Josephine Apartments
Project completed during tenure at Johnston Architects.
Overview
Josephine Apartments is a two-building development in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood, located along busy Rainier Avenue and backing onto a calmer residential street. It holds 150 residences in a variety of layouts, including studios, open one-bedroom units, and traditional one- and two-bedroom apartments. A pedestrian corridor weaves through the steeply sloped site, offering outdoor dining areas, small gathering spaces, and retail along the walkway.
Project Goals
- Achieve the client’s desire to add as many residential units as zoning allowed.
- Integrate retail and communal amenities, such as co-working rooms and rooftop decks.
- Design a structure that responds to both a high-traffic arterial and a quieter neighborhood environment.
Design and Implementation
The design phase spanned three years. Stepping the buildings down in height solved scale differences: the side facing Rainier Avenue rises to six levels, while the opposite side steps to four. Rusted steel and brick highlight the more urban side, and fiber cement panels face the quieter street, blending with the surrounding homes. The steep topography guided the creation of a pedestrian walkway and amphitheater-style green space, promoting foot traffic and connecting retail shops with outdoor gathering spots. The project also took advantage of an updated city zoning code, achieving an extra story that enhanced rental opportunities.
Challenges
Working with a steep slope required careful planning. The team focused on creating a smooth transition for pedestrians, shaping the site’s grade to provide inviting paths, retail frontage, and an active courtyard. Coordinating multiple stories with the city’s zoning standards demanded thorough design studies and an organized approach to structural details.
Outcome
Josephine Apartments adds a modern residential hub to Columbia City. Its two structures balance an urban character on the Rainier Avenue side with a friendlier scale to the rear. Residents can enjoy rooftop gathering areas, co-working spaces, and a lively pedestrian corridor that brings vitality to the site. The client’s request for maximum unit count was met, and the building’s stepped design and varied materials contribute to a welcoming presence for the neighborhood.
Location
- Seattle, WA
SIZE
- 200,000 SF
COMPLETED
- 2019
ROLE
- Project Architect & Designer
Client & Developer
- Story Built
renderings
- Story Built
