Seattle-based architecture firm LMN Architects has completed a new office building in Eastside of Seattle, the 4,273-square-metre office building is the first large-scale mass timber office building of East Seattle, Washington, United States.

Named Lakeview Office Building, the office building is located in Kirkland, Washington. Situated on a triangular, prominent site at the gateway to Kirkland, the building celebrates the use of wood and construction innovation.

The Lakeview Office Building has been designed to be a sustainable, welcoming, and flexible office building in dialogue with Kirkland’s waterfront, commercial district, and the adjacent residential neighborhood. 

Image © Adam Hunter-LMN Architects

The project features wood in signature spaces, and includes a generous living roof, two levels of office space, and two levels of underground parking, complementing the civic scale of the neighborhood while minimizing the impact on views of the surrounding context. 

Two first-floor outdoor spaces and a roof-top common room with a deck promote social interaction and take advantage of the expansive west-facing vista of the iconic Lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains.

Image © Adam Hunter-LMN Architects

“Working in close collaboration with our client at Cascade Management, and our team of consultants, we set out to design and build the first large-scale mass timber office development in Kirkland. The building not only meets modern sustainability standards, but also creates a new sense of place in the neighborhood and celebrates the use of wood,” said Pamela Trevithick, Partner, LMN Architects. 

“Despite the challenges intrinsic in the construction and delivery of a project during a global pandemic, the building was delivered on time and on budget.” 

“The client took a risk not knowing if an unconventional construction approach would result in a return on investment, but that risk paid off and the Lakeview Office Building is now one of the most successful commercial developments in the region,” Trevithick added.

Image © Benjamin Benschneider

The main entry sequence along Lakeview Drive is defined by a descending immersive shade garden and fern gully that is dappled with seasonal highlights. 

A specialty-formed concrete wall and metal wall system lead to a custom-designed granite water feature at the main entry and provides a respite from the road noise above. Integrated arching wood seating and deck at the south of the building provide a gathering perch nestled into a transitional garden overlooking the active views to the southwest.

Image © Benjamin Benschneider

“The Lakeview Office Building delightfully integrates a well-curated series of outdoor experiences on a tight and sloping site. Each space unfolds to reveal a thoughtful blending between the strength of architecture and the unique Kirkland setting,” said Matthew Porteous, Principal, HEWITT.

The roof, rain gardens, and terraces have been designed to mitigate water run-off and are inspired by the forested hillsides and the verdant lake edges around Kirkland and the Pacific Northwest. 

Image © Benjamin Benschneider

The roof deck and terraces provide social spaces for gathering and relaxation, seating, and connections to the interiors. Inside the building, the wood takes center stage, and the interiors showcase the exposed wood structure. The large, prefabricated wood elements acted as a kit-of-parts and were connected on-site, with minimal disruption, noise, or waste. The SPF Dowel Laminated Timber (DLT) ceilings contrast with the Douglas Fir Glulam beams and pay tribute to the forests of the region.

The project complements the neighborhood’s character while enhancing the prominent intersection of Lakeview Drive and Lake Washington Boulevard.