SEATTLE – November 11, 2020 – Runberg Architecture Group, a Seattle-based architecture firm specializing in urban mixed-use, housing and adaptive reuse projects, recently took home two awards at the virtual 2020 NAIOP Night of the Stars Awards ceremony on Friday, November 6, 2020.
Runberg designed Jackson, which won the “Multi-Family Residential Urban Development of the Year: More than 100 Units” Award; and An Lạc, which won the “Affordable Housing Development of the Year” Award.
Jackson: Located in Seattle’s Central Area neighborhood, Jackson includes 532 apartments, retail, and a 25,000-square-foot grocer. The site, developed by Vulcan Real Estate, was organized to provide significant landscaped open space, including a large, lush public plaza and a mid-block open space aligned with a previously vacated street right-of-way.
“The Jackson project is truly special: Its design is the culmination of listening to the voice of the community and bringing those ideas together in a unified vision to enhance the neighborhood’s health, culture and vitality,” said Brian Runberg, principal, Runberg Architecture Group. “It is an honor to be acknowledged by NAIOP for an award that celebrates successful urban design.”
Unique patterns, textures, and local art are incorporated into the landscape and the base of the building. A 12,000-square-foot plaza offers space for celebrations and performances, while the small retail spaces are designed to allow local businesses to take root.
An Lạc: Located in Seattle’s International District, An Lạc is a mixed-use property comprising office space, retail, and 69 units of affordable housing at a site well-served by transit. The ground floor includes commercial office space – occupied by the project’s developer, the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) – as well as small-scale retail spaces suitable for local businesses.
“We are thrilled to be honored by NAIOP and proud to have the An Lạc apartments serve as a gateway to Little Saigon and the Chinatown-International District,” said Sharon Lee, Executive Director of LIHI. “An Lạc will help counter gentrification and help the neighborhood retain its wonderful character and diversity.”
Chosen to reinforce a unique sense of place, the project’s design was inspired by the “tube houses” found in cities across Vietnam – narrow residential buildings distinctive for their variety of window styles and balconies. Sustainable features include a 32-kW rooftop solar array and bioretention planters.
In addition to the two winning awards, the judges recognized Runberg’s design of Gardner House and Allen Family Center, which was a finalist in the Community Development of the Year category.
About Runberg Architecture Group: Since its founding in 1998, Runberg Architecture Group has earned a name for thoughtful architectural design that balances the unique social, economic and environmental interests of each project. Runberg designs sustainable mixed-use urban environments where people want to be—vibrant, engaging places that create high and enduring value for Runberg’s clients and their communities. The firm understands that quality of life is highest in places where social, economic and environmental interests are in harmony. Runberg’s mission is to design places that achieve this harmony by honoring the distinct needs and opportunities of each project.
