Mountaineers needs to become a 501 (c3) organization so that charitable funds can be used for a capital project.  The Mountaineers have submitted their c3 application and should receive a ruling in three to nine months.

2) The Mountaineers Fundraising Committee and The Mountaineers Board need to accept the Tacoma Program Center application as the most appropriate and best use of the Bruni Fund.

3) The Mountaineers Foundation similarly needs to agree that the Tacoma Program Center is the best use of the Bruni Fund. We will submit our initial proposal to the Foundation on August 22.

You can help.  In the comments section below you can post why you think the Tacoma Program Center will support the strategic plan for the Mountaineers and The grant guidelines for the Mountaineers Foundation.  We will share the comments with the Mountaineers Board and the Foundation Board.


Thanks,


Darin Brekke
Tacoma Branch Chair