Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal opens in Mukilteo, Wash.

Built on a repurposed brownfield site to replace the existing Mukilteo ferry terminal, the new Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal provides more space for vehicle holding and separates pedestrian and vehicle boarding with an overhead walkway for safer, more efficient loading, especially for people with disabilities. The new facility includes a 5,865-sf terminal, a 4,193-sf maintenance building, and a 828-sf toll plaza.

The two-story building was designed in partnership with KPFF Consulting Engineers with input from local Coast Salish tribes. The building’s longhouse form streamlines circulation and manages large patron flows with intuitive wayfinding. Vertical transportation cores with elevators and stairs at each end of the structure lead to a linear promenade at the upper level, from which entries to the ticketing and waiting area are plainly visible.

A daylight-filled waiting room provides views to land and sea and helps to orient ferry riders. Tribal cultural motifs created by local Native American artists are displayed throughout the building to create a welcoming atmosphere. A new waterfront promenade connects a path from downtown Mukilteo through the terminal and onto the beach, creating an elevated pathway for public use.

The team approached the project with strong sustainability ambitions. Removing the pier eliminated approximately 10% of the Puget Sound’s remaining toxic creosote piles. The longhouse-style shed roof provides space for a full array of photovoltaic panels, allowing the building to return energy to the grid. The roof canopy is made from cross-laminated timber while heating and cooling the concrete-slab main floor with electric heat pumps provides interior comfort year round. Additionally, a rack and pinion window system automatically opens and closes in response to changing conditions, optimizing airflow and comfort.

The new Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal officially opened on Dec. 29.