By Jack Stubbs
On April 19th, Seattle’s Downtown Design Review Board approved an 11-story commercial development at a Design Review Guidance (DRG) meeting.
The applicant team includes Dallas, TX-based developer Trammell Crow Company, Seattle-based architect CollinsWoerman and landscape architect Weisman Design Group.
The project, located at 1916 Boren Ave. at the corner of Boren and Stewart Street on a two-parcel plot, is comprised of 235,000 square feet of office space, 7,000 square feet of retail and 226 parking stalls.
The board’s approval marks the latest chapter for Trammell Crow’s in-the-works development. In late July 2021, the company spent $49 million to acquire the two parcels at 1900 and 1916 Boren Ave. from OneLin Capital Corporation, according to The Registry’s reporting.
Kicking off the presentation, project leader at CollinsWoerman Pat Logan discussed how the project team had refined the design of the development considering the board’s feedback at the EDG meeting, which focused on enhancing the pedestrian experience along Boren and Stewart and creating a more cohesive massing design.
Logan also explained how the design team had worked to improve the building’s facades and exterior materiality, and how the balconies and building entryways had been refined. The design team also redesigned the outdoor plazas and incorporated more retail space to better activate the streetscapes.
During the clarifying question section of the meeting, the board had limited feedback, inquiring briefly about the applicant’s plans for the landscaping along the streetscapes.
During its deliberation about the applicant’s revised design proposal, the board approved the project to advance, also articulating several minor conditions, namely that the applicant give further thought to refining the massing of the building, and the exterior lighting, materials and landscaping features.
The board members concurred that, in general, the applicant team’s latest design proposal had successfully evolved and improved since the original EDG meeting. The applicant will now apply for a Master Use Permit (MUP) from the city.
In addition to its in-the-works project at 1916 Boren Ave., Trammell Crow is also responsible for designing the building next door at 1930 Boren Ave. Called the Boren Lofts, Trammell Crow sold the development to Canada-based Oxford Properties Group in spring 2021 for $119.6 million. The development, which was completed in early 2021, totals just over 136,000 square feet of space. The building features 12-foot windows, 15,000 square foot floor plates and a rooftop terrace.
