Over the past year, Seattle's workforce has noticed a number of new trends and ideas. During that period, various industries across the city reevaluated their spatial needs, causing the city's design trends to shift to meet these requirements. To get a better understanding of how these trends will play out in 2024, The Registry spoke with Eric Mott, Design Director at Perkins&Will.
In what ways has Seattle's landscape changed in the past year?
Like many cities, Seattle has seen changes due to post-pandemic shifts in workplace attitudes and behaviors. The shift to hybrid and remote working has changed the feel of downtown as fewer people follow the traditional norm of working from an office space during a traditional 40-hour work week. This change has led to marked differences in patterns of public space use and the feasibility of retail and pedestrian activities at street level, especially in the downtown core that was developed primarily for office uses. In neighborhoods and areas with a more diverse mix of uses including major institutional uses, the impact of these changes appears to have been minimized. Changes in how we use and experience the city as a public realm that connects us through culture and commerce, highlight the virtues of a diverse, mixed-use urban development pattern as an engine of civic life.
How have developers' priorities changed in response to the current economy?
Early in the pandemic, many developers shifted from office to research uses as the supply and demand model shifted in the local and national market. Additionally, based on expected future demand, availability of financing, changing tenant demographics and workplace culture, the developer market has moved away from traditional offices. Forward-looking developers have embraced the idea that regardless of intended use, they must differentiate on quality – including quality of tenant experience, access to useful amenities, and demonstrable environmental stewardship. These transformations have moved the market in a more competitive and innovative direction. At the same time, costs continued to escalate, prompting creative thinking in the adaptive reuse of existing buildings.
How have design firms like Perkins&Will pivoted during difficult times?
Perkins&Will is fortunate to have a strong and diverse global and domestic practice spanning a broad range of practice areas. This diversity provides the ability to redirect our focus and be flexible to market changes. The foundations of our practice are based on innovation, design excellence, and leadership in environmentally responsible design. These core values and competencies applied across diverse areas of expertise position us to lead, especially in uncertain times. The company also has a unique structure and cultural skill in leveraging scale to capitalize on market opportunities at the local, regional, national and global levels.
Which sectors are growing fastest now? Why?
With the economy approaching what looks like an inflection point, it is difficult to point with certainty what is growing, and perhaps easier to pinpoint what may be declining less. It is clear that speculative development in all types of projects (including office, residential and research) has slowed significantly due to current costs and future market uncertainties. The types of projects that are relatively insulated from these factors, such as higher education, are continuing, and some institutional, government, and infrastructure projects, such as health care, institutional and civic research, and transportation, are also continuing or potentially growing as a sector close to general activity in the architectural, engineering, and construction industries.
What are the latest trends in these sectors from a design perspective?
While value has always been a cornerstone of design, we see a more careful and comprehensive study of its definition as a clear trend. We are involved in many projects that give deep insight into the human experience, environmental stewardship, social and cultural issues as key drivers of design, as well as purposeful innovation to adapt to changing expectations of the built environment. While these may not be “new trends,” we may be in the midst of reaffirming and refocusing these values. Our work explores and addresses each of these in different ways. From the deep green transformation of heritage buildings into positive workplaces for the future, to innovative mixed-use high-rise buildings that connect people to nature and their communities, our work is driven by the broader goals of society.
Can you tell us about some of the Seattle studio's biggest projects of the year?
We are excited to be part of the ongoing transformation of Seattle's skyline with several important and innovative projects recently completed, including the Fed, The Modern, Ovation Towers, and 400 Westlake, as well as those currently in design. , such as the Sloan Institute building at Fred Hutch, and other buildings under construction, such as the North Tower on Swedish First Hill. Not only are these projects large in scale, but more importantly, they are making significant positive impacts on the community and urban fabric as Seattle continues to grow and modernize. These complex vertical urban developments set new standards for building performance and provide state-of-the-art solutions to our community's needs for places to live, work, learn and heal in downtown Seattle.
What are your expectations for next year in terms of development?
We remain cautiously optimistic and prepared for what the future holds. Although fundamental shifts in market dynamics have occurred and near-term headwinds persist, Seattle remains an economic and real estate development environment whose growth depends on diverse channels and strong entities and individuals. At Perkins&Will, we believe there is a bright future for high-quality urban growth and development on all fronts. In some ways, the post-pandemic quelling of “entitlement madness” may have had a beneficial moderating effect on the city’s long-term development. By allowing more time for intentional, well-thought-out growth and economic stability, society and civic leaders may be better positioned to effectively support and facilitate smart growth and development as the market and civic culture evolve.
What are you most looking forward to in the coming year?
We have amazing horizons ahead of us to design buildings and places that will have a significant positive impact on the city and people's lives, and we work with exceptional leaders in our clients' organizations. Our clients and project opportunities are inspiring, and I look forward to the process of creating and implementing these exceptional plans with my partners and colleagues.
What are some of the Seattle studio's goals for 2024?
We continue to invest in industry-leading research and methods to formulate environmentally responsible designs, including energy reduction, material health, water conservation and carbon reduction. Our goal is to continue to be leaders in innovative design on all types of projects and to deliver design excellence in urban and campus environments for our clients. We will continue to evolve our practices and talent, and look forward to developing the next generation of design leaders.
How do Seattle's rezoning plans impact Seattle studio design plans for 2024?
We are actively involved in rezoning efforts related to some of our projects and are tracking other rezoning activities that may benefit additional projects in the pipeline. Seattle's zoning evolution has generally not kept pace with the density and scale of development, so it could benefit from comprehensive simplification as well as recognition that urban vitality is a result of smart density and mixed-use development. The gradual evolution of our downtown neighborhoods over the past decades should give hope and encouragement to our community that infill development, density, and mixed-use development are keys to a high-quality downtown economy, culture, and experience.
