The three-story glass-front office building, located at the intersection of Marine Drive and Mission Beach Road, has been designed and constructed in accordance with tribal traditions. Made of mostly cedar, the environmentally-conscious design incorporates lots of natural light through large windows and skylights.

The building's heat will be provided by 96 thermal wells, sunk 330 feet below the ground.

Much of the Tribes' administrative work has taken place in portable buildings and makeshift offices. The new building will provide well-equipped work spaces for departments that include Natural Resources, Social Services, Employment, Communications, Government Affairs, Housing and much more.

Bringing 26 tribal departments and 274 employees together under one roof will lead to more efficiency and better customer service, according to spokesperson Mytyl Hernandez.

"We will have seven front-line employees representing different departments and services, but all employees will be cross-trained to help customers find the information they need," she explained.

The landscaped grounds will feature an 8,500 sq. ft. Veterans Memorial area, complete with cedar benches and five granite slabs inscribed with the names of tribal members who served in the armed forces.

Consolidating tribal operations in one location will result in a savings of nearly $1 million per year, Hernandez estimated.

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