Date Posted: 03.05.2025
The Mithun Pier 56 Office in Seattle has been awarded Living Building Challenge® (LBC) Petal certification!
The century-old pier was first transformed from a windowless warehouse into an environmentally sustainable, naturally cooled, open plan studio for our integrated design practice in 1999. While the space stood the test of time well for more than 20 years, our team recently embarked on a new remodel of the 34,000 sf space—the largest of our three west coast offices. It was time to refresh treasured elements and align spaces with how we work today.
BELOVED FEATURES, NEW ASPIRATIONS
Extensive analysis and staff surveys confirmed that much of the space continued to work well for design teams, and defined key priorities for the project: enhanced spaces for digital collaboration, amenities supporting diverse individual needs; ambitious material performance with Living Building Challenge petal certification focused on materials, equity and beauty; celebration of the historic structure; and providing a welcoming gathering space to host events for local NGOs and other mission-driven organizations.
At the center of the office, a makerspace and new materials lab are active spaces for collaboration and design advancement. In the materials lab, carbon-negative carpet and a support and power armature to rapidly test lighting fixtures enable revolving display and project testing.
MATERIALS SUPPORTING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
A significant focus of the latest renovation project emphasized enhancing the health and well-being for the firm’s team and guests. As a part of the rigorous review standard necessary to achieve the LBC materials petal and Fitwel certifications is compliance with the LBC Red List, which requires avoiding 19 chemical classes known to pose serious risks to human health and the greater ecosystem. Meeting the Red List forced the team to look at everything and to have manufacturers disclose and be transparent about all product ingredients. Nearly one thousand different products were considered for the project. Eighty-nine of those products were rejected for not meeting the Red List standard and another 133 products were considered but not used. Ultimately, 724 reviewed LBC products were installed and over 100 advocacy letters were sent, and calls made to manufacture reps requesting their future participation in material disclosure.
The team maximized reuse of existing materials and carefully assessed building access, vertical circulation, indoor air quality, and design around water and healthy food. Existing light fixture efficiency was improved via new LED lamping and supplemented with modern high efficiency lighting and controls. Informative signage is thoughtfully integrated to encourage healthy practices. The LBC program ensured the healthiest regional material options were selected and implemented throughout the project. This required a deep collaboration between designers, manufacturers, and consultants to understand the sourcing and ‘ingredients list’ of each building and finish material.
Concrete countertops are regionally sourced. Quiet nooks dispersed throughout the office support individual, focused work and moments of respite with views of nature.
Regionally sourced selections include concrete countertops from Bend, Oregon, stained Appleply casework sourced from Eugene, Oregon, and felt drum light fixtures made in Seattle. Wood finishes are all water-based and extremely low VOC, new electrical cabling is free of toxic vinyl compounds and flooring (carpeting and tile) all meet LBC 4.0 red list requirements with some carpet areas using a carbon negative backing and others being Living Product Challenge selections.
Focus on the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of employees also inspired several conscious programmatic additions. A dedicated parent’s room provides a quiet, private space for new parents. Next door, a deeply saturated wellness room provides a private place for a quick stretch or quiet reset beneath a soothing felt textile, handmade by a member of the firm, and all-gender restrooms and showers rooms have been incorporated into the design. Connections to daylight and views of Elliot Bay throughout the office add to employee mental well-being and connections to the natural world.
Read more at the Living Future Pier 56 Mithun Office project profile.
