In the design of a new commercial office tower and hotel in a downtown Seattle development, the owner held the rights to demolish a historically-significant church on the site, allowing for the development of a larger, half-block footprint. The emotional, cultural and historic significance of that church – a facility commissioned by Arthur Denny, founding father of the city of Seattle – motivated the client and parishioners to seek alternatives.
© Connie Zhou
© Connie Zhou
The architects pursued a smaller building footprint, one that would preserver the historic sanctuary, promote pedestrian-activation of the city block, encourage density and smart urbanization. The church’s preservation and its incorporation into the new development would also yield a more sustainable solution for the site.
© Connie Zhou
This shared commitment and sensitivity to context allowed not only for the church to restored for future community use, but to maintain the character and history of the block, which also includes the historic Rainer Club building.
© Connie Zhou
© Connie Zhou
The faceted scheme, with fewer lateral elements configured at open angles, draws the eye upward, increasing the vertical emphasis of the Tower. This scheme also offers subtle variation in plane from facet to facet: a soft expression which avoids overpowering the delicate detail and scale of the sanctuary and Rainier Club.
© Connie Zhou
© Connie Zhou
© Lara Swimmer
© Connie Zhou
© Connie Zhou
© Connie Zhou
Project Credits
Architects: ZGF Architects
Location: Seattle, Washington, United States
Category: Extension
Design Architect/Architect of Record: ZGF Architects
The Sanctuary/Hotel and Restaurant Architect: Phillippe Stark
Historical Preservation Architect: Ron Wright & Associates
Area: 750000.0 ft2
Project Year: 2018
Photographs: Connie Zhou, Lara Swimmer
Manufacturers: Pilkington, Viracon, Pohl, The Erection Company, Harmon
Construction Manager/General Contractor: JTM Construction
Structural Engineer: Arup USA
Civil Engineer/Shoring Design: Coughlin Porter Lundeen
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Engineers: Syska Hennessy Group, Inc., The Rushing Group, Auburn Mechanical, Cochran, Hermanson Company
Vertical Transportation: Edgett Williams Consulting Group
Lighting: The Lighting Design Alliance
Environmental: EA Engineering, Science, and Technology
Broker: JLL
Ownership: Daniels Real Estate, Stockbridge Real Estate
Project description courtesy of architects