Plaza Center Residential

Bellevue, Washington

Building Upwards to Revitalize an Existing Parking Garage

The Plaza Center Residential project transforms and re-energizes a prominent site that was considered an underutilized eyesore. Inserting a new structural system through the existing garage allows for five stories of residential to be built above, providing a new image and focus for the existing office park. The addition fills a gap in the street fabric providing a vibrant urban gathering space that enlivens the streetscape. The new undulating facade contrasts and revitalizes the stripped-down aesthetic of the existing office towers.

Neighborhood

Downtown Bellevue
Type

Mixed-Use
Size

235,250 SF Addition to Existing 244,000 SF Garage
312 Residential Units
Sustainability

Targeting LEED Gold®
Status

Pending
Services

Architecture
Client

Pastakia + Associates

Rather than demolishing…

Located in the heart of Downtown Bellevue near the new light-rail station, the 1970’s era three building office park has been underutilized and new development hindered by the existing open parking garage. Rather than demolishing the existing garage, a new structural system will be inserted through the existing structure to provide a podium for a new residential complex with two towers surrounding a shared courtyard. The new addition extends to the ground in front of the existing garage to provide a new vibrant streetscape that completely shields the existing garage from view.

Reuse of the existing parking garage is a unique solution for urban infill projects with aging developments. Demolition of the 5-story garage would have been cost prohibitive, and the addition provides new uses and activity in an underutilized environment.

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Revitalizing the public realm

Building on top of an existing parking garage, the Plaza Center Residential project weaves new life into the fabric of downtown Bellevue. A dark brick facade re-skins the existing parking garage, revitalizing and transforming its appearance, integrating it into a new pedestrian-friendly public realm with new street-facing retail. The south-facing upper level courtyard will feature amenity spaces for the residents, and bring relief to the street-facing facade.

Creating a campus

Two existing mid-block driveways flanking the parking garage will be improved with landscape elements, creating pedestrian nodes and vehicular drop-off zones. The mid-block connections – currently shared by vehicles and pedestrians – are meant to unify the three buildings on site as a singular Plaza Center Campus.

A third pedestrian mid-block crossing along the north face of the parking garage will also be upgraded with landscaping, highlighting it as an active pedestrian connector between 108th Ave NE and 109th Ave NE. A pedestrian plaza at the northwest of the site will replace an existing drive-up teller kiosk and will serve as an integral portion of the mid-block connection. The plaza will be shared by office workers and future residents.

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