Nestled into the hillside of the East slopes of Queen Anne Hill above Seattle’s Lake Union, Dexter Lake Union is an 11 story, mixed-use building consisting of 201 apartments, 6,850 square feet of retail-restaurant-commercial space, and parking for 283 vehicles.

Challenged by the steep, rectangular, 1.2 acre site, the building’s "U" shaped 11 stories rise up the hillside. Confined between Highway 99 and Dexter Avenue, this "U" shaped arrangement turns itself away from the busy highway, and shelters a large, landscaped courtyard that utilizes the demanding views of Lake Union and the surrounding Cascade Mountains.

Client: Dexter Lake Union LLC
Photo: Driscoll Architects, PS/Matt Todd Photography/ Soundview Aerial Photography

Status: Completed 2004