From The Field: Office Space

As Seattle and Bellevue continue to expand, Kirkland is emerging as an enticing alternative office destination that caters to high-tech firms. The largest development in Kirkland history, Kirkland Urban is a mixed-use office, retail, entertainment and residential development comprised of more than 1.2 million square feet. The development spans multiple buildings on 11.5 acres, the equivalent of four Seattle city blocks. Kirkland Urban pushes the boundaries with complicated design features and construction staging on a large scale. The project is being built in three phases, broken down into nine zones with separate packages and permits.

Tiered public plazas, pedestrian walkways, stairwells, escalators, elevators and vehicular thruways connect multiple buildings and site features, merging retail, entertainment, and residential with office environment. “Kirkland Urban is built around the 18-hour day — where life doesn’t stop before, during, or after work,” says kirklandurban.com and reimagines the typical office environment. When complete, the development will offer 650,000 square feet of Class-A office space, most of which has been leased by tech companies, Tableau and Wave, with recent buzz about Google vying for a piece of the pie.

Fun Fact: Phase I of the project is expected to open early 2019 with subsequent phases wrapping up in 2021.

Project Team:
Owner: Talon Private Capital, Ryan Companies, Inc., PGIM Real Estate / Architects: Weber Thompson, CollinsWoerman  / General Contractor: Ryan Companies, Inc.  / Structural + Civil Engineer: Coughlin Porter Lundeen / Landscape Architect: HEWITT / Photo: Talon Private Capital

A stunning four-story office development along the shore of South Lake Union, The Atrium offers 205,000 square feet of Class-A office space with a lab component. The building’s large floor plates promote collaboration and its feature four- story vertical piazza and communal glass atrium provides further connection at each level, enhancing the overall tenant experience. Two levels of below grade parking provide 260+ stalls and if you’re lucky enough to commute via boat, the building even has its own private dock with water access. Additional amenities include multiple roof decks, expansive plazas, and destination dining options — aiming to inspire and attract “Seattle’s best” talent.

The atrium space (with its large curtain walls, skybridge, and feature stairs) required special attention and creative detailing. Thoughtful organization of the column layout allows for future flexibility and maximizes space usage while accommodating a variety of potential tech or lab tenants. Located near the South Lake Union shoreline, a robust foundation system mitigates the site’s poor soil conditions and high groundwater. The project also required extensive civil work. Two undergrounding packages removed aerial obstructions from view, a strange right-of-way required special attention, and 350-foot water main extension reaches under Fairview Avenue.

Project Team:
Owner: Alexandria Real Estate Equities  / Architect: Perkins+Will  / General Contractor: BNBuilders  / Structural + Civil Engineer: Coughlin Porter Lundeen / Landscape Architect: PFS Studio

This eight-story, mixed-use office building is the latest addition to Hudson Pacific Properties’ “King St. Crossing” hub in Pioneer Square, comprised of five historically renovated structures totaling nearly 800,000 SF of Class-A space with shared amenities along King Street. Completed in Fall 2017, 450 Alaskan offers unobstructed views of Elliott Bay near the future Seattle Festival Pier and waterfront esplanade.

The extensive open floorplan, supported by PT wide shallow beams, offers flexibility and encourages interaction and collaboration between colleagues. The cladding design blends modern and historic elements, incorporating the neighborhood’s traditional brick façade aesthetic with large glass windows that maximize a picturesque backdrop of Elliot Bay and the Olympics. The interior follows suit, with exposed original brick and reclaimed wood juxtaposed by polished concrete floors and concrete walls.

Fun Fact: Developers describe 450 Alaskan as “a modern jewel between the water and the cobblestones.” The high-design space is stunning, rivaled only by the sweeping views from the nearly 8,000 square foot penthouse roof deck and terrace.

Project Team:
Owner: Hudson Pacific Properties / Architect: NBBJ  / General Contractor: GLY Construction  / Structural Engineer: Coughlin Porter Lundeen / Civil Engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers  / Landscape Architect: Murase Associates