June 13, 2014

Design review for 2 new Vulcan towers

Image courtesy of ZGF Architects and Ankrom Moisan Architects [enlarge]

Vulcan Real Estate is considering its options for a pair of towers it is planning near Denny Park, on the site where the South Lake Union Discovery Center now sits.

Vulcan wants to do a full-block project at the corner of Denny Way and Westlake Avenue North, with either a mix of apartments and office space, or an all-office project that has street-level retail.

The housing and office option would involve putting a 41-story residential tower with 500 apartments near the corner of Ninth and John, and a 240-foot office tower at Westlake and Denny. There could be a combined 30,000 square feet of retail space.

If Vulcan decides to go with an all-office project that would mean having a 240-foot office building at Denny and Westlake, and a shorter office building along Ninth to prevent casting shadows over Denny Park.

An early design guidance meeting on the project is set for 6:30 p.m. July 2 at the Queen Anne Community Center, 1901 First Ave. W.

Lori Mason Curran, Vulcan's real estate investment strategy director, said there is no construction timeline for the two towers. The office building would not start without a signed tenant, and Mason Curran said Vulcan will watch the housing and office markets to decide what to build and when.

ZGF Architects is working with Ankrom Moisan Architects on the design.

The Miller Hull Partnership and GLY Construction designed and built the discovery center in a modular style so it can be separated into four pieces and moved when the block is redeveloped.