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University of Washington

Lake Union School of Medicine Phase II

Seattle, Washington

HLB collaborated with Perkins + Will on this new Facility for the University of Washington.  The Lake Union School is built in the redevelopment zone of Lake Union in Seattle. This facility brings together researchers from different research departments under one roof to foster communication and teamwork.  The 256,000 square foot complex includes a 170,000 square foot laboratory building and an 86,000 foot office building.

HLB's scope included interior and exterior areas encompassing the building façade, plaza and site lighting, laboratory and lab support spaces, public areas and offices.  Special mock-ups were done to evaluate the integration of lighting and chilled beam systems.  Working in close collaboration with the landscape architecture firm of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, unique exterior features were developed including fiber optic illuminated pedestrian benches and custom designed globe fixtures that were creatively placed in the Central Plaza area.

Sustainability was an important facet of the design and the project was built to the equivalent of LEED Silver standards with such features as chilled beam cooling systems, lighting control systems, daylighting in laboratory areas, exterior sun shades, and low VOC materials for better indoor air quality.

The lighting design for this project has been awarded an IES Illumination Award of Merit.