September 15, 2016

Cascade Bicycle Club rolls out its new HQ

Photo by Aaron Leitz, courtesy ZGF [enlarge]

The outdoor components of the $2.5 million project are done now and being celebrated Saturday.

The grand opening of Cascade Bicycling Center in Magnuson Park will be from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday at https://goo.gl/maps/SZJRQuRcabF2" target="_blank">7787 62nd Ave. N.E.

It is housed in what's called Building 11, near the north end of the former naval air station, with an 8,000-square-foot facility that includes office space for Cascade's 40-person staff. The club has about 17,000 members.

The center had its soft opening in late 2014, when the nonprofit moved from another building in Magnuson Park.

What's new and being celebrated Saturday are the outdoor components of the $2.5 million project. There is a Fix-It Garage, where Cascade members can take repair classes and use free tools to work on bikes; a “traffic garden” for training children and new adult riders in a car-free obstacle course; and a sheltered Ride Leader Welcome Pavilion, where group riders can meet, fill up water bottles and lock their bikes.

The free ceremony will include ice cream, a bike rodeo, live music, helmet fitting sessions — and of course free bicycle parking.

Cascade has a 30-year lease with the city for space in the building, which it shares with other tenants.

The project team included volunteers Hart Crowser (engineering), NCM Contracting (demolition), PAE (plumbing and electrical), KPFF (structural engineering), Seamus Kelly (ZGF Architects), Mike Martinez (Hoffman Construction) and Shannon Loew (Form in Context) and Snyder Roofing. Former Cascade board member Ron Sher, a local developer, “was the brains behind all of this,” according to a Cascade spokesperson.

If you attend on Saturday use the main park entrance at 7400 Sand Point Way N.E. (at the traffic light). More details and info: cascade.org.