From Dream to Reality: APCC Opens the Doors to Its New Home

The time has finally come! After decades of hard work and steadfast determination, Asia Pacific Cultural Center’s beautiful, vibrant, state-of-the-art facility is complete, and it’s time to celebrate. APCC will commemorate this milestone with a festive Grand Opening Ceremony on August 29, 2025. The new address is 4851 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, Washington 98409.

For 29 years, APCC has been steadily growing and searching for a permanent home. Throughout the years, APCC staff has worked in a small 150 sq foot office at the Sheraton Hotel, to the Tacoma Arts Museum building, to the 300 sq foot basement of the Children's Arts Museum on Broadway St, to a 1,100 sq foot office space at 221 S. 28^th St, to taking over the 10,500 sq foot South Parks Community Center building in South Tacoma Way in partnership with Parks Tacoma (formerly known as Metro Parks Tacoma). With the growing number of people APCC serves and the increasing number of staff members needed to serve them, APCC needed a bigger, more permanent space to call home. After over a decade of strategizing, planning, fundraising, and mobilizing, APCC has finally made its dream home a reality!

The construction of the new, permanent space for APCC to call home is now finished. It is a two-story multi-use facility owned and operated by APCC in Tacoma, Washington. It is a place for people of different cultures to feel welcomed, gather for learning, connect more deeply to Asia Pacific culture and heritage, and access vital resources and services.

This 18,500-square-foot building includes classrooms, offices, a commercial kitchen, a library, a dance studio, the Hall of Nations, an art gallery, and a large-capacity auditorium for performances, cultural celebrations, and large events. It proudly showcases all the beautiful Asian and Pacific Islander elements and influences.

“Our hearts are so full! This Grand Opening will be a festive celebration. We welcome all! Please, come join us! This is our home, but this is also your home. APCC is here for the community,” said APCC Executive Director Lua Pritchard.

“Here we are, celebrating one another and our collective success in creating this beautiful center for us all!” said APCC Vice President Dr. Belinda Louie.

“This building represents a vision that's been transformed into a home where our AANHPI countries and communities can come together to share our many cultures and traditions, but to also learn from each other, while helping each other grow,” said APCC Secretary Al Cosio.

The grand opening ceremony will take place on August 29, 2025, at 3:00 PM, and will feature remarks from community leaders and project partners. The event is free and open to the public. After a vibrant parade of cultures and congratulatory remarks, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will open the building for community members to tour the facility. Then the festivities continue in the adjacent park grounds with cultural booths, arts and crafts, food tastings, live music, traditional dances, and for the grand finale, an exciting fire knife performance.

Honored community leaders, dignitaries, elected officials, and Consul Generals will be among the special guests who will help celebrate the Grand Opening. Several special guest speakers are confirmed to attend, including U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland.

Building Project Construction and Development:

·         SMR Architects

·         Edge Developers LLC

·         Korsmo Construction

About Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC):

APCC is a nonprofit organization that bridges communities and generations through arts, culture, education, and business. APCC provides programs, outreach, and services that promote greater awareness, understanding, equity, and inclusion of Asian and Pacific Islander people, representing 47 countries and cultures.

For More Info:

For more information about APCC’s Grand Opening Ceremony, please contact:

·         Lua Pritchard, APCC Executive Director, at faaluaina@asiapacificculturalcenter.org, (253) 383-3900.

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