Ribbon-Cutting Marks Service and License Center’s Debut

With a glitchy slice of giant scissors through a long, red band of “Grand Opening” tape Tuesday morning, Washington County’s brand-new Central Services and License Center officially came fully alive.

Actually, the $29 million, two-story, 32,000-square-foot building opened to the public Monday morning, and by 8:30 a.m., cars were scattered around the parking lot.

Inside, a dozen or so visitors with vehicle and driving chores to take care of were already queued up in front of the Licensing Center before its glass front doors were unlocked and opened.

As they waited, it seemed like each visitor couldn’t help but keep looking around at the building’s stunning interior, which is dominated by thick glass walls all the way up to the second- floor ceiling, supported by flat-black aluminum cladding and heavily knotted European Spruce beams.

In keeping with the building’s 2020s-and-beyond mission, visitors also couldn’t miss the first thing they encountered as they walked in: a large interactive, touch-screen kiosk that gets them started on their business right away.

Besides tech-friendliness,  among Washingtons County’s other top priorities for the center: ergonomics, sustainability, accessibility, and energy-efficiency.

“It’s beautiful! I really like it,” said one woman while continuing to gaze upward and all around after her kiosk visit. She asked to be identified only as “Kate.”

Added the woman right behind her, who requested to be referred to as “Lee:”

“I like it a LOT,” she said. “I really like the location. The other building before this one was located on streets that were sometimes pretty busy, and it was kind of hard driving over there sometimes. This one, though. This was definitely worth the wait.”

Library predecessor

The building’s predecessor, the ‘90s-era Woodbury Service Center, a repurposed former County Library, was located at 2150 Radio Dr. It has since closed, with its services transferred elsewhere.

Among the offerings now located in the new building: Human Services crisis intervention, financial support, and veteran services; CareerForce assistance; a public-health clinic and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) support; a household-medication drop box; election services; property taxes, and homesteading.

WIC and immunization services will begin in early September. WIC appointments can be made now by calling 651-430-6658, and immunization appointments can be made in person or by calling (651) 430-4036.

Planning for the new building began in 2018. Construction started just last July – an impressive completion timeline, according to a small handful of  experts who were contacted onsite Tuesday.

“The energy savings alone will be more than worth it,” Mandy Leonard, the new building’s county project manager, said in an impromptu interview Monday morning. She noted that the center’s rooftops are solar-equipped, for example. 

The parking lot is also equipped with electric-vehicle chargers. Stormwater runoff design and indoor air-handling and lighting systems are other energy-efficiency and/or conservation innovations. The county worked closely with Xcel Energy here. 

“The old building was designed in ways that weren’t really intended for the purposes needed with a building like this one. It was designed to be a library,” Leonard explained

“This one was truly built for its purposes and to grow with this community.”

The Minneapolis-based Alliance Architecture spearheaded the new Central Services

and License Center’s design.

Ribbon-cutting finale

Meanwhile Tuesday morning, the actual ribbon-cutting ceremony was reserved for the end of the festivities, preceded by podium comments led by Washington County Board Chair Stan Karwoski, Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt, and Amy Stenftenagel, the county’s Property Record and Taxpayer Services director.

“What a proud and exciting day for Washington County,” Stenftenagel said. 

“We’re confident that all of our residents will experience faster, more welcoming and better services here, reflecting how we can best try to serve the entire community.

Before he invited a large contingent of local elected officials and other dignitaries to join him near the new center’s entrance, Karwoski noted that a new Metro transit hub now stands right across the street from the new building.

“Everything here was designed for this to be physically accessible for all residents,” he said. “We now are connected to the entire public transit line.”