400 Westlake

Once considered an anchor in Seattle’s “auto-row,” the iconic Firestone Tire Building is making a new kind of history as one of the most sustainable buildings of its size in the world. The existing structure is a designated Seattle historic landmark built in the 1920s. Its preservation as part of the redevelopment bridges the neighborhood’s past and future, serving as a distinct podium for the tower and as a fixture of sustainability and resiliency within the neighborhood fabric. The design of the redevelopment includes retail space at the ground floor and 14 stories of flexible, open-plan office space to attract future tech tenants. A setback above the podium separates the addition from the landmark building, allowing the new tower to be anchored by its historic façade and making the historic building more prominent. Slots—proportionate to the bays on the historic building—reduce the scale of the addition and make the facade more dynamic, providing occupants with better daylight, views, and decks with access to nature.