DXU Project Receives Green Hammer Award!

Johnston Architects and the rest of the DXU team are honored to be recognized with this Green Hammer Award from Built Green for this multi-family project. Our collaborative team set sustainability goals for DXU from the very beginning of the project, and these allowed the development to achieve Four Star Built Green certification. We so appreciate the recognition of our teamwork and commitment to sustainable design solutions for DXU.

The DXU team includes: Schuchart Corporation as general contractor, Evergreen Certified as sustainability consultant, CT Engineering as structural engineers, LPD Engineering as civil engineers, Fazio Associates as landscape architects, BEE Consulting for building envelope design, Jamie Stewart as owner’s representative, and Arion Investments as project owner and developer.

DXU is a seven-story, Four-Star Built Green multi-family building in Seattle’s University District. The project’s bright and playful façade adds liveliness and dimension to the neighborhood. Modeled after stacked shipping containers, the corrugated steel reflects the region’s rich port history. Inside, the 98 units are targeted towards the students and young professionals of the neighboring University of Washington.

Light-Filled Apartment

secure bike storage

DXU’s exterior facades are inspired by seattle’s maritime shipping industry

Large windows fill each apartment with light, and smart layouts make the most of the compact units. An easily accessible bike locker off the back entrance and storage lockers on the garden level provide additional storage for renters. On the rooftop, a large deck with barbeque overlooks the city, with 360-degree views stretching from the Olympic Mountains to the Cascades, with Mount Rainier, downtown, and the Space Needle in between

Throughout the project, ecologically sensitive solutions helped DXU meet its sustainability goals. Solar panels on the roof, along with extra insulation, programmable thermostats, and an ultra high-efficiency heat pump keep energy usage and cost down. Outside, permeable paving allows water to easily filter into the environment, while drought tolerant native plants reduce water waste. Sedums on the roof help offset the building’s footprint and filter water, while bioretention planters on the ground help protect the landscape from erosion. Looking toward the future, DXU’s metal siding is recyclable, reducing life-cycle waste.