September 30, 2025

Gonzaga proposes a mini-park along waterfront ... with a home for Spike!

Renderings by Berger Partnership [enlarge]

Berger Partnership recently submitted its early plan for the waterfront-facing plaza to the city.

The waterfront's Woldson block, at 1101 Western Ave., is so named for the late philanthropist Myrtle Woldson, who gifted it to Gonzaga University in her will. Now we're going to split the block, also facing Alaskan Way, into its major and minor components.

On Western, AMLI has an approved plan for a 17-story, 245-unit apartment building, designed by GGLO. Gonzaga will ground lease the land to AMLI. The neighbors appealed the project to the city Hearing Examiner, which ruled against them last year. The extended master use permit is good through September 2027. Construction has to start by then. For now, the full block remains exorbitantly expensive parking for tourists. The DJC first reported the plan in 2017.

Facing west to Alaskan, Gonzaga will retain a skinny strip of land, with about 7,345 square feet. That runs between Seneca and Spring streets, and is destined to become a public plaza. Berger Partnership is designing the plaza (or park), and recently submitted its early plan to the city.

[enlarge]

Gonzaga says the plaza will “celebrate, honor, and tell a story about the school, its culture and community.”

The entire project had always included the plaza, but it wasn't clear until now who'd oversee it. As a matter of phasing and permitting, the plaza is probably covered by AMLI's MUP … and would surely be constructed after the building. (Mortenson is still listed as the builder.)

Berger says of the plaza, “Gonzaga University is venturing into a new role, growing roots in Seattle and becoming part of the city's reimagined waterfront. This new Gonzaga presence is made possible by the foresight of Myrtle Woldson and her generous gifts to the school. Gonzaga Plaza … is the most prominent private site on Seattle's waterfront, and is to be utilized as open space that welcomes the public.”

Photo via Gonzaga University [enlarge]

A current Spike statue, at the Spokane campus.

Design elements are to include seating, native plants, possible nurse logs, basalt and granite pavers and benches, possible rain garden, significant conifer tree and a sculpture of Spike — that being the university's bulldog mascot. Spike would be positioned on the plaza's north end, at Seneca, and would feature accent lighting for better nighttime display.

The plaza isn't yet in design review. Approval should come during the apartment construction or before; no start date has been announced.

Berger says the plaza will be “enriched with Gonzaga's fingerprints, a subtle yet meaningful Gonzaga University outpost in Seattle.” Spike and other design cues will “celebrate, honor, and tell a story about the school, its culture and community.”

Also, “ephemeral awesomeness” is promised.