March 8, 2017

Chainqui breaks ground on 2401 Third

Image by by GWest Architecture [enlarge]

2401 Third most notable feature is a cascading green wall that splits the south facade facing Battery.

Demolition is now underway at 2401 Third Ave., where Taiwanese firm Chainqui Development has its master use permit for a 12-story mixed-use tower at the northwest corner of Battery Street.

Chainqui bought the roughly 13,000-square-foot site from U.S. Bank, which operated a branch there, for $5.2 million in 2014.

Plans by GWest Architecture have evolved from 110 units to 116 to the present 132. The latter has been permitted along with 4,900 square feet of ground-floor retail and parking for 73 vehicles on three levels below grade.

Now Chainqui is proposing a slightly different window treatment, which will require city approval.

In public records, the architects state, “Our revision request proposes to substitute punched windows (previously allowed for north and west walls) for window wall previously shown on east and south facades. Proportion of fenestration is adjusted slightly to accommodate the technical limitations of the windows, while adhering to the original design intent to the extent possible.”

GWest estimates the new window scheme will slightly decrease the total glazed surface from 41.89 to 40.22 percent. This would make the building more energy efficient. The tradeoff would be less transparency.

As before, the building's most notable feature is a cascading green wall that splits the south facade facing Battery. On its north end, facing Third, the facade also steps down to six stories from 12, reducing the building's bulk. The project will also have rooftop decks and amenity areas. Parking will be accessed from the alley to the west.

2401 Third will be the first Seattle project for Chainqui, whose team also includes sister company DSA Development Services, JTM Construction (general contractor), BSE, Tres West Engineers, Lotus Landscape Design, Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Hart Crowser, Bee Consulting, MYDG, FHO, Transpo Group and SSA Acoustics.

Chainqui has made significant investments in Belltown. In 2015, the firm paid $33.7 million for about 20,000 square feet on Fifth Avenue between Lenora and Virginia streets. Some of that property has older buildings on it.

The design review meeting for 2401 Third is set for 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 21 at City Hall, 600 Fifth Ave., Room L2-80.