The Conco Companies is providing concrete services for the Center Steps project in Seattle, Washington. Located in the shadow of the Space Needle and across the street from major arts venues including McCaw Hall, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Cornish Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theatre, Center Steps is part of a bustling new community bridging Seattle Center from residential uptown. The location provides a walkable commute to major employers including Amazon, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Facebook.
The site will have two mixed-used buildings, one with eight stories (83 units) and the other with seven stories (186 units), and 11,239 sq. ft. of retail space. The L-shaped development will include a 6,000 sq.ft. public plaza with a pedestrian pathway between the two buildings. The concrete scope of the project consists of two below-grade parking levels with parking for 182 vehicles, a retail and commercial space with an extensive courtyard at ground level, and three concrete levels of residential above-grade with wood framing to the 8th story above the concrete structure. Due to the size of the footprint for the two apartment buildings, pouring the slab was spaced across three Saturdays. The concrete footprint pour totaled 5,425 cubic yards of concrete covering 44,250 sq.ft.
New tenants will be able to choose from studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments and a variety of in-unit finishes including modern, casual, or higher-end finishing as well as air conditioning. There will also be a green rooftop deck with indoor and outdoor lounge spaces to relax and take in the city. The development will bring more affordable housing options to the city. Through Seattle’s Multifamily Tax Exemption program, 20 percent of the units will be priced at 65-85% of area median income, and under the Mandatory Housing Affordability rules, the project will contribute $7 million to off-site affordable housing. Center Steps is scheduled to open in Summer 2020.