ID building (fourth and main, pb elemental)

[mokocoko]

The I.D. Building
Posted by Dominic Holden on March 10 at 15:13 PM

There is a void on Fourth Avenue, between the southern edge of downtown’s business district the northern border of Chinatown. Despite the proximity to two thriving urban centers, nearby blocks are mostly parking lots, single-level businesses, and the erstwhile club Aristocrats.






Fourth Avenue and Washington Street (above), and Fourth Avenue and Main Street (below)

In this bridge between the two neighborhoods, the challenge for architects is designing buildings that meet standards for the historic International District, yet mesh with the glass and steel of downtown. In one example, an almost-completed fire station at 4th and Washington combines angular shapes and industrial materials with panels painted the color of red associated with luck, gold, and dragons. Across the street, however, developers are proposing a fresher approach to Asian design—the I.D. Building.






Pb Elemental

“The design is taking cues from current trends in modern Asian architecture,” says Chris Pardo, principal of Pb Elemental, a local development and architecture firm behind this proposal and the proposed Trophy Building. Pardo says that the designs, still preliminary, are geared to attract “a premier modern boutique hotel for Seattle.” The 24-story building would contain 110 hotel and 120 condo units, and would be crowned with a rooftop bar. (Don’t worry, dear Cloud Room, we’ll always remember you.)

If the Fourth and Blanchard Building (or some say the Columbia Center) can be dubbed the Darth Vader Building, then the I.D. Building could become Vader’s mini me. Far more square, though, the design is unlike anything else downtown or in the International District—like a cut block of black quartz. But this is not wayward, this is forward. It is the sort of statement the I.D. needs. As a modern Pacific Rim city, Seattle’s new I.D. construction must occasionally deviate from the predictable Asiana gestures of jades, reds, and yellows.

But it’s uncertain if the board tasked with reviewing construction in the historic International District will approve this stark design. “There is some preference to earthen materials and muted colors within the district,” says Rebecca Frestedt, Board Coordinator of the International Special Review District. The timing could also play a role in the design; the review board is currently revising guidelines for new construction in the area. “We are hoping to adopt that set of guidelines this summer,” she says. Either way, Frestedt continues, “It will likely undergo many revisions before the design is approved.”

On building over the bus tunnel and a temporary new lounge after the jump.

The building's greatest challenge may not be on the surface, however, but underneath. Located directly above the bus tunnel’s International District station, developers are allowed to dig only 15’ below grade. Thus, the parking garage is contained above ground, generally discouraged in downtown zones, in a lower quadrant of the building, in a semi-transparent shroud.



Pardo says the slope of the hill provides access to the parking garage from the alley, thus opening the sidewalk to pedestrian activity. “This allows for full retail on Fourth, Main and Washington,” he says. Pardo expects it will take two to three years to acquire the permit.

In the meantime, Pb Elemental plans to convert the Aritocrats space into a lounge called Silver. “Currently, we are discussing the space with Josh Henderson of Skillet and plan to have the lounge/tapas bar open in May,” he says. (Awesome!) “The spot would be opened until we break ground on the new development.”

Pardo plans to submit his proposal to the International Special Review Board soon and expects the Department of Planning Development to assign a project number later this week.



http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_id_building

[jessejb]

Not a bad addition considering they can only dig 15 feet or whatever.

I like it but does it REALLY reflect the cutting edge asian building styles?

Bar on roof? Sign me up.

[citruspastels]

pb elemental is doing some really great stuff in this town.

[mokocoko]

This will be nice because right now downtown just kind of falls off right there. adding a mid/highrise between the skyscrappers and the mid-rise/lowrise would give it a bit of a stepping down feeling which will look better..

[ModernSeattle]

I think it looks great. I like how the massing reflects the seperation of the garage and hotel. I wish it was taller though....

[Mr.Blonde]

Originally Posted by jessejb

.....considering they can only dig 15 feet or whatever.

Reason?

[UrbanBen]

Originally Posted by jessejb

I like it but does it REALLY reflect the cutting edge asian building styles?

I think it does. It's a play on the expanse/line form that you see in smaller high-end residential development in Japan - I don't know what that's called, but it does look "Asian" to me.

[ModernSeattle]

Originally Posted by Mr.Blonde

Reason?

Because of the bus tunnel underneath the site.

[jessejb]

Thats one of the sketchier blocks on my way to ID from downtown and back. Thats another reason I like this.

[Seasun]

This rendering almost conveys the tone and material palette of the Four Seasons better than the actual renderings of the Four Seasons! Overall - I like this Pb outfit.

[Puertalian]

Originally Posted by UrbanBen

I think it does. It's a play on the expanse/line form that you see in smaller high-end residential development in Japan - I don't know what that's called, but it does look "Asian" to me.

i love this building, and while i can see the japan reference with its almost modular appearance, the mis-matched collage line patterns evoke a euro contemporary feel to me. looks like somthing strait out of rotterdam. i love it.

[NW Mike]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

[taiwanesedrummer36]

Nice building; great use of glass and interesting use of 90-degree angles. Two-thumbs up!

[Seattleguy]

I really, really like the design. It does look Rotterdam in style. It also helps make a better transition betweeen the Columbia Center and Pioneer Square.
I see many comments on our board wishing many projects such as this and the 4 Seasons were taller. From my perspective, one of the things that is appealing about our skyline is the varied heights of the buildings. I go to Frankfurt every year. They have some cool skyscrapers, but to me their overall skyline suffers because almost all of the buildings are very close in height and there aren't any intermediate height buildings to give variety.

[silence.kit]

What's the black building currently at 4th and Washington?

[mokocoko]

Originally Posted by silence.kit

What's the black building currently at 4th and Washington?

That's the fire department headquarters I think

[mokocoko]

Originally Posted by mokocoko

That's the fire department headquarters I think

I'm so dumb, the black building in the photo? That's definitely NOT the fire department headquarters. Apologies.

[ModernSeattle]

It is the Aristocrats nightclub, I think it closed a few years ago? The Stranger Slog says they will be opening a temporary lounge with Skillet. www.skilletstreetfood.com, their food is amazing! Everything is served from airstream trailers!

[Rogue Linguist]

Originally Posted by Seattleguy

I really, really like the design. It does look Rotterdam in style. It also helps make a better transition betweeen the Columbia Center and Pioneer Square.
I see many comments on our board wishing many projects such as this and the 4 Seasons were taller. From my perspective, one of the things that is appealing about our skyline is the varied heights of the buildings. I go to Frankfurt every year. They have some cool skyscrapers, but to me their overall skyline suffers because almost all of the buildings are very close in height and there aren't any intermediate height buildings to give variety.

Vancouver is like that, too. Also, that city's skyline tends to look a little too uniform, except for a few newer, single towers built on small lots in Yaletown.

I really quite like the design for this building, too. It's strikingly modern, which is what Seattle needs. It looks unique and well thought-out, with the surrounding area, neighbourhood character, etc., taken into consideration. It doesn't look like a mass-produced architectural prototype, like something you could see anywhere.

[Black Box]

What a great looking building. I like pb elemental's work. I hope they do more stuff in the high rise department.