Elan Uptown Flats

A clean, modern design marks Elan Uptown Flats. A sophisticated material palette including stack bond brick masonry, finely textured fiber-cement panels in neutral colors, and vertically oriented windows are modern twists on the surrounding building fabric. Interior design, also by Weber Thompson, incorporates subdued yet rich natural materials and colors, invoking the feel of the Pacific Northwest.

Client Name

Greystar

Location

Seattle, WA

Services

Architecture
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture

PROJECT Overview

7 Stories, 2 Buildings
21600 SF Site
221,187 GSF
175,513 SF of Residential
182 Residential Units
14 Live/Work Units
142 Parking Stalls

Completion Date

Q3 2018

Certifications

LEED Silver

Contact

Amanda Keating
Principal in Charge

Bernadette Kelly
Interior Design Principal

Rachael Meyer
Landscape Architecture Principal

Services

Weber Thompson was the architect, landscape architect, and interior designer for Elan Uptown Flats. The clean lines and thoughtful detailing can be found both inside and out.

Elan Uptown Flats Landscape Architecture

PHOTOGRAPHY: MEGHAN MONTGOMERY/BUILT WORK PHOTOGRAPHY

Uptown Flats Architecture

Located in Lower Queen Anne just blocks from Seattle Center, Elan Uptown Flats is a thoughtfully designed, 182-unit residential community with a modern aesthetic. A unique urban porch enlivens the pedestrian corner, encourages neighborhood interactions and provides a cozy gathering space. The site’s primary challenge – the grade change – became an opportunity to harness light and views for killer amenities.

Engaging the street

An important driver of an urban project is how the building engages the street and its pedestrians. The design team for Uptown Flats prioritized the sidewalk experience by strategically carving the building’s base to provide breathing room and ample space for landscaping buffers. The design takes security and privacy into account creating graceful transitions between the street, stoops and socially-focused porch.

An urban porch

This urban porch is the driving concept of the building’s main entry. It creates a welcoming feature entry for the building, reinforces community building and actively and passively engages the public realm at the street corner. A fire pit draws users and encourages neighbor gatherings.

Uptown Flats Interior Design

Modern and understated, Uptown Flats is designed to be a timeless homage to the Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Naturally weathering finishes are utilized throughout, creating a warm palette that is comfortable, relaxed and distinctly Seattle.

Entry living room

The living room at the main entry is the heart and soul of the ground floor. Staggered tiers of suspended lights interface with industrial steel beams and a dramatic corten feature wall that will continue to patina over time. The living room expands seamlessly outdoors to a covered deck and fire pit.

Textural contrast

A neutral material palette reflects the industrial and natural colors of the Pacific Northwest. Contrasting textures reference the interface of our urban and natural environments.

The widely varied colors and textures of the corten panels enclosing the entry stair provide a stark contrast to the smooth shine of the polished concrete floor. The leasing office beyond is wrapped in wood to be warm and inviting.

Uptown Flats Landscape Architecture

Generous live/work unit stoops line the street edge. A stunning deck adorns the rooftop and is surrounded by a lush green roof that’s good for the environment.

Landscaped stoops

A signature feature resulting from the sloping site is the pedestrian realm along 1st Avenue West, featuring generous live/work landscaped front stoops. The lush gardenesque quality of the plantings coupled with the warmth of the wood screens and brick façade create a welcoming neighborhood. The added benefit of the ground-level sculpting of the architecture was the ability to transfer floor area to the top floor. It also allowed the creation of a large “front porch” amenity at the main entry that is the perfect all-season lounge space for residents.

Stunning views

A large roof deck covers the West Building and offers 360 degree views of the surrounding neighborhood including expansive views of the Puget Sound, Olympic mountain range and the Space Needle. A green roof with multiple soil thicknesses to provide a variety of planting offers a place to sit or stroll through a wandering path. The spacious deck offers BBQs, lounge chairs, fire pits and plenty of seating for its residents and guests to enjoy.

Sustainability

Elan Uptown Flats is LEED Silver Certified (Homes, Mid- Rise) and saves an average of 19% energy use compared to baselines. The project has easy access to bus lines, parks, bike trails and the nearby Seattle Center. A bike room securely holds 73 bicycles. A green roof up top helps reduce the heat-island effect and aids in reducing runoff, and a 7.56 kW solar array produces roughly 8,000 kW per year. Additionally, approximately 75% of construction waste was diverted from landfills.