The City of SeaTac is competing against the cities of Des Moines, Tukwila, Kent and Renton to house a new regional Federal Aviation Administration regional headquarters. The FAA is looking for approximately 518,000 square feet of office space.

"The City of SeaTac is pleased to have four viable locations that have been proposed that fit all of the FAA's initial requirements; most importantly those related to transportation options for FAA staff and visitors," said Todd Cutts, interim city manager. "We will continue to work with the property owners and development teams to do whatever we can to assist with securing this important economic development catalyst."

The solicitation mandates the property must be Class A office space that is not located in a regional flood plain. It is required there is on-site parking for 1,600 vehicles with easy access to multiple roadways but must also be in close proximity to public transit.

The new location should be centrally located to the airport, hotels, restaurants, and conveniences such as retail and banking. Lastly, the development must meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification standards as a new building or through renovation.

"We are thrilled to have multiple development companies putting forth their plans in SeaTac for the FAA's consideration," said Jeff Robinson, economic development manager for the City of SeaTac. "Developers such as ScanlonKemperBard Companies and Metzler North America offer great options. There is considerable economic impact from this decision as upwards of 2,400 employees will be working out of this office."

Each of the four sites currently under consideration is within close proximity to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, multiple bus lines, light rail and meets the above listed criteria.

"We are in a position to build a LEED certified complex from the ground up located directly across from the airport," said Jim Neal, chairman of Metzler North America. "One option is to develop two five-story towers over structured parking on four to five acres of our 12.5 acre site at 170th and International Boulevard. that we believe can meet the needs specified by the FAA."

"We are proposing a couple of options at the SeaTac Office Center located at the entrance to the airport," said Trond Ingvaldsen, senior vice president of ScanlanKemperBard Companies. "We already have 532,000 square feet in three existing buildings, including two mid-rise towers. We are proposing to develop a third office tower and rehabilitate one of the existing towers, or develop two brand new towers, to create the offices needed by the FAA."

A formal Request for Offer (RFO) will be made in late April or early May. Occupancy must take place no later than September 1, 2014.