Salmon Run Bell Tower Restoration Vancouver, Washington

Bringing the Salmon Run Bell Tower back to life, a variety of critical repairs and upgrades were made to the historic structure while also restoring its water feature and surrounding art piece. The Otak team, providing construction management and inspection, worked closely with the City of Vancouver to oversee daily contractor operations as well as constructability and document review through project closeout to make this restoration a reality.

Overseeing the Restoration of a Historic Structure and Unique Features

Found in Esther Short Park–established in 1853, making it Washington State’s oldest public park–the Salmon Run Bell Tower was originally constructed in 2002 as part of an effort to revitalize the area for the community. The 60-foot tall structure was designed with features intended to honor the region’s indigenous people and connection with the Columbia River. The tower’s Glockenspiel consists of 25 cast bronze bells, each weighing between 20 and 400 pounds, using by individual strike mechanisms. It also includes four, six-foot tower clocks, along with a rotating diorama that highlights the story of Chinook salmon. A water feature includes a waterfall that cascades down a path of boulders, providing climbing and seating options for visitors of all ages. Over time, a combination of highly-chlorinated water and aging building components had left the water feature inoperable and the steel structure corroded. By shifting the construction area across different phases of the project, public safety was ensured while minimizing impact to park access. Along with restoring the original bronze art, structural steel repairs, upgrades to the pump house, and improved waterproofing all combined to bring the complete landmark back to working order for the first time in over a decade.