Julia Nagele Speaks on Executive Roundtable at PSBJ’s Women Who Lead Summit
4.13.23
Director of Design – Architecture Julia Nagele spoke on the executive roundtable panel at this year’s Puget Sound Business Journal Women Who Lead Summit
NEWS & Ideas
Pike Motorworks
On Seattle’s gritty, historic “Auto Row,” an old BMW showroom was transformed into a true mixed-use residential space. With a unique combination of parcels interwoven amongst existing buildings, this project’s frontage touches all four sides of the block. Two midblock pedestrian passages organize the development, serve internal functions, link to adjacent streets, and create rich place-making opportunity in the heart of Capitol Hill.
An urban oasis
Pike Motorworks engages four different streets yet controls only one corner. A cruciform courtyard at the intersection of two mid-block passages creates a vital heart within the two-building complex. A half moon south-facing courtyard brings new life to the historic retail frontage on Pike Street.
Architectural portals make enticing thresholds to the space, framing artwork and found-object fabrications directed by the landscape architecture team. The internal courtyard holds a nexus of activity with retail and dining spilling into space alongside two primary residential entries. A study in honest materials and subtle details provide respite from the active, sometimes raucous streetscapes.
Pike Motorworks was designed and constructed coincident with the Cue apartments, an adjoining project designed by Hewitt. This timing, proximity, and shared landscape architectural team allowed the Cue’s west façade and lobby terrace to face into the central courtyard of PMW, bringing visual variety and energy to the spatial composition.