Items Tagged ‘Washington’
Courtyard Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square
Project Name:
Courtyard Seattle Downtown Pioneer SquareLocation:
Seattle, Washington, USACompletion Date:
June 2010Original Use(s):
bankNew Use(s):
hotelProject Description:
History
Dating back to the days of the Gold Rush, the Alaska Building originally served as a bank to the Seattle area. This 1904 building was the first steel-framed structure and the first real “skyscraper” in the Northwest. The 14-story building was designed by Eames and Young and stood as the city’s tallest building until 1911. The building was styled with Beaux Arts ornamentation which is rare in Seattle. The Alaska Building started a rush of similarly-sized buildings along the street, lending it the monicker of the Second Avenue canyon.[1]
(Re)Developer
Marriott International is a family of wide-ranging hotel brands including: Marriott Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, EDITION Hotels, and Courtyard by Marriott. With over 800 locations in 28 countries, Courtyard caters to a wide range of travelers by offering varying accommodations.[2]
Outcome
The historic Alaska Building once again serves travelers and visitors to the City of Seattle. Although the days of the Gold Rush are behind this northwestern city, there is still much activity and excitement happening in this growing metropolis. The bank may no longer be accepting the gold findings from prospectors, but the new Courtyard by Marriott hotel has opened its doors to provide overnight stay to tourists and business people.
Located in Pioneer Square (the original heart of Seattle), the Courtyard building is part of this well-known historic district. The hotel is within walking distance to numerous art galleries, internet companies, cafés, sports bars, nightclubs, and bookstores.[3]
The adaptive reuse project of the building converted the numerous office floors into a 262-guest room hotel. In addition to the rooms, the hotel also boasts nine meeting rooms as well as easy mass transit connections to the rest of the city.[4]
[1]Wikipedia
[2]Marriott International
[3]Wikipedia
[4]Courtyard by Marriott
Images courtesy of Marriott and Washington State Historical Society.
Marriott To Open Courtyard Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square In Adaptive Reuse Of 1904 Alaska Building
Project Name:
Marriott To Open Courtyard Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square In Adaptive Reuse Of 1904 Alaska BuildingLocation:
Completion Date:
Original Use(s):
New Use(s):
Project Description:
What once served as the meeting place for gold prospectors will soon serve the visiting business sector in Seattle, Washington. Marriott plans to complete its adaptive reuse of the historic 1904 Alaska Building in the heart of Pioneer Square this May 2010. The new Courtyard by Marriott location will serve short- and long-term guests and feature a restaurant and 4,600 square feet of meeting space. The 15-story former bank building is perfectly located to allow for easy pedestrian access to Qwest Field, Safeco Field, and the Pioneer Square Station.
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
Project Name:
Langston Hughes Performing Arts CenterLocation:
Seattle, Washington, USACompletion Date:
1969Original Use(s):
synagogueNew Use(s):
performing arts centerProject Description:
History
Designed by B. Marcus Priteca and built in 1915, the synagogue served the Orthodox Jewish congregation Chevra Bikur Cholim.[1]
(Re)Developer
The building was originally adapted as part of the Model Cities Program which was a part of President Johnson’s Great Society and War on Poverty initiatives. Running from 1966 to 1974, the program focused on improving the coordination of existing urban programs and providing additional funds for local plans. The program’s initial goals emphasized comprehensive planning, involving not just rebuilding but also rehabilitation, social service delivery, and citizen participation.[2]
Outcome
The City of Seattle purchased the center in 1971 and since then has continued the mission of the Center while updating and renovating the building (1971, 1991, 2003, 2009).[3] The Center is dedicated to celebrating, nurturing, presenting and preserving African American performing arts and cultural legacies. “Created to provide a cultural institution in Seattle’s Central Area, LHPAC has been at the core of experimental, cutting edge, traditional, and emerging art forms for more than 30 years. It has been an essential gathering place for an African American canon of work in a neighborhood that has seen numerous demographic changes over the past three decades. The Center is committed to championing a cultural and artistic voice while building powerful connections with the diverse cultures in the community. This is accomplished through the creation of dynamic performing arts experiences for all.”[4]
[1]Wikipedia
[2]Wikipedia
[3]Wikipedia
[4]Langston Hughes African American Film Festival
Images courtesy of Joe Mabel.
Yale Steam Laundry
Project Name:
Yale Steam LaundryLocation:
Washington, D.C., USACompletion Date:
2008Original Use(s):
commercial laundry facilityNew Use(s):
residential loftsProject Description:
History
The old commercial laundry building is located in the Mt. Vernon area of Washington, DC. The century-old building is marked by numerous architectural details on its facade.[1]
(Re)Developer
The adaptive reuse project was a joint undertaking by developers IBG Partners, LLC and Greenfield Partners. IBG is a privately-held firm that focuses its developments in Washington, DC, New York, Baltimore, and Charleston, SC. Greenfield is a private real estate investment firm located in South Norwalk, Connecticut.
John Ronan Architects is located in Chicago and caters to landscape design, interior design, furniture design, graphic design and planning.
Outcome
The entire project includes the adaptive reuse of the steam laundry building which resulted in 16 lofts as well as the construction of two towers for an additional 343 lofts.[2] “The architects elected to adapt the building into an amenity-infused condominium, leaving much of the original brick and concrete in place. Even the oddly spaced floor framing was allowed to remain.” This adaptive reuse project received an AIA Chicago 2009 Design Excellence Award. The existing piping and columns remained, retaining a sense of asymmetry.[3]
[1]Yale Steam Laundry
[2]IBG Partners, LLC
[3]AIA Chicago
Images courtesy of The DC Condo Loft.
D.C. Art Activists See Old Trolley Station As Buried Treasure
Project Name:
D.C. Art Activists See Old Trolley Station As Buried TreasureLocation:
Completion Date:
Original Use(s):
New Use(s):
Project Description:
The old Dupont Circle Trolley Station in Washington D.C. may see the light of day again. The Arts Coalition for Dupont Underground are proposing converting the station, shut down in 1962, into a series of hip galleries where up to 1,500 people at a time could view avant-garde art shows and exhibits of experimental architecture. The group of artists and architects hopes to make “Dupont Underground” a go-to location in one of the city’s most expensive neighborhoods. The character and layout of this piece of infrastructure lends itself very well to the gallery format.