March 16, 2022

Two Washington projects highlight a re-imagining of the skybridge

Renderings by Perkins & Will [enlarge]

The skybridge at 707 Terry is approximately 290 feet in the air.

[enlarge]

The internal design of the Terry Skybridge was inspired by a luxury yacht.

Photo by Heywood Chan [enlarge]

One of the skybridges at the T-Mobile headquarters has seating to encourage the sharing of ideas.

In Washington, skybridges are relatively rare. When they are found they are typically in hospitals or multi-building complexes as a means of connecting properties together or to parking structures. They tend to be functional and rarely of much aesthetic or architectural interest. However, internationally and locally, a new type of skybridge is appearing, conceived as a place to stop, connect, and socialize rather than just pass through. These connectors in the sky are also becoming spaces for architectural innovation and aesthetic experimentation.

“Today's skybridges are rarely just a functional element to get from point A to B and as designers we are starting to ask more of these spaces,” Andy Su, design director at Gensler, confirmed. “Skybridges have become social zones, internationally they've also become landmarks,” he continued, noting the eight skybridges that make up Beijing's Linked Hybrid building, where the bridges contain amenities such as an amphitheater and swimming pool, and the skybridge that connects the Petronas Towers in Kula Lumpar, 558-feet in the air.

“I think skybridges inspire a sense of curiosity and wonder,” Su continued.

“There's definitely a wow factor happening with many modern skybridges,” Gavin Smith, associate principal at Perkins & Will, shared.

A Seattle skybridge that certainly has that wow factor is the one currently under construction at Westbank's 707 Terry project, designed by Perkins & Will. The striking skybridge - which is made almost entirely of glass - connects the project's two towers at level 31, approximately 290-feet up. The bridge connects an amenity floor in each tower, but it is also conceived as an amenity in and of itself.

“From the outset, the skybridge at 707 Terry was seen as having both a functional purpose and as central architectural and design feature,” Smith explained. The bridge is inspired by the theme of ‘creative tensions' and the project's close proximity to the Frye Art Museum. According to the architect's website, the bridge “allows residents to traverse the void....the ‘creative tension' formed at the bridge will be further enhanced by unparalleled views both to the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges,” Lake Washington and the Puget Sound. Internally, the bridge has a mix of seating options for residents to pause, meet, relax and enjoy. The design is inspired by the interior of a private yacht. Residents stand suspended looking out onto the water. The floor is wood, like a deck, and is dotted with glass port hole style windows/viewing portals that look down to the Frye Art Museum. The space also includes nautical instruments that read wind-speed.

Creating a skybridge like this is an impressive feat of both design and engineering. Originally, the project's two buildings were intended to be stand alone towers with no cross bracing. “Without cross bracing the expansion joints for the skybridge, needed to be 60-inches, we decided to introduce cross bracing and the expansion joint went from 60-inches to 10-inches. From a design perspective this was important as it enabled us to keep the skybridge's appearance light and glassy,” Smith said.

Another set of skybridges that represent a re-imagining of these structures are the three at T-Mobile's Headquarters in Factoria, designed by Gensler. The T-Mobile campus consists of five buildings. There was one existing, purely functional, skybridge that Gensler renovated and two more were added. “A big design motivation for the campus was creating a space that would connect a company that connects the world and the skybridges are a major element of that,” Su said.

All three skybridges have diverse seating options and are colorfully furnished. They are designed to serve as welcoming space to connect with others, while weaving all the buildings together through an “amenity street.” Each skybridge has its own unique features to encourage movement across the campus.

“We're getting great feedback about the skybridges and the experience of spending time and interacting there,” Su continued.

Both Su and Smith said they expect to see more of this type of skybridge rise in Washington and that more and more people will want to experience the suspended sense of connection they offer. Su said that in particular he expects to see more skybridges, like those at T-Mobile, at office complexes for creative companies as they are ideal spaces for fostering accidental connections and serendipitous encounters, which are known to stimulate creativity. “I think its going to no longer be a case of meet me in the lunch or conference room but meet me at the skybridge,” he mused.