The concrete-framed building replaces an inactive car rental business and surface parking lot, thoughtfully addressing the community’s feedback for a welcoming design. Wide sidewalks with planting create a buffer for an enhanced pedestrian experience, while a plaza provides seating for retail patrons.
1916 Boren offers a range of uses, including offices, dedicated laboratory and research spaces, and retail. Outdoor amenities, including a roof deck and patios on each floor, create a pleasant working environment. Due to the building’s specifications for life science buildouts, Seattle Children’s Research Institute pre-leased half of the building two years before construction completion for pediatric research, contributing to the building’s important role in advancing healthcare innovation.
Tracked updates to the City of Seattle stormwater code facilitated meeting jurisdictional requirements, resulting in the project’s approval as one of the first permitted under the 2021 code. Early coordination with Seattle Public Utilities avoided upsizing the water mains, providing construction and utility fee savings.
1916 Boren uses a unique long-span concrete system that provides excellent vibration performance with column-free tenant spaces. It marks the first use of the rebar coupler system by PS=Ø® in Washington state. PS=Ø® specializes in developing a mechanical rebar splicing system that provides structural rebar continuity. The game-changing technique enables construction crews to pour full concrete slabs without the traditional 3’ closure pour gaps. These gaps require shoring to support the slabs on both sides until the closure pour is filled in, which can delay construction. Implementing creative engineering solutions such as this advancement significantly accelerates the schedule for the tenant space and improves on-site safety.
With flexibility in mind, coordinating extensive future MEP penetrations across the post-tensioned concrete floors accommodates multiple building tenants. The rooftop mechanical yard exceeds the loading capacity needed for future tenants’ large mechanical units, surpassing the typical requirements of a shell and core building and streamlining leasing and future buildouts.
Photography © Ed Sozinho