Steel bridge that artfully conveys utilities as well as people

Project: Grand Avenue Park Bridge

Award: Bridges, Silver, 2022

Location: Everett, Washington State, USA

Architect: LMN Architects 

Client: City of Everett

Grand Avenue Park Bridge doubles as a utilities and pedestrian bridge connecting Everett’s historical Grand Avenue Park to the waterfront area. For more than a century, the city has been disconnected from its working waterfront that is home to a naval shipyard, marinas and a growing mixed-use district. The pedestrian bridge repairs this divide while also conveying sewer and storm water across its 78-meter span. It also navigates a network of existing electrical lines, a five-lane motorway, and the train tracks at the base of a 24-meter-tall steep slope. The truss form of this pragmatic design echoes the traditional railroad trusses found across the Pacific Northwest. The structural elements are constructed of weathering steel, a raw form of steel, which uses rust to form a protective layer, providing corrosion resistance and enhancing the bridge's long-term maintainability.

Design highlights

The bridge juxtaposes industrial design such as the rusted steel truss, vertical concrete core and walkways with more delicate features such as the intricately detailed railings. The bare aluminium guardrail system includes perforated panels which enhance the reflectivity of the artificial lighting to allow for a safer walking experience and minimize glare and light pollution. The guardrail dips at strategic moments, opening unobstructed views over Puget Sound and beyond to the Olympic Mountains.

Photo credit: Adam Hunter/LMN Architects