Midtown21: Redefining Office Towers for Tech Sector

Midtown21: A New Generation of Office Building

The Midtown21 Office Building, located in Seattle's Denny Triangle district, is redefining the concept of the office tower for the tech sector. Designed by LMN Architects, the building's 21 stories and 365,000 square feet offer Class A office space with a focus on flexibility and interactivity. The Midtown21 sets a new standard for sustainable, civic-oriented design in Seattle, featuring a unique façade and publicly accessible Great Room.

A Façade That Weaves Together Urban Neighborhoods

The Midtown21's façade is made up of digitally fabricated, precast concrete spandrels that resemble a woven net. This design creates dynamic patterns of light and shadow throughout the day and expresses the interweaving of multiple urban neighborhoods. The building's high ceilings, 10 feet expandable to 12 feet, give tenants the voluminous feel of industrial loft buildings, and offer dramatic views of the surrounding city. Additionally, the building is LEED Gold certified and meets Seattle's stringent new energy code.

A Great Room for All

The Midtown21's second level features a publicly accessible Great Room, which fills the entire floor. This design allows for retail to occupy the ground floor along all street frontages. Social lounges, conference facilities, and a fitness center are integrated with the Great Room, including an outdoor terrace overlooking the street. The conference spaces offer different modes of meeting, from fully open to semi-private and enclosed, with glass walls, wall screens, plantings, and furnishings. A sense of connectivity is emphasized, with an outdoor terrace suitable for hosting large gatherings.

Retail and a Rain Canopy

Retail along Terry Avenue is set back from the edge of the site and covered by a rain canopy to create an extra-wide sidewalk arcade. This design encourages social gathering and allows for generous vegetation. The Midtown21 is owned by the Trammell Crow Company, and Balfour Beatty Construction served as the general contractor. In addition, APS Architectural Precast Structures Ltd. was the precast concrete producer and specialty engineer. MKA Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Inc. served as the structural engineer of record and project engineer of record. The Erection Company, Inc. were the PCI Certified Erectors, and Spec Formliners, Inc. was the precast formliner manufacturer using CAMWorks software.

The Midtown21 Office Building represents a new generation of office tower design, one that emphasizes flexibility, interactivity, and sustainability. LMN Architects has created a building that is both visually stunning and functional, offering tenants a unique perspective on urban living and working. The Midtown21 sets a precedent for sustainable, civic-oriented design on a city-designated "Green Street" and will undoubtedly inspire future projects in the area.

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