Predesign
During the predesign phase the design team inquired about free daylighting services through the Seattle Lighting Lab. The modest public budget and state fee schedule did not allow for study models, so the Better Bricks Foundation offered a grant to assist with model building. An architecture student was hired to create a model specifically for the study, and a series of studies helped to identify the best options for obtaining even daylighting throughout the facility. Relites, overhangs, louvers, and the placement of openings and skylights were all tuned based on this information.
Early studies showed the importance of including adjacent buildings in order to help control the harsh western sun. The studies also indicated a potential heat-buildup problem in the southwest corner of the lobby. Several louver patterns were modeled in an attempt to balance solar gain and the transparency desired by the tenant.
The public nature of this building called for a public design process, despite the challenges associated with it. The collaborative effort included the architect, the Seattle Public Library, the Neighborhood Service Center, and representatives from various user groups. The community was represented by people who continually distributed information between their groups and the design team. This group effort allowed the voices of thousands of potential users to be heard.