170,000 SQFT Martin Selig Development Clears West Seattle Design Review Board

By Catherine Sweeney

The fourth and final design review meeting for MartinSelig Real Estate was on Wednesday evening when the Seattle West Review Board approved designs for a nearly 170,000 square foot mixed-use building. The project, located at 401 Queen Anne Avenue North, will now move forward in the eligibility process after a quick meeting with the review board.

“We have been in this process for two years. We are very excited about this project, ”said Jack McCullough, member of the development team at Martin Selig. “One thing the Martin Selig team had in mind when they first saw this site was the revitalization of what is now the Climate Pledge Arena and location on Harrison, the opportunity to do something really meaningful here, in a place that is happy again would be. “A higher number of pedestrians than in the last ten years.”

In general, the Perkins + Will-designed project will include 143,844 square feet of office space as well as 25,851 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. In addition, the six-storey building will have 171 parking spaces and 112 bicycle spaces. The building is also designed with a wooden covered entrance along the Queen Anne and an inviting, leafy inner courtyard.

“We believe this is experienced as space pavilions around a courtyard that take in all the details and create an active and inviting public space,” said Erik Mott, Design Director at Perkins + Will.

However, during the fourth and final meeting, the architecture firm finalized the details based on the guidelines of the review board. Previously, the West Review Board had questioned the harmony between the upper and lower levels of the building, as well as the lack of differentiation between the main entrance and the side entrances. Additionally, the board had asked the project team to reconsider the different types of glass, but in general was more supportive of the other materials chosen by the team.

Upon returning to the board of directors, Perkins + Will followed suit to create a more consistent, concise design. Starting with the lower volume, Perkins + Will redesigned the structure and adjusted the position of the retail entries to create more consistent proportions. The new design also includes a modulated front with different gradations in order to create a more harmonious overall picture.

Mott explained that the improved design also includes a layered look to fuse the top and bottom parts of the building together. To do this, the design team built in layered vertical cladding that also adds texture to the building.

“We have integrated material from the upper band into the lower band in order to standardize the material language. We have reduced the number of types of glazing. We added a belt line between the first and second levels to act as an anchor for the signage, as well as an architectural demarcation that adds size to the lower mass, ”Mott said.

Perkins + Will also made adjustments to the front entryway to provide a “chunkier” wooden canopy and effectively remove the glass canopy originally suggested in previous designs.

“We redesigned the architectural detailing at the entrances, including the canopies and adding a portal frame to accentuate the entrance, so a lot of work has been done. It’s on a detailed level but we believe it has a significant impact and it was all done in direct response to guidance from the board, ”said Mott.

While eliminating the glass roof, the team will keep the bone-white exterior of the building to add to the consistency of the design while adding a backdrop for landscaping as well as future signage.

“This is a building that is uniform in color and differentiated in detail. It’s further regulated in its lines that define the system placement and a variety of treatments through the details add character and a sense of craftsmanship to the architecture, ”said Mott.

“… We see the signage as another opportunity to enhance the Arts District, and we look forward to creative signage, designers, tenants with decimation and branding in these spaces, who add a different character with some wonderful signs.”

After the details of the project were refined and the board saw no other issues, a formal vote was held which allowed the project to move forward without other guidance.