

Fuzhou Ting | Chinese Reconciliation Park
City of Tacoma
The Fuzhou Ting stands as a prominent centerpiece within Tacoma’s Chinese Reconciliation Park along Commencement Bay, representing a profound gift from Tacoma’s sister city of Fuzhou, China. In the spring of 2010, the full-size commemorative pavilion arrived at the Port of Tacoma in shipping containers, accompanied by three master artisans from Fuzhou and their interpreter. Before its arrival, Rolluda Architects collaborated with landscape architects J.A. Brennan and Associates and Canadian-Chinese park expert Joe Wai Architects to manage, coordinate, and permit the translated construction documents. The team adapted the traditional plans to comply with current International Building Code standards and Western construction methods, ensuring the ancient design could safely exist within a modern framework.
Balancing historic preservation with rigorous engineering required close collaboration with the City's structural engineer and specialists in Asian timber frame structures. The team successfully incorporated concealed wood and stone joint reinforcements, integrated a durable twenty-five-year roofing membrane hidden beneath traditional tile and mortar detailing, and sourced specialized decorative ridge masonry capable of meeting Zone 4 seismic and wind loads. Furthermore, the design integrated aesthetically sensitive access pathways to ensure the historic pavilion is fully welcoming to disabled park visitors.
Built to endure a demanding marine environment of salt spray and heavy fog, the completed pavilion and surrounding park have transformed the Tacoma waterfront into an extraordinary cultural landmark. Funding was secured through matching municipal, state, and federal funds, bolstered by donations and pledges from the local Chinese community. Ultimately, the Fuzhou Ting serves as a powerful twenty-first-century statement of reconciliation, honoring the nineteenth-century Chinese sojourners who were forcibly expelled from the city after completing railroad construction. This meticulous architectural preservation serves as a daily confirmation of Tacoma's enduring goodwill and deep-rooted bond with the citizens of Fuzhou.


Type: Municipal + Community + Cultural Client: City of Tacoma
Location: Tacoma, WA Project Team: Donn Stone
News / Press:
"Ting" in the News: Lincoln HS Students Travel to Fuzhou
