Helena firm favored for Whitefish City Hall project

Mosaic Architecture has risen to the top of the architectural firms competing for the job to design a new Whitefish City Hall.

The city hall committee voted Dec. 19 to recommend Mosaic, a Helena firm.

The Whitefish City Council will make the ultimate decision, likely sometime in January.

“I’m convinced Mosaic had the most pleasing design,” committee member Mike Jenson said. “I didn’t see anybody who put as much into it as they did.”

Four architectural firms participated in a design contest aimed at assisting in the selection of a firm for a new City Hall and parking structure.

Earlier in the month, Mosaic, along with MMW Architecture, CTA Architects and the team of John Constenius Architecture and OZ Architects presented their ideas to the committee.

During a meeting last week, the committee met again to evaluate the firms based on criteria that looked at experience and qualifications.

Also included was discussion about the different designs presented during the competition. Based on that process, the committee ranked the firms and Mosaic came out on top.

Committee member Ross Anderson said Mosaic spent the most time creating a well-thought-out design.

“They took into consideration the input from our brainstorming session,” added committee member and city employee Necile Lorang.

As part of the competition, Mosaic presented its vision for a City Hall as a brick building accented with large timbers. The concept included a distinct entry that allowed for a landscaped courtyard wrapping the corner of the building.

All designs presented during the competition are considered early concepts and the final design will be created through a process of working with city staffers, council members and the public.

The committee appeared to be intrigued by one idea presented by CTA Architects to create an underground parking garage with a surface parking lot.

Jenson said the underground parking could provide parking for City Hall employees and leased spaces while allowing for future expansion above-ground.

“We should vet the process to see about going down one level,” he said.

Committee member Ian Collins said underground parking is inferior.

“I looked at the renderings and saw a big void comparable to what we have at the Spokane parking lot,” he said. “One of the things we talk about repeatedly is connectivity.”

Committee member Bob Blickenstaff said CTA came up with a good idea.

“I’ve always had an interest in surface parking,” he said. “The city should have surface rather than a structure.”

Because the City Council approved an above-ground parking structure, it would have to reconsider if a change were to be made, City Manager Chuck Stearns said. The committee could ask the council to look at the underground concept further, he noted.

Desch is a reporter for the Whitefish Pilot.