The permit has been finalized for Park Place North, a 62,000 square foot commercial construction project in Kirkland’s Norkirk neighborhood, immediately north of the Park Place development. Designed to LEED® Silver standard, Park Place North will be unique in its sustainable features and access to natural light.
Seattle-based Caron Architecture created the design for Park Place North, which will be located at 621 Seventh Avenue. A three-story atrium filled with vegetation and daylight, will dissect two separate wings of the building and provide pedestrian connection between Sixth and Seventh avenues. The atrium’s central location will maximize access to natural light and exterior views for the occupants. Dividing the building in half, this partition will give the building unique leasing flexibility with the ability to accommodate multiple independent tenants as easily as one large organization. The atrium will also serve as a public gathering and communal space within the facility, bringing people together in a vibrant and social center.
“While daylighting contributes to the building’s energy savings, it also makes the space a more enjoyable place to work,” said James Jamieson, partner at Caron Architecture. “Exposure to natural light can positively affect productivity, mental wellbeing and comfort for the people working inside.”
The atrium allows for every work station to be no more than 30 feet from a source of daylight. Vegetation and water features —- in combination with abundant natural light and seamless glass -— work to bring the outdoors inside and establish a connection with the natural environment within the atrium. The building will include a common conference room, leasable to all tenants, which will project into the atrium and appear suspended in the air above the plants, water and people below.
Several features were included in the design to lessen the impact of the building and its surrounding campus. The site will include a 206 stall underground parking structure, portions of which will be covered with vegetation in order to decrease water runoff. All surfacing and sidewalks will be done with pervious paving, improving the water filtration of the site, which is currently a concrete truck storage area. Exterior landscaping will include extensive pedestrian pathways and will be designed to encourage people to meander through the building and
surrounding campus. An
HVAC system is proposed for the office portion of the building, with the atrium being naturally ventilated.
The facade of Park Place North will utilize a rainscreen system, which enhances durability and prevents moisture intrusion. This allows for a more contemporary design, as the use of a rainscreen eliminated the need to incorporate rainwater protection into the design. The building’s exterior will be comprised of aluminum and Swisspearl panels as well as an innovative exterior glass system that will minimize heat gain through the windows.
