City Secures State Funding to Upgrade Community Center’s HVAC System

The City of Mercer Island – with the help of leaders of the 41^st legislative district, including Sen. Lisa Wellman and Reps. My-Linh Thai and Janice Zahn – has secured $1 million in funding from Washington state’s Capital Budget to help fund the replacement of the Mercer Island Community and Event Center’s heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC) system.

"The Mercer Island Community and Events Center is a focal point of the fabric of our community. I appreciate the efforts from our legislative delegation to secure these resources to help the city maintain this critical community asset,” Mayor Dave Rosenbaum said.

After the Center’s HVAC system – which is original to the 2005 building – started to experience performance issues as it reached the end of its useful life, an assessment determined that replacement of the existing hydronic equipment is necessary. The estimated cost is nearly $3.5 million, and City staff will begin project design later this year in preparation for construction to begin in 2027.

This funding will be used to fund a portion of the overall cost of a new high-efficiency Variable Refrigerant Flow (VFR) heat pump system, which is expected to last up to 35 years. The proposed design would also incorporate energy recovery units to greatly reduce energy losses and improve efficiency.

The Center is home to a variety of community events, recreation and health programming, gym facilities, and the City’s Council Chambers. It also houses the City’s Emergency Operations Center and functions as a shelter for the public during emergencies.

Because the Center is one of the City’s largest and most heavily utilized buildings, the project will result in reduced energy costs and ongoing maintenance costs. The system will also drive a significant reduction in municipal greenhouse gas emissions, since the center alone accounted for 5% of the City’s overall emissions.