GeoEngineers made important contributions to four award-winning Seattle development projects recognized at NAIOP Washington’s annual Night of the Stars Gala on November 1. Michael Gray, Erik Ellingsen, and Matt Smith were on hand as The Ayer, The Hemlock, Northlake Commons, and Microsoft’s East Campus won awards. Longtime GeoEngineers’ client Vulcan Real Estate was also recognized as Developer of the Year, and we are proud to have contributed to their success as geotechnical consultant on dozens of projects.
GeoEngineers has a long history of collaboration with NAIOP Washington, and our Puget Sound geotechnical staff have often played key roles in these award-winning development projects. 2024 was no exception, and we’re thrilled to have played a part in these unique and challenging projects. In addition to the four award winners, five GeoEngineers projects were runners up: Skyglass Apartments, The Cline Apartments, Washington 1000 Office Development, West Main Office Development, and Lake Union Piers. Read more about the winning projects below.
The Ayer: High-Rise Residential Development of the Year
Holland Partner Group developed this 454-unit residential tower in downtown Seattle. It features 17,000 sf of indoor/outdoor space and a Voxx Coffee retail location adjoining the lobby. A GeoEngineers team led by Matt Smith and Michael Gray provided geotechnical recommendations for permanent below-grade walls, foundations, temporary shoring for the 80-foot-deep excavation, and underpinning of adjacent buildings. Hamilton Puangnak and Jon Cracolici led the performance-based seismic design of the project. The Ayer opened in February of this year.
Northlake Commons: Office Development of the Year
Northlake Commons is one of the largest mass-timber office buildings in the country, with 275,000 square feet of lab, office, warehouse, restaurant, and retail space. The wood and natural materials in this cutting-edge building are intended to mimic natural environments and blend indoor and outdoor spaces. A GeoEngineers team led by Lindsay Flangas and Jonathan Owen provided initial geotechnical due diligence and geotechnical design recommendations, including subsurface investigation, and recommendations for seismic design, earthwork, shallow foundations, temporary shoring, temporary and permanent dewatering, and slab-on-grade and permanent below-grade walls. Construction started in 2022 and wrapped up in February 2024.
The Hemlock: Multifamily Residential Urban Development of the Year (More than 100 Units)
The Hemlock is a 297-unit mixed-use apartment community built on the site of a closed grocery store in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood. The project faced construction and permitting challenges thanks to complex site conditions. Sensitive groundwater conditions and a 35-foot elevation difference from one end of the site to the other created dewatering and geotechnical challenges. GeoEngineers’ development team provided a typical suite of geotechnical services, including site explorations and recommendations for seismic design, earthwork, foundations temporary shoring, dewatering, and slab-on-grade and permanent below-grade walls. Ian Young and Tim Syverson also stepped in to complete soil screening and recommendations for permitted removal when a small area of petroleum-impacted soil was found during construction. The Hemlock opened in fall, 2023.
Microsoft’s East Campus Modernization Project: Sustainable Development of the Year
The East Campus Refresh is an ongoing effort to redevelop approximately 72 acres in Redmond, Washington with at least 17 new office buildings and additional amenities for Microsoft employees and the general public. GeoEngineers has been working on the project since 2017, providing a wide range of geotechnical services, including subsurface investigations, extensive construction observation, and recommendations for foundations, building and crane pads permanent and temporary dewatering, shoring and tiebacks, and permanent retaining walls and surface features. Matt Smith and Michael Gray have led recent work on the project, and redevelopment work is still ongoing across the massive property.
