Since 1989, the railroad depot that sits on a lot near the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria has lacked use. And in 2001 it sustained a crack as a result of an earthquake.

The 85-year-old building will soon be transformed, however, thanks to the Columbia River Maritime Museum and a design by Ecola Architects. Officials hope that the building will eventually generate revenues for the museum.

“We’re renovating the whole building – first the crack from the earthquake, then repairing masonry, windows, electrical and giving it a seismic upgrade,” Ecola principal Jay Raskin said.

The museum owns the building, which is planned to house traditional shipbuilding demonstrations and possibly manufacture of ship materials, according to Executive Director Samuel Johnson. The project has been in the works for some time, but it was delayed because of a lack of money, Raskin said. Confidence is greater now, Johnson said...

Otak provided civil engineering services.

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