Around Town

It’s one thing to see designs on paper, but another entirely to see them erected and in use. Exposing staff to projects of varied markets, materials, client types and construction phases, we strive to foster a team of well-rounded engineers. And allowing team members to see completed projects alive in their new homes is an important piece of that well-roundedness!

A new way to experience our portfolio, Coughlin Porter Lundeen project managers led groups through Pioneer Square, South Lake Union, Yesler Terrace and University of Washington.

Watch your step, you might catch a brick!

Steps from our downtown office, the team has made a notable impact in one of Seattle’s oldest and most cherished districts, Pioneer Square. Our portfolio ranges from quaint buildings like The Cadillac Hotel and the Lowman Building, to renovation work on some of the city’s most notable landmarks including The Smith Tower, King Street Station and Union Station. Contemporary developments like Stadium Place, Gridiron, 450 Alaskan and The Jack, seamlessly blend the new with the old.

We’ve worked to establish a reputation as experts in seismic retrofits, providing flexible, creative, and visionary designs that maintain the historic character of each structure we touch. These dynamic projects extend beyond the structure itself to invigorate street levels, connect to adjacent developments, and create inviting, memorable spaces that celebrate the neighborhood’s historic significance.

“SLU” if you’re a true Seattleite.

We’ve touched just about every block in South Lake Union, and walking the area is a favorite among our engineers. Commercial work in the sprawling tech jungle includes the likes of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. From streetscape design to structural innovations, Coughlin Porter Lundeen has helped revitalize the area and redefine what office environments can be.

Engineering services balance fast-track schedules with the complexities of urban infill design in SLU, and high-density goals with modern spaces. Additional market work here includes high-class research facilities like The Allen Institute and UW Medicine, cultural and hospitality projects such as MOHAI and citizenM, and many multi-unit residential developments, including Stack House, Sitka, McKenzie Tower and 624 Yale.

A masterplanned development rooted in community.

Spearheaded by Seattle Housing Authority (SHA), and with the help of local development partners, the $1.7 billion, 20-year transformation of Yesler Terrace reimagines the 30-acre site. The plan introduces a new mixed-use, mixed income neighborhood connecting Downtown Seattle, First Hill, Little Saigon, and Squire Park. When complete, the multi-building development expects 5,000 new housing units, 1,800 of which will be permanently subsidized for low- to moderate-income households, with supportive cultural and commercial businesses.

Our first project in the heart of the neighborhood, created the Yesler Community Center. Subsequent work included The Baldwin, Raven Terrace, Batik, Cypress, Hoi Mai Gardens, and handful of multi-family buildings currently in design and construction. Close coordination between our civil and structural disciplines has helped address Yesler Terrace’s challenging sloped site and kept complex designs cohesive.

Mighty are the purple and gold!

Many university renovation and modernization projects share themes: the challenge of making old structures feel new again, operating within budget constraints, and creating designs that resonate with the collegiate communities they serve, to name a few.

The award-winning Life Sciences Building created a world-class facility for innovation that promotes collaborative, interdisciplinary research in flexible, high-density labs. The team recently wrapped up the North Campus Phase IV residence halls which generated an additional 2,370 beds for undergraduates.

UW has revitalized several of their historic structures and we’re honored to have participated in many of those transformations. One of those was the Husky Union Building (HUB), built in 1949, whose full retrofit retained the building’s historic character and preserved the existing carbon footprint to align with the university’s long-term sustainability goals.

Read more about our favorite “bulky to beautiful” campus renovation projects here.

Walking tours are true favorites, allowing us to see both completed projects abuzz with activity, and the impact our work has had on the greater city and community.

A final note: we’re always happy to take a stroll! Please let us know if you’d like a walking tour in the area nearest you!