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April 13, 2022

Howard S. Wright to build Gemdale offices near SLU

By BRIAN MILLER
Real Estate Editor

Rendering by LMN [enlarge]
This view looks northwest at the 618 John project; it shares the block with a Travelodge to the west, which also seems a likely candidate for sale and redevelopment.

Gemdale USA is planning a nine-story office building on the half block at 618 John St., between Seattle Center and South Lake Union. The plan by LMN isn't yet through design review, but now a general contractor has emerged: Howard S. Wright (a Balfour Beatty company).

The 618 John project will replace the old Quality Inn with about 213,678 square feet of offices. The plan also includes 777 square feet of retail. The plan has been reduced by one floor since the last design review in December, hence losing about 40,000 square feet.

Gemdale says in its SEPA filings that it would like to break ground in the second quarter of next year, with occupancy in 2025. There's no indication yet as to a broker pre-leasing the space. That area is rapidly becoming a life-science hub, with BioMed Realty and Alexandria Real Estate Equities very active in that sector.

Floor-to-floor heights at 618 John are currently a little over 13 feet, which would be tight but not impossible for lab and life-science tenants.

Various terraces, including on the penthouse level, are indicated. So, too, are rooftop solar panels. A public plaza would face John, on the south end of the property, which is also bounded by Thomas Street and Seventh Avenue North (the former Aurora).

The 618 team also includes Bush, Roed & Hitchings, surveyor; Hewitt, landscape architect; Navix Engineering, civil; GeoEngineers, geotechnical; Valley Electric; Rushing, MEP and sustainability consultant; Jensen Hughes, code compliance and fire protection; Pielow Consulting, building codes; Global Geophysics, environmental consultant; and T.G. Heuser Co., historical consultant regarding the 1959 Quality Inn.

Rushing says the project will target LEED certification. Its project page quotes LMN's Mark Nicol as saying, “We really latched onto the idea that this project should be the happiest, healthiest office building in Seattle. And the reason for that is because it's being realized at a really interesting time… The office is fundamentally changing.”

Three underground parking levels will have about 205 stalls; tenants will have around 202 bike stalls.

Gemdale acquired the vacant motel last year for over $24 million.


 


Brian Miller can be reached by email at brian.miller@djc.com or by phone at (206) 219-6517.




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