Artspace Hiawatha

The goal of this project was to create low-income, workforce/artist live-work housing needed to sustain those who help to transform our cities into the vibrant communities that we all seek.

Client

Artspace Projects, Inc.

Location

Central District, Seattle, Washington

Program

The Artspace Hiawatha Lofts is a $17.1 million, four-story, 61-unit building located in the Jackson Place neighborhood of Seattle. The one- and two-bedroom units range from 800 to 1,200 sq. ft. The commercial space was designed for small retail incubators that become lively, interactive anchors for the neighborhood. Current tenants include an art gallery focusing on artists of diversity, a bicycle repair shop, a coffee shop, and a dance studio. As part of the owner’s commitment to sustainable design, 44 doors on sliding barn door hardware were rescued from the Seattle Municipal Tower during the City of Seattle’s office renovation and installed in the project. A rain garden diffuses roof run-off back into the groundwater, and a green roof system of planting at the residential deck acts as a demonstration to other local low-income housing providers. The project is near bus routes and a Zipcar, while 50 resident bike spaces and sidewalk bike racks encourage tenants to use the Mountains to Sound bikeway, located directly in front of the project.