By Joe Smillie, Forum Editor

Conceptual designs for the new Rainforest Arts Center will be on display at Friday’s Homecoming football game at Forks High School.

City Attorney/Planner Rod Fleck said architect NAC of Seattle has prepared a couple of versions of their proposals for a new building to replace the old RAC which burned last October.

The designs will be displayed in the concession area next to the football stadium if there is no rain. If there is, the designs will be showed off inside the school by the Spartan Statue.

The city is looking for input from citizens about the new building’s design.

Last week, the footprint of the RAC was increased to include the lot at the corner of Division Street and Forks Avenue after the West Olympic Council of the Arts, doing business as the Rainforest Arts Center, donated the lot to the city.

The group is close to a purchase agreement with Alaska Financial Co., which took ownership of the former Dazzled by Twilight building after the store went bankrupt and closed in 2011.

The city received a $2.64 million insurance settlement to rebuild the arts center after it burned.

Fleck said construction budget is $2.1 million.

The finalized design of the RAC will be unveiled to a joint meeting of the West End Business and Professionals Association and the Forks Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 23 in the Department of Natural Resources conference room, 411 Tillicum Lane.

Fleck said the city hopes to put construction of the building out for bids in early January, with construction slated to begin in April.

The goal is to have the new RAC open by April 2015.