Seattle sought a permanent building for their new city hall, one that welcomes and integrates the pubic, and exemplifies sustainability in new building construction. The council chamber is trapped inside a round metal enclosure, and the executive program sits in an attractive tower with a massive lobby in between. The lobby transitions to exterior courtyards with a man-made stream from inside descending down terraces to the street level. Wood structure is carefully integrated with daylighting elements, such as skylights and light shelves, and sweeping windows. A great view, coffee shops, and art installations help guide the visitor inside. As they handed the project an Honor Award, the state AIA commented, “The design configures internal and external spaces to encourage discussion and interaction.”
The building is LEED gold, due in part by a green roof, recycled building materials, a raised office floor system, rainwater collection systems, and use of natural lighting and ventilation. This partnership by Bassetti Architects and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson finished construction in 2005.
