BENTON COUNTY ELECTIONS CENTER

Type: Civic/Public
Location: Kennewick, WA

Public services for Benton County are consolidated within their growing campus in Kennewick. The County has been renting space far from their campus for election ballot processing.  The County purchased property containing a fire station adjacent to their Kennewick campus with the intent to provide a designated space to serve voters in time for the 2024 November elections.  MMEC designed the renovation of the fire station for the County to provide them a new Elections Center.  The design team removed the dated roofline and replaced it with materials that harmonized with other campus themes.  The fire engine garage will be converted into a ballot processing room which will houses a 20 ft ballot sorting machine.  Many spaces are visibly open to allow transparent observation of the ballot tabulation process.  A dedicated public service area will allow staff to interface with voters to update information and accommodate other in-person needs.  The remodel of the fire station coincides with a new campus entrance which will now serve as the primary entrance for visitors and directs them to other Benton County services.