An existing building at Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls will be converted into a public History & Nature Center, with Olympia-based Carve Architects leading the design and Forma Construction serving as general contractor.

The project goes before Tumwater's Development Review Committee on Thursday, July 30.

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation, which privately owns and maintains the park on the former Olympia Brewing Company site, announced the project team and funding status on Thursday, July 23.

The foundation selected Forma Construction through a competitive qualifications-based process, according to the announcement.

Carve Architects operates from 510 Capitol Way S in downtown Olympia. Forma Construction, established in 1985, maintains offices in Olympia and Seattle.

Past local projects include the Hands On Children's Museum and Cebula Hall at Saint Martin's University, according to a company profile.

The center will occupy the park's current administrative and maintenance building, which will be renovated and expanded to house exhibits, classrooms, and gathering space.

Programming will include school field trips, family learning experiences, and rotating exhibits on topics such as salmon stewardship and the history of Tumwater Falls.

"People are naturally drawn to Tumwater Falls because of its beauty," executive director Todd Cutts said in the July 23 announcement.

"Our vision is to create a place where visitors can also discover why this landscape matters — its ecology, its history and the generations of people who have shaped and cared for it."

The foundation has secured federal and state funding for the renovation and expansion, though specific dollar amounts have not been disclosed.

Additional support comes from individual donors, businesses, foundations, and local partners. Revenue from the Friends of the Falls membership program, launched in June 2026 at $10 per month, is also earmarked for the center's development during its first two years.

Brewery Park logged more than 271,000 visits in calendar year 2025, according to the foundation.

The park operates without ongoing government support.

The foundation targets construction starting in early 2027, with the center opening in the second half of the year. Environmental review, schematic design, and permitting are underway.

The July 30 Development Review Committee presentation is an advisory step, not a binding vote. The committee provides feedback to developers on what Tumwater will expect before a project becomes an official application, according to city of Tumwater information reported by The Olympian.

Foundation president Lee Wojnar said the organization has stewarded the park for more than 75 years.