March 20, 2026

Gold Winner — Commercial

Photo by Ed Sozinho [enlarge]

The life science building’s facade features more than 2.6 million pounds of hand-set Norman brick in two custom gray tones.

Chapter Building I, Seattle

Mason contractor: J&S Masonry

Architect: CollinsWoerman

General contractor: Lease Crutcher Lewis

Masonry supplier: Mutual Materials

Chapter Building I is a 320,000-square-foot life science development anchoring Seattle’s growing University District research hub. Located near the University of Washington and the recently opened light rail station, the 12-story project delivers office and laboratory space, ground floor retail, and three levels of below grade parking, along with more than 10,000 square feet of open air gathering areas.

Designed to meet LEED v4 Gold and the city of Seattle’s Living Building Pilot requirements, it incorporates bioretention planters, a rooftop terrace, and the Brooklyn Cut, an atrium like pedestrian passage connecting 12th and Brooklyn avenues.

Brick defines both the character and performance of the building. The façade features approximately 65,000 square feet of Norman brick in two custom gray tones, Coal Creek and Radondo, totaling roughly 280,000 bricks and more than 2.6 million pounds of hand-set material.

One tower is clad in the darker tone with lighter accent bands, while the adjacent mass inverts the palette, creating visual contrast and rhythm. Punched openings and varied proportions break down the scale and relate to the surrounding neighborhood.

A FERO ledger bracket system was engineered to suspend the veneer from slab edges and align precisely with window heads located two feet below. Nearly 6,000 linear feet of ledgers and flashing were carefully integrated at each floor line within post-tensioned slabs.

Tight site conditions along adjacent structures required custom engineered scaffold systems supported from decks and shoring. At peak production, crews installed up to 30,000 pounds of masonry per day, demonstrating the craftsmanship and technical precision that define Chapter Building I.

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