The City of Port Townsend successfully transformed a former police facility into the Cotton Building Visitor Center, a vibrant 2,525 sf multiuse community gathering and learning space. Situated on the waterfront within the city’s prominent historic downtown district, the facility thrives on an adaptable design that exceeds its original conception as a traditional meeting venue. This inherent versatility was proven during its inaugural event, which welcomed a hands-on wooden boat building class into the space.

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Architectural resilience and sustainability guided the renovation process. The project team replaced the compromised original roof framing with a robust new roof structure, carefully salvaging the damaged, rough-sawn joists. These historic timbers were re-sawn and thoughtfully integrated back into the building as interior wall cladding. Today, this feature wall provides a warm, textural focal point in the primary meeting room while serving as a tangible educational tool that connects visitors to the rich civic history of Port Townsend.

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Financing this adaptive reuse project required navigating complex regulatory frameworks. Funding was secured in part through a FEMA Pre-Hazard Mitigation Grant, which supported critical seismic upgrades to ensure long-term structural safety. The project team meticulously balanced these grant conditions, which dictated specific allowable uses for the post-mitigation facility, with the community's vision to deliver a compliant, safe, and deeply cherished public asset.