Project Information

The 2022 voter-approved Safety and Livability Bond included $39.4 million for seismic, system improvements, and accessibility upgrades to the Civic Center.

In 2023, design work began on the Salem Civic Center project. Construction is set to begin in July 2025. Civic Center services and staff will be temporarily relocated so that construction of the improvements can occur within the next 18 to 24 months as seamlessly as possible.

Elements

Civic Center Design-Build. In January 2024, City Council approved design-build as the contracting method for this project. This alternative delivery method is an effective way to deliver projects in a streamlined process, that allows for cost controls and reduced owners risk.

The design-build team of Howard S. Wright Construction, Hacker Architects, CBTwo Architects, and KPFF structural engineers have been working collaboratively with staff on the design. Construction will begin in July 2025.

To match the goals of the project to funding limitations, the team has engaged in an iterative design process guided by the project values of the Civic Center as:

• Resilient, Safe, Sustainable
• Inviting and Accessible for the Public
• A 21st Century Workspace

In addition to these principles, careful consideration was given to the improvements that can be delivered now, taking advantage of the opportunities an empty building presents. Delaying some enhancements – like aged paper duct boards behind ceiling tiles that need to be removed to add fire suppression sprinklers - would prove more difficult, disruptive, and costly or not achievable at a future date.

This process allows for periodic comparison of cost against the evolving design, and opportunities to consider alternative designs and price out elements that are considered a high priority when weighed against the project goals and degree of disturbance. Ultimately, with consultation with the Bond Oversight Committee , priorities to include with the project are:

Exterior Improvements

• Seismic upgrades
• New roofing
• New skylight and atrium
• Site and building accessibility

Interior Improvements

• Fire sprinklers
• Mechanical system updates
• New domestic water pipe
• Interior space “refresh” to include new paint, flooring, ceilings, and lighting
• Accessibility upgrades to restrooms on level 2 and 3

Additionally, to reduce cost of the project, the Oversight Committee sought to work within the interior building footprint and minimizing interior wall disturbance (retaining existing walls, no adding new interior walls). Another important Oversight Committee decision was to commit funding to improve safety, efficiency, effectiveness, accessibility, and flexibility of Council Chambers.

Location

Salem Civic Center is located at 555 Liberty Street SE.

Schedule

In 2023, design work began on the Salem Civic Center project. Construction is set to begin in July 2025. Civic Center services and staff will be temporarily relocated so that construction of the improvements can occur within the next 18 to 24 months as seamlessly as possible.

As of May 2025, the team is anticipating construction to begin on July 21, 2025 and are forecasting a construction duration between 18 and 20 months.

Access

Temporary Relocation. Civic Center services and staff will relocate in June and July 2025 for the duration the construction project. The Salem Municipal Court and Customer Service Center will be available at the Civic Center from June 9 through July 7, 2025.

City Council Meetings
Beginning on June 9, 2025, Salem City Council meetings will be held in the Loucks Auditorium of the Salem Public Library.

Salem Municipal Court
The Salem Municipal Court will be available at the Civic Center from June 9 through July 7, 2025. Beginning on July 14, 2025, the Salem Municipal Court will be available at 2850 Broadway Street NE.

• Customer parking is available on a surface lot, accessed from the driveway off Broadway Street NE, north of Martin Luther King Jr Parkway.

Customer Service Center
Salem’s Customer Service Center will be available at the Civic Center through July 7, 2025. Beginning on July 14, 2025, the Customer Services Center will be available at the Parkway Building, at 440 Church Street SE.

City Services at Parkway Building
Beginning on June 9, 2025, the following services will be available at 440 Church Street SE, aka “the Parkway Building” on the SAIF campus:

• Customer Service Center
• Mayor and City Manager’s Office
• Finance 

Beginning on June 16, 2025, the following services will be available at 440 Church Street SE, aka “the Parkway Building” on the SAIF campus:

• Permit Application Center
• Community Planning and Development

Customer Access at Parkway Building:

• Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Parking is available on a surface lot, accessed from the Pringle Parkway, between Church Street SE and Winter Street SE .

• Enter building
• Check in at lobby security station.
• Use elevators to access the 5th floor for Customer Service Center and Permit Application Center.
• Exit the elevator to the left, or the south side of the building.

Looking for Compliance Services? To save money on the temporary relocation, we were able to move that group in with colleagues at Community Planning and Development in one of the City’s downtown buildings, at 350 Commercial Street NE.

Why are we doing this now?

The primary objective of the $39.4 million bond is to reinforce the seismic integrity of the Civic Center buildings. The 2022 voter-approved City of Salem Safety and Livability Bond also included provisions for additional projects, such as the Peace Plaza.

As part of the construction project, we are required to bring the building up to current code standards. This includes necessary updates for ADA compliance and the installation of sprinkler systems. The ballot language serves as a contract with the voters, specifying that $39.4 million is allocated for the seismic retrofit. However, this amount is insufficient to address all necessary improvements. For instance, while we will ensure the building is seismically sound, we will not be addressing the water intrusion issues in the parking garage.

It is important to note that the demolition of offices is not included in the project scope. The only walls being modified are those necessary for the seismic construction.

The City’s day-to-day operations are funding separately through the annual budgeting process. This is where the current $13.8 million shortfall in the General Fund comes up.