WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County has named a mix of local and national firms that will design and build the new jail.

Rob Ney, project manager for the county’s Facilities Department, told a county council committee on Tuesday that the county is nearing deals with four firms to lead the project.

The design will be done jointly by national firm Nelson Worldwide and Bellingham-based RMC Architects.

RMC was behind the designs for many local buildings, including the Bellingham Public Library, the Millworks development on the waterfront and the new Way Station downtown.

Construction will be done in partnership between national firm Clark Construction and Bellingham-based RAM Construction.

Ney told the council that the two Bellingham firms were chosen for much more than just their local connection.

“I think part of what sold it to us it you have a national, but you have a local person that says ‘Hey here’s the local people that we can call to help us on this project,’ and so that just was very attractive,” Ney said during the meeting. “But their expertise was what really sold it, and so we won on every end, in my mind.”

Negotiations are underway with all four firms and contracts expected to be finalized this week.

The new jail on LaBounty Drive in Ferndale is expected to be finished by summer 2028 at the earliest.