08/02/2007
salmon bay landing office condos designed for flexibility and functionality
SEATTLE, WA – Salmon Bay Landing, a 34,500-square-foot office condominium designed by Stuart Silk Architects the commercial studio, is new concept for the commercial real estate market. The building is located close to downtown Seattle in Magnolia, along the Ship Canal, 200 feet from the water’s edge.
Salmon Bay Landing is a Class A, shell-and-core building designed to capture stunning views with large uninterrupted floor areas. Exposed ceilings and refined exterior details give the building a spacious, modern aesthetic. According to principal Stuart Silk, this high-quality, concrete-and-steel building may be one of the first designed as a brand-new, all-office condominium.
“The design and eventual construction marks a significant upgrade for buildings on Salmon Bay and in the whole Salmon Bay/Fishermen’s Terminal area,” he said. He foresees Salmon Bay Landing as anchoring future development and setting a new standard for the neighborhood. The firm has done a feasibility study for another office building on an adjoining lot.
Although common in other areas of the country, the office condo is relatively new to the Pacific Northwest. Office ownership offers many advantages over leasing:
- Property ownership as an investment that appreciates in value with the market.
- High-quality design and construction with energy-saving features.
- Aesthetically pleasing environment through architectural design.
- Pride of ownership
- Stable interest rates that are locked-in rather than increasing with each new lease agreement
- A stable monthly mortgage payment
- Equity that offsets the tax benefits of leasing
- Financing available at low fixed-interest rates
- The ability to customize office space to meet specific business needs
- Control over common building areas through a condo association
- Access to consultations from the building’s architects.
The developers, Hiro Sato and Kana Sato, Salmon Bay Landing LLC, saw an opportunity to offer a superior product at comparable prices and are finding a receptive market. In choosing Stuart Silk Architects, Sato said, “I wanted something unique in a design for a smaller commercial building, something with a sense of beauty, and I’m very happy with the result. I’m now working with the firm on two other buildings.”
In keeping with an ongoing commitment to sustainable design, the firm designed Salmon Bay using the guidelines equivalent to the U.S. Green Building Council LEED program. The building’s design will incorporate smart and sustainable features ranging from special storage for bicycle commuters to maximal use of renewable building materials like steel and concrete.
Project Manager Andrew Patterson said, “The building’s design was a delicate balance between flexibility and permanence; aesthetics and functionality. Our goal was to offer premium spaces with big amenities that make sense for the property owners and the environment. Among these amenities are: prime location with stunning views, generous ceiling heights, high-efficiency mechanical and electrical service, plentiful parking, a beautiful lobby area, recyclable metal siding, and flexible space options for the condo owners.”
Stuart Silk Architects Limited PS has become known over the past 25 years for award-winning, high-end residential homes. Stuart Silk Architects | the commercial studio, was established this year to bring a new aesthetic, smart problem-solving, and responsible green thinking to the commercial real estate market.