The project has been designed to be a sustainable, welcoming, and flexible office building in dialogue with Kirkland’s waterfront, commercial district, and the adjacent residential neighbourhood.
The project features wood in signature spaces, and includes a living roof, two levels of office space, and two levels of underground parking, complementing the civic scale of the neighbourhood while minimising the impact on views of the surrounding context. Two first floor outdoor spaces and a rooftop common room with a deck promote social interaction and take advantage of the west facing vista of Lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains.
Working in close collaboration with our client at Cascade Management, and our team of consultants, we set out to design and build the first large-scale mass timber office development in Kirkland. The building not only meets modern sustainability standards but also creates a new sense of place in the neighbourhood and celebrates the use of wood. Despite the challenges intrinsic in the construction and delivery of a project during a global pandemic, the building was delivered on time and on budget. The client took a risk not knowing if an unconventional construction approach would result in a return on investment, but that risk paid off and the Lakeview Office Building is now one of the most successful commercial developments in the region.
The main entry sequence is defined by a descending shade garden and fern gully. A specially formed concrete wall and metal wall system lead to a custom designed granite water feature at the main entrance and provide a respite from the road noise above. Integrated arching wood seating and deck at the south of the building provide a perch nestled into a transitional garden overlooking the southwest.
The roof, rain gardens, and terraces have been designed to mitigate water runoff and are inspired by the forested hillsides and the lake edges around Kirkland and the Pacific Northwest. The roof deck and terraces provide social spaces for gathering.
Inside the building, wood takes centre stage, and the interiors showcase the exposed structure. The prefabricated wooden elements act as a kit of parts and were connected on site, with minimal disruption, noise, or waste. The SPF Dowel Laminated Timber (DLT) ceilings contrast with the Douglas Fir Glulam beams and pay homage to the forests of the region.
The project’s all-glass curtain wall exterior with operable windows corresponds to the gentle curve of the site while providing transparency, views of the lake, and visual connections to the neighbourhood. The north and east facade is accentuated with textured punched windows and metal panels, complementing the residential landscape.
The building is a model of sustainable design, using carbon sequestering mass timber with raw materials sourced from the forests of the Pacific Northwest. The structural floor and roof panels are prefabricated DLT panels, manufactured with hardwood dowels instead of glue, and their all-wood composition makes them ideal for improved air quality and comfort.