 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
South Lake Union Discovery Center
Challenges:
- To convey and gain support for Vulcan's bold vision for revitalizing nearly 60 acres in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood still years away from realizing its enormous redevelopment potential.
- To create demand and awareness for an entirely new urban, sustainable lifestyle in South Lake Union never seen before in the area.
- To reach a diverse audience including commercial, retail and residential tenants (or home buyers), community stakeholders and elected officials through visual images and interactive media.
Strategies:
- Develop a visually striking, informative and interactive center that showcases the South Lake Union neighborhood's rich past, present and future everything from diverse residences, creative-minded companies, eclectic restaurants and shops, public parks, improved transportation and cultural activities.
- Work closely with neighborhood businesses and other stakeholders (including local historian Paul Dorpat) to ensure that the neighborhood's long history and unique lifestyle would be accurately reflected in the center.
- Conceive and design the Discovery Center from the ground up with environmental awareness in mind as a natural reflection of Vulcan's commitment to sustainability in South Lake Union.
Results:
- Launched in April 2005, the striking 11,000-square-foot South Lake Union Discovery Center paints an entire picture of Vulcan and the community's exciting vision for the neighborhood through artistic displays, a giant 18x12 foot, 3-D model spanning Lake Union to downtown Seattle, virtual animation features, historic community artifacts and maps as well as a movie theatre. The center has welcomed nearly 23,000 visitors since it first opened its doors last spring.
- The Discovery Center's continued success in attracting visitors from Seattle and beyond not only demonstrates the growing interest in the ever-evolving South Lake Union neighborhood but also the center's enhanced ties to the community. The facility has already hosted hundreds of community meetings and social events tailored to a diverse range of audiences.
- As an eco-friendly building, more than 80 percent of the Discovery Center was constructed with green and recycled materials, and the landscape is further enhanced by native, drought-resistant plants. The center was also designed to control rainwater run-off, with pervious surface pavement in the parking lot and two bioswales flanking the building to collect, clean and re-absorb rainwater.
- Nearly 90 percent of the condominiums at Vulcan's signature "2200" development—the first featured project in the Discovery Center's dedicated sales office—were sold within the first month after sales opened. All of the units are now completely sold out.
- The Discover Center won a prestigious Silver award from the National Association of Homebuilders in 2006 for sales/information pavilion excellence.
|
 |
|
|
|
|