520 Pike in Seattle, Washington by Olson Kundig

Article source: Olson Kundig

The renovation of this 29-story office tower for developer Tishman Speyer consisted of a lobby redesign, as well as exterior façade updates. Originally constructed in 1983, the building had experienced several additions to the façade throughout the 1990s. With this latest renovation, the goal was to reestablish 520 Pike as a modern building.

“One of the greatest design challenges in a climate like Seattle, is to create a light filled space. This drove every decision we made from elevating the ceiling plane, to opening up the window wall and inserting a variety of nuanced white finishes and light experiences throughout the space.” –Kirsten R. Murray, FAIA, Design Principal

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

• Architects: Olson Kundig
• Project: 520 Pike
• Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
• Photography: Aaron Leitz
• Project Team: Kirsten Murray, FAIA, Design Principal; Jerry Garcia, LEED® AP, Principal/Project Manager; Brian Walters, LEED® AP, Jeff Ocampo, LEED® AP, and Mikel Amias, Architectural Staff; Margaret Undine, NCIDQ, Interior Design Staff
• Key Consultants: Turner Construction, General Contractor; MKA Engineering, Structural Engineer; Niteo Lighting, Lighting Design; Quarra Stone, Stone Seating Fabrication
• Project Size: 2,000 SF interior conditioned space
• Completed: 2018

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Located in the heart of Seattle’s downtown business district, the building houses over 1,000 workplace tenants. Thousands of people move through the highly-trafficked lobby daily, as the building contains an above-ground public parking garage. The renovation reestablishes 520 Pike’s street presence with a strong unifying dark tone for the tower, and a white painted steel canopy to emphasize the street entrance.

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

“The newly designed lobby was viewed as a tribute to the natural beauty of the Northwest.  The goal being to achieve a degree of tranquility, similar to that of an inland passage, between the urban environment outside and the offices above.” –Kirsten R. Murray, FAIA, Design Principal

Inside, the redesigned lobby and inhabited art space reflects Seattle’s environmental and material presence, providing a calm passageway between the urban environment outside and the offices above. A feature wall clad in poplar strips interspersed with vertical lighting recalls Pacific Northwest forests, with salvaged local timber beams used for the reception desk and benches. Large granite “boulder” seating punctuates the lobby, creating a natural respite within this urban high-rise building.

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Image Courtesy © Aaron Leitz

Tags: USA, Washington

Categories: Office Building, office Complex, Offices, Renovation, Tower

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