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The Portland Water Bureau has hired a contractor for a project to replace a century-old drinking water pump station.

James W. Fowler Co. crews are scheduled to start construction next month on the Hannah Mason Pump Station in Southwest Portland. The Dallas-based contractor was the low-bidder on the project to build in Willamette Park a new, 9,600-square-foot concrete pump station to replace the aging Fulton Pump Station on Southwest Nevada Street a few blocks away, between Macadam and Virginia avenues.

Portland-based Murray Smith & Associates designed the project in collaboration with MWA Architects for the Portland Water Bureau. The aim was to ensure that the pump station building would be expansive enough to house five electric pumps, but also complement the park and be unobtrusive to the surrounding neighborhood. Along with the pumps, the building will include four public restrooms and a park equipment storage area.

The project involved an extensive public outreach effort that included formation of a nine-member citizen advisory committee. Members offered feedback on the project design to the architects as well as Portland Parks & Recreation and Water Bureau officials.

Construction of the pump station is scheduled to wrap up in summer 2016. The new pump station, when finished, will deliver drinking water to a large portion of Southwest Portland, according to the Water Bureau.