UW Medicine Phase III Renderings

Below are renderings of the controversial UW Medicine Phase III project being developed by Vulcan on the block bounded by Republican, Dexter, Mercer and 8th. Phase III itself is proposed to be constructed in three phases, starting with four stories of below-grade parking on the southern two-thirds of the block, along with the research building on the southeast corner of the site.

The plans have been made compatible with the second phase of the Mercer Corridor project, which converts Mercer into a two-way street cutting across the northwest corner of the site. The City is acquiring this portion of the site through eminent domain.

Judging even by these basic renderings, the architecture for Phase III is a lot more striking than the humdrum Phase I and II. Architect Perkins + Will have designed a "fractal" facade, a sort of abstract polygonal glass wall, along the buildings' courtyard edge. The outward facing facades build on the thin verticals motif of the other campus buildings.

The design review proposal touches on the height issue briefly. It refers to a text amendment pending council action which proposes an increase in height from the currently zoned 65' to 125' to "meet developer and occupant needs".

They also put forward an alternative scheme that adheres to the current zoning which serves as a kind of scare tactic. To attain the same square footage as the preferred scheme shown above, a 5-6 story building would cover the entire parcel leaving no room for open space.

Exciting.