March 15, 2022

NBBJ designing 18-story Bellevue office tower for Schnitzer West

Rendering by NBBJ [enlarge]

Looking east from 106th, a large plaza and hill climb will lead east to a second plaza and lobby on 107th.

There won't be a land sale at 120 106th Ave. N.E. in downtown Bellevue, which most know as the Rite Aid building. Instead, following last fall's early office plan from Schnitzer West, the latter has signed a 99-year ground lease with the longtime owner, a local family investment group.

NBBJ is the architect for a proposed 18-story building with about 490,000 square feet. The plan is now in early review with the city. About 2,000 square feet of retail is also planned, along with four levels of underground parking with about 800 stalls.

The 1.7-ace property is north of the Pagliacci Pizza on Main Street, and bounded to the east by 107th Avenue Northeast. The two-story building to be demolished is also home to various small tenants. It dates to 1962.

Including the rooftop mechanical equipment, NBBJ estimates a project height of 247 feet. The seven-story podium would have variously offset levels, creating terraces and a 5,800-square-foot plaza on the northwest corner of the midblock property. That would lead east via a pedestrian connector and hill climb to 107th (effectively an alley).

NBBJ estimates about a seven-minute walk east to East Main Station. The new building would also be in a thicket of new towers under construction that are already leased to Amazon or hoping to attract its interest. Among them, a few blocks north, is Schnitzer West's Artise — also designed by NBBJ.

For the new south building, which the city simply calls 120 106th, there would be parking entries on both the east and west sides of the building, also with a secondary lobby and plaza on 107th. NBBJ estimates the total public space at grade at 9,300 square feet.

For now, before official design review begins, LEED certification isn't mentioned — but seems likely, since the Artise is targeting LEED Gold standard. The new proposal will likely require SEPA review, meaning a possible groundbreaking would be well over a year away. Light rail service begins next year in Bellevue.