A new hotel is in the works near Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market. Ankrom Moisan Architects is designing a 14-story building to stand at 103 Pike St., on the east corner of Pike Street’s intersection with First Avenue.

Currently, plans call for two stories of commercial space, topped by 12 stories of hotel rooms. Also, five residential units might be included in the building. In total, 83,300 square feet of space is planned.

The project is making its way through the Seattle design review process. The latest meeting before the Seattle Design Commission, on Tuesday, resulted in the group requesting another hearing. Commissioners don’t have major concerns with the design, according to Allison+Partners‘ Natalie Price, who spoke on behalf of Ankrom Moisan Architects. Rather, issues are with details such as setbacks and treatment of the building’s alley side, she said.

A partnership between Seattle Properties and Stellar Holdings owns and is developing the site. The new structure will replace a three-story building that was constructed in 1901. The demolition will displace Seattle Shirt Company, Green Tortoise Hostel, Pho Mililani and Smoke Plus.

“It (will be) a family-owned hotel,” Ankrom Moisan senior designer Jenny Chapman said. “It will be a boutique hotel. It will have a rooftop bar and a lounge and second-story (commercial space).”

Project designers, during their first meeting before the Seattle Design Commission in October 2017, presented three options. The team’s preferred design called for 7,200 square feet of retail space on the first two floors and 120 guest rooms on floors three and above. But at the third floor the building would have turned.

“The stories three through 14 had a 6-degree pivot,” Chapman said.

The idea was that the triangular pivot would create more space for a landscaped roof. However, the pivot idea fell by the wayside because the Design Commission sought a structure that would honor the context of the surrounding area.

“The base and tower changed,” Chapman said. “The pivot has been eliminated. A setback was added to First Avenue and to Pike Street. It’s not huge, but now it’s setting back three feet off the street.”

One of the biggest challenges for the project team was ensuring the building would blend with surrounding structures in one of the city’s best-known areas. The upper floors will be dominated by glass and steel as a way to pay homage to the glass and steel found throughout the market.

“We proposed dropping the base down to two stories,” Chapman said. “We were proposing a departure of the setback and that was not well received.”

Aside from the addition of the setback and the elimination of the pivot, the current design keeps most of the elements from earlier versions.

No date is set yet for the project’s next appearance before the Design Commission. Construction is expected to begin early next year with completion scheduled for 2021. No contractor is attached to the project yet.

Design Beyond Borders is a 91��Ƶ feature offering a look at the projects outside of Oregon being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm’s projects considered, contact the 91��Ƶ newsroom at 503-802-7222 or newsroom@djcOregon.com.

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