ABOUT THE PROJECT
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The Maritime|253 Skills Center is being developed as part of a Port of Tacoma waterfront campus and operated by Tacoma Public Schools.
The site for the project is on a piece of Port-owned property along the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway, where the Wheeler-Osgood Company mill once operated.
The project is a partnership between the Port of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Schools. Maritime|253 will be a regional Career and Technical Education center serving high school students from school districts throughout Pierce County, with intentional programming to prime a professional pipeline to the maritime industry bringing opportunities to more members of the community and helping fill a growing need for workers in the trades and maritime careers. The location will also be home to a new Port of Tacoma business operations center and commission chambers, along with the potential to incorporate amenities such as public walking paths and access to the Foss Waterway.
This project is funded by the $535 million school construction bond voters passed in 2020.
PROJECT STATUS
The final stages of construction are underway. Over the summer, crews will install classroom equipment, industry training tools and furniture in preparation of opening in the fall.
Expected opening: September 2026