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A new Seattle hotel aims to take some of the pressure off the spiking downtown occupancy rate by introducing 1,264 rooms to a block bounded by Stewart and Howell Streets and Eighth and Ninth Avenues. R.C. Hedreen Co. is building the project, which will eclipse the Seattle Sheraton's 1,236 rooms to become the largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest.
LMN Architects has created a clean rectilinear exterior interposed by square windows rounded at their edges. The minimalist design separates itself from recent highrise architectural trends around the world, which are commonly producing buildings that utilize glass-heavy cladding systems. All servicing and loading will be pushed into the interior of the block by making use of an existing alley, reserving the entire street perimeter for wide sidewalks, street furnishings, and vegetation.
The 45-storey development also includes a substantial eight-storey podium that is set to house 105,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting space, integrated seamlessly with the lobby and ground-level retail. The podium will be clad in a polished white concrete and seemingly hover above the transparent glass envelope of the first floor. As the podium transitions into the tower portion of the project, hotel amenities will take centre stage. A rooftop terrace anchors the space, while a glass-enclosed fitness centre and lounge provide additional recreational options indoors.
Demolition of the Greyhound bus terminal that previously occupied the site was completed in 2015, and the underground parking levels are now being constructed. The preceding proposal had asked for two towers containing a hotel, residences, and office space. The scope of the plan was significantly reduced in 2013 to ease the approval process, removing the office component and the second tower. The residential module was also eventually ditched, presenting the current scheme that could be completed as early as 2018.
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