March 24, 2026

Seahawks plan reno and addition to Renton facility

Renderings by HOK [enlarge]

Formal plans were filed with the city last month to overhaul the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

First they won the Super Bowl (again). Then the team was (reportedly) put up for sale. And now the Seahawks are planning a signification renovation and addition to their Renton training facility.

The team's ownership formally filed plans with the city last month to overhaul its Virginia Mason Athletic Center, appropriately located at 12 Seahawks Way. (That dead-end lane runs between Interstate 405 and the east shore of Lake Washington, in the Kennydale area.) Planning began last year, before the Super Bowl.

HOK is the architect, with Venture General Contracting to be the builder. The existing VMAC dates to 2008, and spans about 200,000 square feet. Crawford Architects of Missouri was the original architect, and local firm Bayley Construction then the builder.

[enlarge]

The expansion will add about 80,000 square feet.

The expansion, punching out the east and west sides of the big box, will add about 80,000 square feet. That new construction would rise to three stories, meeting the old floors within. The original structure has an indoor field, wrapped with offices, support areas and the like.

On the Eastrail-facing side of the building, HOK writes, “The new east facade will be articulated with a ceramic frit pattern applied to the exterior glass curtain wall. The design of the pattern, still in development, will vary in density along the facade, creating a spectrum of transparencies at every glazing unit. It will express the identity of the Seahawks while managing visual privacy where safety dictates, and allowing visibility into the varied inner facades where practical.”

Photo by Brian Miller [enlarge]

The structure today, now 18 years old.

The stated goal is to begin construction this summer, with completion in the fall of 2028. By that time, of course, the team may have a new owner. The estate of Paul Allen is now reportedly offering the team for sale.

[enlarge]

A ceramic frit pattern will be applied to the exterior glass curtain wall along the eastern facade.

For those who regularly pass by the VMAC on Eastrail, there's a white city land-use notice sign for all to read. It went up last fall. The city noted in mid-February that a SEPA determination of non-significance is expected for the project. A public presentation will come on April 28, in a virtual meeting. The public comment period has passed.

Current surface parking has about 275 stalls; that number will rise to 435 or so, with some offsite — and possible shuttle service.

The team also includes MKA Engineers, civil and structural; Berger Partnership, landscape architect; Henderson Engineers, MEP; WJHW, audio/visual consultant; Heffron Transportation, parking analyst; and Shannon & Wilson, geotechnical engineer.