July 24, 2025

Skanska's The Eight steps into the Bellevue spotlight

Photo by David Sundberg-Esto [enlarge]

The Eight tower sits at 10770 N.E. Eighth St. and makes a prominent mark on the city’s skyline.

The Eight, Skanska's new landmark office tower in Bellevue, is officially completed. The tower's design architect, Pickard Chilton, announced the milestone this week.

Skanska USA Commercial Development developed the 25-story tower. It was built by Skanska Construction. The Eight sits at 10770 N.E. Eighth St. and makes a bold visual statement and prominent mark on the city's skyline.

Construction began on the roughly 800,000-square-foot building in 2021. In addition to Class A + office floors, the tower has an indoor/outdoor lobby and lounge space on the ground level called “The Living Room,” which includes a vinyl listening lounge amenity inspired by Japanese “jazz kissa” cafe culture; an amenity floor with a flexible gathering space; landscaped decks at level two and on the rooftop; multiple, alternating indoor/outdoor balconies on various levels; event and conference space; and a fitness center. Seven of the office levels open out to decks.

Photo by Erik Stackpole Undehn [enlarge]

The tower’s ground-floor lobby and lounge open directly onto a new public plaza that is also part of the development.

There is also around 11,000 square feet of ground-level retail and approximately 152,000 square feet of underground parking.

Pickard Chilton, which is based in Connecticut, says the tower's design “is rooted in structural expression and sustainability.” It has a side core, allowing for open, column-free floorplates, 14-foot ceilings, and maximized views. Diagonal braces emerge from a structural diaphragm below grade to wrap around the faceted tower and create a robust lateral system capable of resisting the regional seismic forces. The braces are exposed at terraced active-use spaces along the facade, creating a dynamic and distinct expression.

According to Anthony Markese, principal at Pickard Chilton, the tower's massing, color and structural expression are all designed to “pay homage to the natural beauty and the architectural heritage of the Pacific Northwest.”

Though its signature element, the tower is not the sole feature of the development. There is also a 7,000-square-foot open public plaza, landscaped with native plants, and an 1,800-square-foot mass timber retail pavilion along Northeast Eighth Street.

The tower is strategically situated on the northwest side of the project site to maximize ground-level open space along Northeast Eight. Retail space and the office lobby open directly onto the plaza, blending interior and exterior space.

The carbon-efficient, heavy timber pavilion anchors the eastern edge of the site, integrating ramps, accessible pathways, and inviting community open space. A mural by local artist Baso Fibonacci lines the western street edge.

“From day one, our goal on The Eight was to deliver more than just an office tower — we set out to create a dynamic, welcoming place that meets the flexibility, wellness, and sustainability needs of today's top-tier tenants,” said Charlie Foushee, executive vice president and regional manager for Skanska USA Commercial Development's Seattle region. “Our collaboration with Pickard Chilton resulted in an iconic building that features light-filled, engaging spaces for everyone — from office workers to residents and visitors — to connect, gather, and thrive in the heart of the city.”

The Eight incorporates numerous sustainable design and construction methodologies including a high-performance enclosure designed to exceed the city's energy code. The tower is the third LEED v4 Core & Shell Platinum project in Washington and Bellevue's first.

Other members of the project team include Adamson Associates, architect of record; Magnusson Klemencic Associates, structural engineer; and Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, interior design.

The DJC reported in March that 82% of office space at The Eight is already leased. Anchor tenant, Pokemon Company International, signed a lease for 16 floors in early 2024. That was one of 2024's largest lease deals on the West Coast.

Also taking office space is global advertising technology company The Trade Desk.

The first, and so far only, retail tenant to be announced is Sabine Cafe, which plans to open on the ground level of the tower early next year. The eatery offers brunch, craft espresso, house-made pastries, and Mediterranean-inspired dinner and cocktail menus. Sabine's first location opened in Ballard in 2020.