On a recent, sunny Thursday, the b9 team visited three of our job sites on Capitol Hill, all within a remarkable (less than) quarter mile radius of each other. The three projects represent a range of our work, from 10 townhomes on two parcels at 12th Avenue East and E Harrison Street, where we are co-developer/architect (1 on map); to a 51 unit apartment building that will become the south west corner of 12th Avenue E and E John Street (2); to 5 rowhouses just a block away at the corner of 13th Avenue E and E John Street (3). We are excited to have three distinct and innovative projects all under construction in this incredible, urban neighborhood.

We enjoy contributing to the conversation about how to grow our neighborhoods (and city) responsibly, and how to add density that is effective and equitable. We create outdoor spaces that encourage and enrich community, and design compelling architecture that is enhancing in all ways to its inhabitants and surroundings.

The 5 rowhouses at 13th E and E John Street is furthest along in the construction process, with finishes beginning to go up in all units. The 10 townhomes at 12th Avenue E and E Harrison Street have recently broken ground, with excavation completed and foundation work underway. The apartment building at 12th Avenue E and E John Street is preparing for its Design Review Recommendation meeting and working towards its construction permit. We expect construction to begin in late 2015.

Keep an eye out for this b9 triangle (and others!) in the coming months.

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Finishes going up in 5 rowhouses at 13th E and E John St

Foundation work underway for 10 townhomes at 12th Ave E and E Harrison St

Rendering showing facade to come at 12th Ave E and E Harrison St

51 unit apartment building to come at the southwest corner of 12th Ave E and E John St

Seattle’s (and b9’s) first passivhaus designed townhouses are now finished! In collaboration with Cascade Built, we designed five unique townhomes with the intention of efficient and environmentally responsible design.

For more information, check out these articles on the project as well as a previous post we wrote during construction:

Cascade Built’s website

BizJournal

Seattle.Curbed

Happy New Year from b9 !

2014 has been very good to us as we have steadily expanded both our office and our breadth of work. (Be on the lookout for posts on our first apartment designs !) With a new spacious office, an exciting set of new projects, a number of projects finishing up, and new additions to the team, 2015 is shaping up to be a great year !

To start off the new year, our whole team visited two projects that are close to completion. The first site we visited were the Fremont Townhomes – a project that exemplifies what b9 is all about. With a focus on community and interior and exterior buffers, the design aimed to create a dynamic internal, open courtyard, surrounded by the 10 townhomes. The modulation in material, decks, balconies, and landscape creates a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, and the variation of open air levels encourages interaction between each home. When we visited the site, it was almost like a playground, where we all scattered and explored each unit (which are all different from one another) and came back together with a favorite one.

The second site we visited were the Olive Townhomes on Capitol Hill. Thanks to Seattle’s lovely 4:30pm sunsets, we arrived at the townhomes at dusk, which made photo-taking more difficult. Nevertheless, the project is near completion and it was fun to explore the spaces in and out of the units. The design approach to this project was informed by three primary concepts: create a vernacular style architecture that provides a base “mass”, carve out a centralized open courtyard and insert an armature at the center of the courtyard that expresses itself on all façades.

Last week on a sunny Seattle Wednesday, the entire b9 office visited our project with Cascade Built on 25th Ave E.

This project is especially unique because all homes are designed to Passivhaus standards and a few of them will achieve certification. Construction has been rigorous as we’re striving for a completely air tight envelope in order to reduce infiltration and heat loss. So far, all of the framing is completed, every edge and crack is sealed, and we’ve just begun putting up the Barnboard siding.

The project is coming along nicely, and the view of Madison Valley from the rooftop deck is sublime..!

We’ve been a little quiet on the blog lately… but that’s because we have been cranking our gears and working on a new project type for b9 – apartments!  Construction has begun on our townhouses in Fremont and we are working in the neighborhood again. The project is a new mixed-use apartment building and the proposed site is 743 N 35th Street.

You are invited to an informal Fremont Neighborhood Meeting to discuss the project.

Come see the preliminary design proposal and share your comments with those involved in designing the project. All are welcome!

Where: Fremont Public Library Meeting Room
731 N 35th Street

When: Saturday April 19th 11:00a – 12:30p  

The formal Early Design Guidance Meeting with the Northwest Design Review Board will be:

Where: Ballard Community Center, Sunset/Captain Ballard Room
6020 28th Ave NW

When: Monday April 28th 6:30pm – 8:00pm  

Contact: info@b9architects.com