October 31, 2024
Rethinking Lake Union Pier: Reviving Seattle’s Sustainable Waterfront
The collaborative transformation by owners, contractors and architects will usher in a sustainable, community-focused development while honoring the rich history of this site.
Written by Cory Mathis, Kiki Graham, and Andrew Bly
special to the journal
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As Seattle’s population and industry have developed, Lake Union has witnessed many changes. Founded by the Duwamish, this land has been cherished and preserved in its natural state for centuries, even as European settlers began encroaching on the area. Chief Chesiahad, also known as Lake Union John, played a pivotal role in protecting the area and was named in 2008 when Seattle Parks created the Chesiahad Loop, a trail that circles the lake, in his honor. efforts were recognized.
Throughout the 20th century, Lake Union became increasingly industrialized. Gas factories, sawmills, and shipyards gradually occupied the coastline, turning it into an industrial zone. This situation continued until the 1980s, when the Seattle Shoreline Management Act shifted land use in the South Lake Union area from industrial to commercial use. This change led to the development of Chandler’s Cove, but despite good intentions, it created problems with confusing pedestrian access and complicated connections to Union Lake Park.
Now renamed Lake Union Piers, Chandler’s Cove is a five-acre waterfront property on the south end of Lake Union, redeveloped by Vulcan Real Estate, designed by Miller Hull Partnership, and constructed by Abbott Construction. This innovative project demonstrates the power of like-minded partners coming together to prioritize community and environmental stewardship, and how impactful waterfront development is achieved through teamwork and innovative design. It serves as an inspiring example of what can be done.
cozy waterfront
Vulcan Real Estate acquired the property in 2000 and began planning its future shortly thereafter. Nearly two decades later, the surrounding lakefront area is home to Amazon, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Google, the Allen Institute, and Facebook, and this unique waterfront destination is being updated and reimagined. It was the perfect time to go. Vulcan hired architecture firm Miller Hull to modernize the grounds, enhance the grounds, and better connect visitors to the adjacent park and waterfront.
To achieve these goals, the project team considered a variety of solutions, from complete demolition and new construction to simple renovations of the existing building. Ultimately, Vulcan will renovate three 1980s-era buildings at Lake Union Piers East to house a mix of maritime, food and entertainment tenants, revitalizing the waterfront for the public to enjoy. I chose to.
The building was in need of restoration, outdated, and lacked meaningful engagement with its surroundings. It quickly became apparent that this was not a typical reuse project. Specifically, because zoning did not allow for the structure’s existing footprint to be expanded in accordance with shoreline setback requirements.
Working within these constraints, the design team redefined the language of the project and carved out the existing mass to better connect indoor and outdoor spaces. The project team was able to simplify the massive mid-’80s stucco building and introduce a modern marine material palette. The wall and roof shapes, which follow the shape of the existing building, are clad in metal panels, while the new subtractive movement in the main elements is accentuated with wood and glass.
Strategic design elements are incorporated at prominent entrances and along public promenades. At the northern end of the pier, a new “Lantern” is a transparent restaurant space with expansive views of the lake and defined by an operable glass wall, replacing the previously existing enclosed reflective glass octagon. is installed. The building faces a central plaza operated by small businesses serving marine customers. These suites are accessed via a new colonnade made of steel and wood. This provides weather protection and material warmth to the site. Major improvements to the building and grounds will work together to create a new identity for the site and expand active public invitation to enjoy the lakefront.
A sustainable approach to reusing these buildings is estimated to generate about half of the emissions generated by new construction, and this project is part of EMission Zero, Miller Hull’s initiative to target emissions. It is positioned as the first project to achieve an owner/contractor/architect decarbonization component. Greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment.
Achieving the zero emissions milestone
EMission Zero was founded on the objectives of education, advocacy and offset, to achieve environmental impact through design and ultimately to improve the A1 to A3 Leads to a commitment between owners, contractors and architects to offset emissions. architectural elements. Since 2021, Miller Hull has offset a third of its embodied carbon emissions from 26 construction projects, totaling 41,360 tonnes of carbon. Lake Union Pier is the first project where owners and contractors have joined this effort.
For individual projects like the Lake Union Pier, Miller Hull prioritizes design and offset. During design, Miller Hull works with clients and contractors to reduce or eliminate both future operational and internal emissions. At Lake Union Pier, Vulcan significantly renovated and upgraded the existing building to meet the latest Seattle Energy Standards, creating a high-performance, energy-efficient, all-electric facility with minimal operating emissions. I aimed to change it. Choosing to renovate rather than build new significantly reduced body emissions by approximately 50%.
Through Offset, Vulcan, Abbott and Miller Hull each purchased certified offsets covering one-third of the building’s pre-construction emissions, and together they offset 100% of the project’s pre-construction tangible emissions.
The total pre-materialized carbon impact of Lake Union Pier’s structure, enclosure, and interior was calculated to be 495 tons of carbon. This is equivalent to the impact of driving the average car between Seattle and San Diego 989 times. Miller Hull, Vulcan, and Abbott each offset 165 tons of carbon, which funded HFC emissions reductions in spray foam insulation and wind energy development.
Lake Union Pier has always been an iconic “Seattle” location. From its historical roots in Duwamish culture to its role as a center for shipbuilding, this part of the coastline remains central to the city’s identity. Today, it hosts public events such as the annual Fourth of July fireworks and serves as a gateway to the high-tech South Lake Union neighborhood. Currently fully leased and with tenant renovations underway, the revitalized development will enhance the region’s maritime culture, revitalize the waterfront, and strengthen the land-water connection, while creating an environment in which the built environment provides a clear path towards carbon neutrality.
Cory Mattheis is a senior associate at Miller Hull Partnership. Kiki Gram is a Senior Development Manager at Vulcan Real Estate. Andrew Bry is a project director at Abbott Construction.
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