To meet the need for new office space, Vitus, a company focused on acquiring, improving, and preserving affordable housing nationwide, bought an overlooked 2,322-m2 (25,000-sf) 1920s-era building in the Belltown neighborhood of downtown Seattle.
Designed by Graham Baba Architects, the four-story, heavy timber-and-masonry structure now houses a set of retail and office tenants on the first and second floors, the company’s new office on the third floor, and a new 278-m2 (3,000-sf) penthouse, which includes conference spaces and amenity support.
General building updates focused on stripping back the interior to expose the timber structure. One of the existing egress stairs was demolished to make room for a new elevator and a new primary feature stair. A broad steel stair exists within a core of exposed board-formed concrete. A custom, four-story, motion-activated light fixture runs from top to bottom through the center of the four-story stair. The stairwell is topped by a large skylight, bringing natural daylight into the space.
Guests are welcomed into a small lobby area with comfortable furnishings and art. The colors are muted, and the furniture is a mix of residential and commercial styles. Offices are spacious and include a mix of workstations, conference areas, and amenity areas. Casework throughout is multifunctional, serving as storage and display and helping to organize the space into zones. The library bifurcates a large, open sitting area and provides a space for relaxation.
The penthouse has a residential feel, with display niches situated within cabinetry and on flat surfaces and walls. Sheer window coverings help mitigate sun exposure. The penthouse is organized to function not only as meeting and conference areas for the office tenant but also as an entertainment space for philanthropic events and parties and for hosting out-of-town guests.
