Port of Olympia Increased Service Contract Funding

The Commission authorized budget hikes for environmental cleanup, headquarters design, and auditing services.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Remote Work

Isometric editorial illustration showing a harbor crane on a dock, representing port operations in a cool, muted color palette. — The Port of Olympia Commission authorized increased funding for environmental remediation at the Cascade Pole site and design work for its new headquarters. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Port of Olympia Commission approved three contract amendments on September 28, 2026, to cover rising project costs. These increases provide additional funding for environmental work at the Cascade Pole site and ongoing designs for the new headquarters.

Why it matters

Unplanned groundwater sampling results requested by the Department of Ecology necessitated budget increases for remediation efforts. The additional funds also account for outstanding invoices and final design requirements for the office relocation.

Landau Associates contract rose to $780,000 from $480,000, while Thomas Architecture Studios increased to $725,000 from $600,000. Teresa D. Johnson, CPA Inc. saw its contract grow to $106,500.

The players

Port of Olympia Commission

This body manages public port facilities and infrastructure development within the Olympia region.

Landau Associates

This engineering and environmental firm provides specialized technical consulting for site remediation projects.

Thomas Architecture Studios

This design firm handles architectural planning and development services for commercial and public infrastructure.

Teresa D. Johnson, CPA Inc.

This professional accounting firm provides auditing and financial oversight services for public and private organizations.

Department of Ecology

This state regulatory agency oversees environmental protection and pollution cleanup standards for industrial sites.

The details

Commissioners authorized the executive director to sign these amendments to resolve unpaid invoices and address unforeseen site requirements. The work includes essential environmental assessments at the Cascade Pole site, which has been under the Model Toxic Control Act since 1990, and design tasks for the new headquarters at the former Dancing Goats Coffee building.

Industrial operations occurred at the site from 1930 to 1986.
The Cascade Pole site was listed under the Model Toxic Control Act in 1990.
Landau Associates began site services in September 2024.
The commission approved the headquarters building purchase in July 2026.
Commissioners authorized the contract amendments on September 28, 2026.

Market Landscape

These contract adjustments reflect the complex administrative and environmental costs associated with repurposing industrial brownfield sites for modern commercial use. The Port of Olympia is repositioning its operational footprint by transitioning from legacy industrial zones into a consolidated corporate headquarters.

The funding increases ensure that critical environmental cleanup at the Cascade Pole site continues without interruption. Residents and local stakeholders can expect the ongoing development of the new headquarters building to proceed toward its design completion.

The takeaway

Large environmental remediation projects often face unexpected financial hurdles when regulatory demands evolve. Organizations must maintain flexible project budgets to accommodate site-specific challenges that arise during the assessment process.