Four firms compete in City Hall design contest

Four architectural firms will present concepts for a new Whitefish City Hall during a design competition next week at the city council chambers in Whitefish.

A steering committee that has been guiding the project is hosting the competition that will include public input. The daylong process will start at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Mosaic Architecture of Helena will give the first presentation, followed by MMW Architecture of Missoula at 10:15 a.m.

CTA Architects of Kalispell presents its proposal at 1 p.m. At 2:45 p.m. J Constenius Architecture of Whitefish, paired with OZ Architects of Missoula, will make the final presentation.

The steering committee will interview each firm, then make a recommendation to City Council.

The architect selected will be working alongside the city’s parking consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates to create the parking structure portion of the building.

Combining a parking structure with a new City Hall is estimated to cost about $11.5 million. Tax-increment finance funds are suggested for the project.

For more information, visit the city of Whitefish website at www.whitefish.govoffice.com. Project-specific information can be found on the city website, www.whitefish.govoffice.com, by clicking on “Committees, Boards and Commissions” and selecting “Future City Hall Ad Hoc Steering Committee.”

Comments about the project may be mailed to: Sherri Baccaro, City of Whitefish, Future City Hall Steering Committee Chair, P.O. Box 158, Whitefish, MT 59937. Comments also may be submitted by email to publicworks@cityofwhitefish.org.

People attending the presentations on Dec. 11 are invited to submit comments at that time.