Building 115 is a mixed use project that provides a live/work and income generating solution and responds to the shifting housing and financial needs of our community. The project was conceived with forward-thinking materials and provides lasting flexibility through its design and location.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

CHANGING COMMUNITIES
Building 115 provides a live/work situation that responds to the shifting needs of people not only in Seattle, but in many cities big and small throughout the United States. The ability to live, work, and shop within the same structure lessens the need for constant commuting and fossil fuel consumption. Reduced need for motorized transport will enrich the communities that these buildings are a part of and create a pedestrian-centered experience on our streets. Further, the design of Building 115 allows for a unique and comfortable residence to exist within an Industrial Buffer Zone, a zone where people tend not to live. As land becomes more and more scarce and the need for density increases, it becomes imperative that all spaces and land be utilized for multiple functions: live, work, shop. Multiple activities taking place in one building will enhance the livability of our neighborhoods and is the future of our communities.

CHANGING ECONOMICS
The mixed use aspect of Building 115 is the future for many hopeful home and business owners.
Clearly, property and structures are expensive. The ability to gain income from the same building in which you live is an attractive prospect for the long-term viability of building/home ownership. This ability to generate income is not only attractive to those that wish to live in and own these structures, it is also attractive to those who are asked to finance their purchase. Homes and buildings with rentable space or ‘built-in income’ are a creative and sensible approach to project financing.

CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES
Hollow core planks were utilized in the construction of Building 115, spanning property line to property line. These planks not only minimize structural floor depth, but they also provide column-free floor space to offer more retail/office square footage. Durable and easily site-assembled materials such as CMU block, hollow core planks, and channel glass were sustainable choices that will allow future maintenance to be minimal and ultimately makes Building 115 fully recyclable.

LASTING SOLUTIONS
Building 115 will easily adapt to changes in its occupant’s life and financial responsibilities. The two commercial offices can either be rented or utilized for the owner’s growing business. Retail space at the street level can be income generating or a showroom to again support the growing business. The open floor plan creates flexible spaces that can morph to various configurations and uses, from a clothing store to a small café. Fremont is a vibrant and pedestrian-oriented urban hub of Seattle, so the location of Building 115 is optimal to support a myriad of different commercial endeavors for years to come.