Project partners Africatown-Central District Preservation and Development Association, Black Community Impact Alliance, and Byrd Barr Place worked with Community Roots Housing to incorporate Liberty Bank’s cultural and historical significance into the mixed-use project. Salvaged elements from the original bank, including the iconic LB sign and bank vault door, are prominently displayed.
The six-story wood building provides 115 new affordable housing units, commercial space for local business owners, and a small garage. Tenant amenities include a lush and eco-conscious exterior courtyard plus a 3,000 SF rooftop deck with sweeping views, a community room with a kitchen, and secure bike storage.
Colors and patterns are inspired by Afrocentric design, featuring art installations that honor the legacy of Liberty Bank and celebrate the black community in the Central District. The most prominent installation is a colorful, full building height mural that depicts a saxophone player and dancers. Curated artwork includes outdoor furniture, interior murals, and compositions throughout the building.
Engaging both our civil and structural engineers on the project enabled timely solutions when working with Seattle agencies. From broad issues like rezoning and remediation to smaller details associated with power service and trash pick-up zones, our team worked closely with the city to maximize development on this tight urban site. The team provided shoring, grading, and retaining wall solutions; resolved unknown underground obstructions and contamination discovered during construction; and located cost-effective footing locations.
Created a stand-out centerpiece that pays homage to the site’s historic roots, suspending the 10,000-pound bank vault door from a four-steel support structure in the lobby. The structural team assisted with other distinctive, non-structural elements, including the arch entry and the bridge over the rain gardens in the courtyard.
Demonstrated a high level of collaboration, working closely with the design team to produce well-coordinated drawings and solutions that were mindful of budget constraints. For example, placing the 4-foot diameter detention vault through the center of the driveway entrance into the lowest level of the building resulted in significantly reduced earthwork costs.
Constructed this community hub to meet Evergreen Sustainable Development Standards. Together, Community Roots Housing and the team demonstrated their commitment to healthy building materials through a partnership with the national Healthy Building Network program and sustainability through a variety of means, including management of stormwater runoff with native plant landscaping and a green roof.
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