Mortenson stacking up first modular project of its kind in Seattle
SEATTLE (Oct. 25, 2018) – General contractor Mortenson is currently assembling the South Lake Union citizenM hotel designed by Gensler’s Seattle office, which is slated to open in the summer of 2019. Construction workers have been stacking the hotel modular units like Lego blocks atop a traditionally constructed concrete podium.
citizenM is the first full volumetric modular hotel built from separate units. The various parts of the modular units are assembled at citizenM’s factory in Europe where workers make the bed, hang the TV and lock the doors. The prefabricated rooms are then wrapped in plastic, pressurized to keep windows in place, and shipped to the construction site, ready to become the next citizenM hotel.
This design and delivery method, known as structural modular design, is widely adopted in Europe, Asia and Australia, but is a first-of-its-kind for Seattle hospitality. The citizenM hotel units were manufactured and produced under the supervision of full-time inspectors, including City of Seattle LNI, then the entire set of units were shipped on one private vessel from Europe to Seattle. Each room was fully protected with an air and water barrier that remains in place during the installation process.
“citizenM’s modular design provides many advantages over traditional construction methods — including shorter construction schedules, consistent quality control and reduced site disruption,” said Phil Greany, a General Manager with Mortenson, which has developed complex projects in the Northwest for over 34 years, exceeding $5 billion in value. “Our focus on leading-edge construction technology makes our team uniquely qualified to bring the first citizenM hotel to Seattle.”
“citizenM hotels are designed to provide affordable luxury to appeal to the tech-savvy mobile citizen who demands a differentiated experience from the typical hotels of the city,” said Chad Yoshinobu, Design Director and Principal with Gensler. “This product will disrupt the traditional hotel market from a speed-to-market standpoint, and it will be the next delivery platform for the residential and student housing market.”
Modular solution can alleviate Seattle’s regional construction issues, like ever-increasing construction costs, skilled labor shortages, congested jobsites, truck traffic and pedestrian coordination. In addition to mitigating problems caused by traditional construction methods, modular design also reduces construction waste by 60 percent and provides travelers with a consistent experience in every market.
The seven-story citizenM hotel, which offers its customers a modern travel experience at an affordable price, will have a total of 264 rooms. Modules arrived overseas at the Port of Seattle on Aug. 8 fully finished, minus the mattress, pillow and towel, in custom steel enclosures. The project team includes Mortenson (general contractor), Gensler (architect), Arup (engineering), citizenM and Polcom Moduling.
About Mortenson
Mortenson is a U.S.-based, top-20 builder, developer and provider of energy and engineering services committed to helping organizations move their strategies forward. Mortenson’s expanding portfolio of integrated services ensures that its customers’ investments result in high-performing assets. The result is a turnkey partner, fully invested in the business success of its customers.
Founded in 1954, Mortenson has operations across North America with offices in Chicago, Denver, Fargo, Iowa City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and in Canada. For additional information, visit www.mortenson.com.
About Gensler
Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 48 locations and more than 6,000 professionals networked across Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and the Americas. Founded in 1965, the firm serves more than 3,500 active clients in virtually every industry. Gensler designers strive to make the places people live, work and play more inspiring, more resilient and more impactful. Visit www.gensler.com.
