Broadway Crossing
Architects: GGLO and Donahou Design Group
Engineer: Coughlin Porter Lundeen
Owner: Capitol Hill Housing
ABC members: Evergreen Concrete Cutting, Custom Sprinkler Co., DeBolte Plumbing & Heating, MT Electric, Coast Crane Co., Kodo Construction
Located at the intersection of Broadway and Pine, Broadway Crossing is a high-density, mixed-use development with below-grade parking, pedestrian-friendly urban retail space and affordable housing.
The project includes three concrete post-tensioned decks comprising two levels of below-grade parking and 12,000 square feet of street-level retail space. Rising above the retail space are four levels of wood-framed housing ranging from 420-square-foot studios to 785-square-foot, two-bedroom units.
The building represents an unusual public-private partnership between S.E. Grainger Development group and the nonprofit Capitol Hill Housing organization. It is also the first time a Walgreens has been part of a mixed-use development.
The project involved two architects: GGLO, who designed the residential units and the core and shell, and Donahou Design Group, who was hired by Walgreens to ensure that their specifications for the retail space were met. The project team's structure depended on a careful balance of the sometimes divergent interests of the nonprofit housing and for-profit retail parties. For example, Walgreens mandates roof specifications for all new stores, however, the roof for this project consisted of dwelling units and a courtyard that made their roof spec inappropriate.
A significant challenge to the schedule arose when 8,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils were discovered on site, even though preliminary reports were clean. Also, after breaking ground, Rafn Co. workers discovered several buried building foundations.
The excavation phase proved challenging because of the proximity of existing buildings on two sides of the site. Rafn closely coordinated with engineers on a detailed shoring plan to underpin the existing buildings with a system of soil nails.
Rafn implemented extra safety precautions as the sidewalks adjacent to the job site remained open during construction. Fencing, covered walkways and scaffold barriers were used to protect the public. The contractor also worked to minimize the impact of more than 400 dump trucks to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic around the busy intersection and adjacent college campus.
The project has been recognized as a Green Community and was awarded a SeaGreen award from the city of Seattle. It is also in the process of being certified as LEED silver, which would make it the Northwest's first affordable housing project with that designation.
Green features include a traction-style elevator, which saves energy by using a 6-horsepower motor and requires no hydraulic oils, and Energy Star light fixtures in 70 percent of the building. The building is situated to maximize daylight and insulated beyond code requirements to save energy. Also, there are occupancy sensors for lighting in low-use areas and programmable thermostats.
Although solar energy was not feasible within the budget, Rafn installed piping and GGLO reviewed the roof loads to ensure solar panels could be installed in the future. The team diverted more than 80 percent of the construction waste through reuse or recycling.
Rafn had two medical-only injuries and no time-loss injuries in 17,649 worker hours.