In Seattle’s historical neighborhood of Pioneer Square, The Jack wraps seven stories of office space and ground-level retail with a blend of red brick, curtainwall and steel window units.
“On the waterfront side, the brick façade is extruded into two distinct sections with different window styles,” says Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA, owner and principal of the Seattle-based Olson Kundig. “This helps the building to read as separate masses while further blending into its context. Between the two masses, recessed glazing marks the entrances while steel windows reference the area’s historic industrial buildings.”
Seeking clear views of Elliot Bay, maximizing daylight throughout the building’s deep floorplate and transporting the natural tones of the sky and water to the interior, the architects wanted a neutral glazing color. Based on a strong recommendation from the team’s façade consultant Front, Solarban 72 Acuity glass by Vitro Architectural Glass was selected.
Windows on the project
To strike the right blend of modernism and historical preservation, the architects designed four different window types.
The first, large warehouse-style windows with divided lites span across the floors, marking the entrances and breaking up the building’s scale into brick pavilions. On the seventh floor, the windows form a glazed crown which works to visually lower the building’s height.
The second window type is squared punched openings with mullion patterns. The architects placed these openings by the corner pavilion to give the façade a clear, human scale.
On the street level, large-paned curtain wall units create a transparent base and help activate the retail spaces.
The fourth fenestration strategy is oversized simulated double-hung windows that mimic the alley facades of historic Pioneer Square.
The colors and textures of the brick façade were also designed to pay homage to the neighborhood.
Targeting LEED Gold certification, the building features a 16,000 square-foot green roof arranged into multiple glass pavilions surrounding a central green roof.
