Watershed

Watershed, a commercial office building in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, will be the only building to pursue the 2014 version of Seattle’s Living Building Pilot Program (LBPP), and the third building overall to pursue the program.

The project includes a 7-story, approximately 61,000 SF office building with approximately 5,000 SF of retail at grade. Two frontages include vibrant pedestrian environments as well as treatment of stormwater from the historic Aurora Bridge. Located at the corner of Troll Avenue N and N 34th Street it will link the core of Fremont with new developments on Stone Way. Watershed was recently recommended to proceed to Master Use Permit by Seattle’s Northeast Design Review Board. Construction began in 2018 and is scheduled for completion in early 2020.

Watershed is pursuing Petal Recognition from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) focusing on the Materials Petal, in addition to supplemental energy reduction, potable water reduction, and stormwater reuse targets required by the City of Seattle to participate in the LBPP. Healthier materials in a simple palette will be specified, favoring products and materials that are LBC red-list compliant, have an ILFI Declare Label listing product ingredients, and are locally sourced.

While the Materials Petal is the primary hurdle for LBPP participation, the approach to stormwater management is a large part of the project story. Two pedestrian frontages along the street edge will include landscaping to treat over 300,000 gallons of runoff from the Aurora Bridge and Troll Avenue, diverting it into a series of stormwater retention and biofiltration swales before it is collected into a dedicated storm drain with an outfall to Lake Union. Additionally, the building will collect and reuse more than 200,000 gallons of roof water annually.

Watershed is an extension of the right of way improvements on Troll Avenue that were begun by nearby Data 1 Office Building. COU LLC, is developing both projects. The vigorous water scrubbing strategies of the two sites qualify each for Salmon-Safe Certification.

After seven years of the Seattle Living Building Pilot program, Watershed will be only the third project to pursue the program. The two other buildings to pursue and qualify for the program were The Bullitt Center and Stone 34.