Tellus on Dexter
Seattle, WA
Tellus on Dexter is VIA’s third project for Wilshire Capital Partners in Seattle. The project includes 2,500 sf of ground related retail, and 98 apartment units on 7 floors above. Residential amenity areas off a street-related lounge and courtyard plaza, as well as a rooftop deck that enjoys panoramic views of Seattle Center. Parking for 53 cars is provided below grade. The project is one of the first in the city to take advantage of changes in the 2015 IBC, allowing for an additional level of concrete – a “five over three” construction, compared to the more typical “five over two” found throughout Seattle.
The centerpiece of Tellus’ design is in its street-related central courtyard. The verticality is further enhanced through the articulation of the façade, which utilizes a simple, almost classical window proportion, which are ganged together into two story elements. These two story elements are framed with ‘shadow boxes’, which emphasize the verticality of the cladding and provide a dramatic texture and depth to the façades. The courtyard, in conjunction with the taller construction, creates a uniquely vertical massing along Dexter, differentiating it from the more typical ‘bread loafs’ seen across the city.
