Vulcan, Inc. is the largest landowner in the Seattle city limits and is leading the charge for one of the greatest urban renewal movements happening around the country. A major part of this transformation involves replacing old warehouses and parking lots with mixed-use buildings across the neighborhood. Apartments and condos with restaurants and retail shops have brought the neighborhood to life, making it appealing for a variety of tech companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google, to establish local offices.
The South Lake Union Discovery Center showcases the past, present, and future of Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. Developed by Vulcan, Inc., the 11,000-square-foot Center features state-of-the-art models and exhibits to showcase local properties and create awareness for the sustainable urban lifestyle.
In keeping with Vulcan’s eco-friendly goals for its 60 acres in the South Lake Union neighborhood, the Discovery Center was designed by architectural firm Miller/Hull to a high standard of environmental responsibility. Due to its innovative construction, the Center can even be disassembled into four distinct sections and moved to a new site if necessary, making it a truly sustainable building.
Reducing the runoff of pollutants into Lake Union was a priority for Vulcan and for the City of Seattle. To prevent harm to the lake’s native fish population, steps were taken to mitigate stormwater runoff, allowing it to be re-absorbed into the ground for natural cleaning and filtering before reaching the lake. The Discovery Center features a pair of bioswales flanking the building and a parking lot surfaced with Mutual Materials® Eco-Stone® interlocking concrete permeable pavers. Interlocking permeable pavers such as Eco-Stone are designed in such a way that voids in the unique patented design create drainage openings in the pavement surface which facilitate rain water infiltration.
Protecting the water quality of Lake Union is very important to Vulcan. Pervious pavement plays a key role in allowing rain water runoff to be cleaned and filtered before it enters the lake. –
– Ada Healey, Vice President of Real Estate, Vulcan, Inc.
GLY Construction was the general contractor for the project.
If you’re interested in learning more about how our permeable pavers can help with your stormwater management questions, please contact us at 1-888-688-8250 to speak with a commercial hardscape sales representative.
Citations:
- South Lake Union Discovery Center
- City of Seattle, Washington
- Vulcan, Inc.
- Mutual Materials
- Mutual Materials – Uni-EcoStone Permeable Pavers
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