TACOMA, WASHINGTON — WSP, a leading engineering, environment and professional services consultancy in the U.S., has relocated its South Puget Sound office and staff to a new full-service location on Pacific Avenue in Tacoma.
In addition to placing the firm closer to the state capital in Olympia and clients in the South Puget Sound area, like Pierce County and Port of Tacoma, the move enables WSP to tap into a larger talent pool, as well as more housing options for current and future team members.
Along with the firm’s existing Washington offices in Seattle and Redmond, a Tacoma location also means more coverage is now available to local clients within the state.
“The benefits of our new location are many,” said Erik Neal, vice president of maritime development at WSP. “Being here in Tacoma is almost like a walking resume that has come to life. We can look out a window and see dozens of our projects everywhere. It’s also our largest design center for the firm’s national maritime business, which does a lot of federal and ports-related work. It’s exciting for me and my team to be working here in the port city.”
The new office is located at 1201 Pacific Ave., Suite 550.
“The firm’s relocation, from a suburban office park in Federal Way to downtown Tacoma, also positions WSP’s civil and structural engineers next to our transportation clients, as well as partner organizations that work for safe and equitable transit,” said Grace Roberts, assistant vice president and Tacoma office lead. “This location is more relevant to what we do,” she added, noting that environmental scientists and planners, as well as WSP’s engineering and scientific dive teams are also based at the new location.
In addition to being in an urban setting with a port view, the new location is close to the Sound Transit T Line Link Light Rail, which provides WSP staff with convenient public transportation opportunities. The new office is near local and regional trails, providing WSP staff with numerous green options for commuting and exploring. In addition, the Tacoma office has a footprint that’s half the size of the former Federal Way office. It also features agile workspaces that enable a more standardized working experience across locations.
“We are delighted to join the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber as its newest member and we’re looking to attract young engineers, planners and scientists from this region,” Roberts said. “This new location has so much more relevance to what WSP does. We could run into clients while walking down the street or grabbing lunch nearby. Tacoma simply has more direct bearing on what we do and what we want to accomplish at WSP. It will also empower our employees to live and work greener—a critical tenet for us and the work we do for our communities.”
WSP has been shaping infrastructure in the area since 1951. Projects include the original design of the new office building, the Chambers Bay Pier, the State Route 167 Extension, various Port of Tacoma terminals and many other projects.
WSP is hiring in the region. Career opportunities for new and experienced professionals are online at https://www.wsp.com/en-us/careers.
About WSP in the U.S.
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering, environment and professional services firms. Recognized on Fast Company’s Brands that Matter List for 2022 as a top Community-Minded Business, WSP in the U.S. brings together engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals who are dedicated to collaborate in the best interests of serving local communities. WSP designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With approximately 16,000 employees in 300 offices across the U.S., WSP partners with its clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com