Simpson Housing Limited Partnership is Back in the Game
Seattle, Washington — December 20, 2004 — On January 3, Simpson Housing Limited Partnership will break ground on The Neptune, an upscale, mixed-use apartment project designed by architecture, planning and interior design firm Weber + Thompson. The Neptune site is located in South Lake Union at the former location of "Yellow Cab Taxi" at the corner of Aloha and Dexter. Simpson Housing Senior Vice President Matt Segrest states "The Neptune was put on hold because of market conditions, but Simpson is again bullish on Seattle and is particularly excited about developing in the South Lake Union neighborhood." Segrest continues, "The Neptune will be a jewel of the South Lake Union lifestyle, with its strategic location only one block away from the new park and the amenities along the lake."
The design of The Neptune was awarded a citation by 1000 Friends of Washington in support of the project as part of its livable Future Endorsement program for promoting growth-management friendly transition from a 9-to-5 light industrial neighborhood, into a vibrant and high-density 24/7 urban village.
According to Architect Blaine Weber: "The design of Neptune is sympathetic to the context and to the history of the area by reflecting the vocabulary of the two and three story warehouses, while at the same time responding to the flavor of newer mixed-use and office development in the area." The base of the new building is composed of brick veneer that creates a strong urban street presence in context with Neptune's flanking commercial building. The storefronts are carefully designed to activate the pedestrian zone. Concrete and metal elements along 8th Avenue reflect the industrial history of the area.
Weber states that the building deliberately holds the street edge, while a European-flavored interior courtyard creates a quiet landscaped oasis for residents and visitors as well. Lush landscaping and a water feature resonates throughout the courtyard, which will contain a café, sculpture, and heavily planted trellises to provide scale, and privacy from above, creating a contemplative place to relax.
To identify the residential enclave located within this transitioning area, Neptune features an iconic glass obelisk on the southwest corner of the building, topped by an oversized (and industrially flavored) neon project identifier that announces the project in the style of Seattle's fading culture of dramatic, eclectic signage as evidenced on The Camlin, The Roosevelt, The Vance and the globe on top of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer building.
This development consists of 234 luxury apartments ranging in size from studios to 2-bedroom-plus-dens. Studios range from 497 SF to 712 SF, one bedrooms (including one bedroom plus den) range from 517 SF to 952 SF, and two bedrooms range from 1069 SF to 1659 SF. 11,000 SF of commercial space is available, as is parking for 324 cars on three levels of sub-grade parking. The Neptune contains substantial amenities including a lush courtyard, roof terrace, two conference rooms, a business center and recreation areas with a theater, games area, billiards, kitchen facilities and a fireplace lounge, fitness center, and a Jacuzzi.
Construction is Type II, structural steel studs and spanning composite steel and concrete deck over Type I concrete frame. Construction is slated to start on January 3, 2005 with a completion goal of fall 2006.
This is the fourth major project created in collaboration between developer Simpson Housing and full-service architecture and interior design firm Weber + Thompson. This business collaboration has produced three other successful large-scale residential developments: Harrison Square, a quickly leased mixed-use residential development with 247 units that was ultimately sold to become the Oakwood Executive Suites; Solara, a hip and colorful apartment complex arranged around a central courtyard; and Penterra Plaza, a two-towered mixed-use high-rise located in the Denver Technological center in Denver, CO. The construction of Neptune also marks the fourth partnering of Weber + Thompson and WG Clark, who recently completed the new Masins on Main; a mixed-use apartment building that houses Masins Furniture's new Bellevue store.
Project team
Simpson Housing Limited Partnership, developer; Weber + Thompson, architects; DCI Engineers, structural engineering; Projects Pacific, landscape architecture; WG Clark, general contractor.
About Weber + Thompson
Seattle-based Weber + Thompson is a full-service, West Coast architecture and interior design firm. Principals Blaine Weber AIA, Scott Thompson AIA, and Kristen Scott AIA, oversee an experienced staff of 40 design and construction professionals. Founded in 1987, Weber + Thompson's practice is diverse, with architecture and interior design project types including high-density urban infill, residential, commercial office, hospitality, and financial facilities. The firm has won various awards for their excellence in planning and design. Weber + Thompson seeks effective results through a thoughtful and collaborative design process.
For more information visit www.weberthompson.com,
or contact Weber + Thompson by phone at (206) 344 5700
or email info@weberthompson.com.