Last week, the City of Tacoma’s Landmarks Preservation Commission approved design plans for the first two phases of a three-phase, $15 million renovation of the Russell T. Joy Building.

The building, located at 1716-1730 Pacific Ave. and on the University of Washington Tacoma’s downtown campus, was constructed in 1892 and is located within the Union Depot / Warehouse Historic District, which is listed on the Tacoma and National Registers of Historic Places. The building was once home to various wholesale and retail firms, but now sits vacant.

A renovation would help meet educational and faculty needs, and provide retail on the first floor which fronts Pacific Avenue. When completed in fall 2011, the building is expected to serve an additional 600 UWT students.

Officials from UWT and THA Architecture, the Portland, Ore.-based firm designing the renovation, indicated they would seek permits for the first two phases of the project in March and late-May.

The print edition of the Feb. 27 Tacoma Daily Index included current photographs of the building. Today, we look at some of the illustrations prepared by THA Architecture and submitted as part of the design review application. For additional photos, pick up a print edition of the Index.

In December, Gov. Chris Gregoire submitted a capital budget to the Legislature that included $34 million for the third phase of UWT’s campus expansion, which includes the Joy Building renovation.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

To view photos and design illustrations of the Joy Building and its planned renovation, visit the Index’s blog at http://i.feedtacoma.com/TDI-Reporters-Notebook/