November 13, 2015

Westbank proposes an Aqua-like wave for 1200 Stewart complex

Courtesy Henriquez Partners Architects [enlarge]

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A little Chicago style is evident in the design for a new Seattle residential complex proposed by a developer from Vancouver, B.C.

The project is called 1200 Stewart St. and the developer, Westbank Projects Corp., wants to build a pair of 41-story towers with 876 units and 791 parking spaces.

The north side of the buildings will have a “continuous sculptural balcony” that creates a wave on the facade, according to documents prepared for a design review meeting next week. The packet names a landmark tower in Chicago called Aqua as an inspiration. The rippling residential high rise was designed by noted architect Jeanne Gang.

The wave is meant to attract people walking by as well as people viewing 1200 Stewart on the skyline. Trees will be planted on various levels of the facade. The south side of the complex will have a flatter, more traditional facade.

Henriquez Partners Architects of Vancouver, B.C. is the architect for 1200 Stewart. Westbank said in design review documents that it has an affiliated company called Icon West Construction that builds its projects.

PFS Studio, also of Vancouver, is listed as the landscape architect.

An early design guidance meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 600 Fifth Ave.

Before the recession, Lexas Cos. proposed building a pair of 35-story towers with a hotel and housing on the same site. While the overall size of Westbank's proposal would be about the same, the developer has made some big changes such as getting rid of the hotel, and lowering the height of the podium.

Westbank will need an alley vacation for the project, and said it wants to put a “galleria” where the alley is today. The galleria would be enclosed in structural glass with a winter garden inside, creating a path from Stewart Street to Denny Way.

Other public benefits such as sidewalks, landscaping and open space that Lexas had proposed in exchange for the alley vacation would remain as part of Westbank's project.

Westbank said in the design review packet that it has $10 billion in projects completed or under development in Dallas as well as Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria.