The layout of the student housing buildings knits together the new development with the existing fabric of open spaces and pedestrian circulation — creating improved connections to athletic centers and recreational areas. A mosaic of courtyards, quads, open lawns and semi-private patios will be organized around and between the buildings to activate the streetscape and pedestrian corridors. Buses and service vehicles will access the complex on the east side, while the college works toward a goal of making Kelsey Creek Road a ‘complete’ street that prioritizes pedestrians.

The landscape design for Phase I of this project sets an important precedent for future campus growth, with a site plan that emphasizes universal accessibility, a variety of outdoor amenity spaces, and preservation of views. Outdoor spaces vary in size and function to incorporate all aspects of student life, including: independent study, outdoor classrooms, places for assembly and performance, and spaces to relax and socialize between classes.

Communita | Atelier worked closely with the College and design team to prioritize low impact development strategies for the site. In addition to LEED platinum standards, the landscape design uses drought-tolerant, native, and edible plantings, and directs the majority of surface run-off toward rain gardens and plant beds. This creates a multitude of learning opportunities for students interested in sustainability and natural sciences, and raises awareness of our everyday impacts on the environment.

Communita | Atelier designed the street frontages, entry court and interior courtyard space for this contemporary student apartment building located across the street from Everett Community College campus. A grid of Scarlet Sentinel Maples offers a soft transition from the public sidewalk to the building’s main entrance. Patterned tree grates and specially-scored paving directs the eye toward the entry, creating a strong sense of arrival. Masses of evergreen ornamental grasses and upright Redtwig Dogwoods are planted at the perimeter edges, complementing the building’s style, and providing year-round structure and color.

The interior courtyard provides a space for intimate gatherings and interaction between students. The landscape design includes two distinct outdoor rooms with moveable cafe tables and lounge seating, a water feature, festival lighting and a large cast-in-place planter with built-in benches. The planter frames a specimen Japanese Maple as the focal point of the courtyard – with fine-textured foliage that marks the change in seasons. Natural materials such as landscape boulders and cobblestone mulch provide textural interest and contrast with the clean lines of the architecture.

The protection of existing mature trees contributes to a parklike atmosphere, with open space exceeding built space. Retaining existing utility infrastructure and vehicular circulation systems significantly reduced project costs, while new parking areas were enhanced by the incorporation of existing vegetation.

On a site originally built during WWII to provide housing for military families, our firm was charged with the task of retaining as much of the existing landscape character as possible while adding 400 new units of married student housing. We collaborated closely with project architects on site grading and the placement of new buildings, resulting in a site plan that maximized views of Lake Washington, and seamlessly integrated accessible units, entry courtyards, play areas and community space within the 100-foot change in elevation.

The protection of existing mature trees contributes to a parklike atmosphere, with open space exceeding built space. Retaining existing utility infrastructure and vehicular circulation systems significantly reduced project costs, while new parking areas were enhanced by the incorporation of existing vegetation.