James KM Cheng Architects
Last week, Vancouver, B.C.-based Westbank presented new details about their upcoming development, First Light. Located on the corner of 3rd and Virginia in Belltown, Westbank plans for a 48-story tower with 459 condominiums, office and retail space, and eight levels of below grade parking for 444 vehicles.
Designed by their frequent collaborator, James KM Cheng Architects, the tower will be a “contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional Belltown building,” and feature work from Seattle based glass artist, John Hogan. The tower’s podium façade will be adorned by a glass veil designed by Horgan (in addition to other features throughout).
The residential lobby will have a full-time concierge. Among the floor will be structural glass panels, providing a view into the bicycle room below. Cyclists will have a special entrance to the room with 178 bicycle stalls, secure storage space, and work benches.
James KM Cheng Architects
The lobby will also be home to a custom Fazioli piano, part of the Westbank piano program, which serves as “both a demonstration of the passion that [they] put into [their] buildings and a gift to the architects and designers of [their] projects.”
Residences will begin after the podium level. Each home features walls of floor-to-ceiling windows allowing for maximum daylight. Floor plans range in size from studios to three-bedrooms. Like other condominium developments, there will be two finish packages for owners to choose from. One option includes raw architecture concrete columns, white oak floors, and matte white cabinetry.
James KM Cheng Architects
First Light’s top floors will feature the residential amenity space, which includes: two spas, aerobic and weights room, lounge areas, a secret garden, and a dramatic 25-meter cantilevered sky pool with views of Elliott Bay and the surrounding cityscape. Previous designs for the roof featured a geodesic dome on the tower’s roof, however, that is no longer the case.
Public previews will begin later this month with reservations to follow. A Design Review Recommendation meeting for First Light is scheduled for 5:30pm on October 16 at Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, Room L280.
Westbank is also planning the Frye Towers, two 33-story towers with 486 units at 707 Terry Avenue in First Hill; and two 45-story towers at 1200 Stewart Street, with 1,051 units.
NOTICE: The author is not a representative of the owner, Virginia Street Joint Venture LLC, or their affiliates.