From the time I moved to Federal Way in 1976 until now, Federal Way and Weyerhaeuser have been synonymous to me.

There is no denying Weyerhaeuser has been a pillar in our community, an important part of the very fabric of our city.

For many, the company’s recent announcement of plans to move their corporate headquarters from Federal Way to Seattle came as a shock. However, for those who have observed the changes they have made in the last five years and have seen, or experienced firsthand, the accompanying workforce reduction, the announcement served more as an acknowledgement of the reality that Weyerhaeuser is no longer the forest product titan it once was.

Federal Way has been very fortunate to have a company like Weyerhaeuser as a partner. Every city should be so fortunate.

Their generosity and vision continue to be felt today, though they don’t always get the credit they deserve. One prime example is the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, which has made Federal Way the destination for a generation of aspiring world-class swimmers and divers.

Another is west campus, with its aesthetically pleasing mix of residential, commercial and office properties. It was the result of Weyerhaeuser’s vision way back in the early 1970’s when there was nothing there but trees.

Even the most casual of observers traveling Interstate 5 between Seattle and Tacoma in the last 40 years has seen their iconic office building in the meadow overlooking I-5. It is an architectural masterpiece that has withstood the test of time and will very likely be the new home of another great corporation, a corporation that will bring jobs and an infusion of new energy to help propel Federal Way forward.

What great acts of generosity are left for Weyerhaeuser as it begins its exit from Federal Way remain to be seen. While I would love to see them get the maximum value for the property they have stewarded for all these years, there may yet be an opportunity for them to make another contribution to the city they have long called home and add to the legacy they have already created.

Regardless, we are better off as a city as a result of Weyerhaeuser calling Federal Way home for all these years and their impact will continue to echo into the future.

As Weyerhaeuser passes the torch to the next corporation to occupy their former iconic headquarters, my hope is that a good portion of their vision, success, and generosity will be passed on.

Federal Way has the potential to be the premier city of south King County and having a new corporate partner willing to become a part of our community and contribute will go a long way to making the future we desire for our city a reality.

Mark Koppang lives in Federal Way.