Citizen Apartments is a new mixed-use building in the middle of the bustling Pike/Pine neighborhood of Seattle.
The 103,000 sf building has 107 apartment units (market rate and work force), 6,300 sf of retail suites at street level, and 2 levels of underground parking. Unit mix includes studios, one bedrooms, and one bedroom lofts.
The building is LEED Silver Certified and incorporates such sustainable features as high-efficiency lighting and water fixtures; bike parking and electric car charging stations; Ipe decked rooftop terrace; recycling and composting areas; low-VOC sealants, paints, and coatings; and local and recycled construction materials.
Rafn met the challenge of building on the tight infill site only 14 inches from the neighboring building by prefabricating 70 foot long wall sections with waterproofing and siding then tilting it into place to complete the western elevation of the building. Another challenge was the complex exterior skin system that gives the building its distinctive character. The system features complex and extensive modulation of the exterior skin, which required the design and construction teams to work side by side to bring vision and function together with an end result that is stunning.
Significant success during construction came about from the remarkable productivity of the framing subcontractor which pushed other subcontractors to keep pace, resulting in a noticeable positive impact to the schedule and morale. By fully scaffolding the building including safety netting, providing pedestrian walkways through the construction zone, and installing permanent fall protection anchors on the roof, Rafn honored our continuous commitment to keep the community and our workers safe.