The Eagles Building was a unique opportunity to reuse a historically significant building in the heart of downtown Seattle. Washington, and give it new life as both a low-income apartment building and a new performing arts theater for a local repertory company. The Washington State Convention and Trade Center sold the building to the developer at below market rate. The Convention Center also endorsed the project for low-income housing to promote replacement of affordable housing lost in the downtown area. In a non-traditional partnership, the architect, GGLO, and the developer, Housing Resources Group-Seattle, worked collaboratively with the local theater group’s (ACT) design team to help transform this building.

The Eagles Building is a handsome early 1900 terracotta clad building with ornate interior detail. Every effort was made to retain that integrity in the redesign and still maintain affordability. As part of the renovation, the Eagles Building applied for historic preservation under the National Trust for Historic Preservation. As a result, many existing architectural details were documented and replicated. For example, the original terrazzo lobby floor, which was damaged, was replaced with new terrazzo, and doors and trim were selected to match or closely resemble the originals. As the Seattle Times stated “Renovated and revitalized, the former Eagles Auditorium building has regained its significance as a civic amenity for downtown Seattle.”

Support neighborhood and household fit:

The Eagles Building is in the heart of downtown and built to serve single people in the downtown work force that we depend on such as hotel, office, and municipal service workers. The efficient apartments make them affordable and the proximity to jobs makes it easier for people to get to work or do errands without a car.

Meet high aesthetic standards:

The Eagles building is a very handsome early 1900 terracotta clad building with ornate interior detail. Every effort was made to retain that integrity in the redesign and still maintain affordability. The original terrazzo lobby floor, which was damaged, was replaced with new terrazzo and doors and trim were selected to match or closely resemble the originals. The exterior windows were retained, refurbished and weather stripped and some original curved window trim was reused.

Support physical safety and security:

Safety and security were prime considerations in the design of for this downtown location. The building management office is strategically placed in a prime street front space to view the street and building entry. Admittance to the building is through a building entry system that utilizes an intercom system between residents' units and the front door. Within units the security measures include view ports at the doors and the intercom connection to the front door.