In collaboration with Amazon, Graphite Design Group designed Mary’s Place Family Center, a nonprofit supporting families experiencing homelessness. The center provides emergency housing and services to families inside the downtown Seattle Amazon office building.
The unusual location for services of this kind serves over 300 people per day. Mary's Place spreads across eight of the office's floors—all designed by Graphite—testing the status quo for its experimental approach to homelessness support.
Emergency Housing for Seattle Families
Each floor provides various services and amenities for the sheltered:
- Level P1: Parking, Storage, Facilities Workshop
- Level G: Loading Dock and Staging, Storage, Dogwash
- Level 1: Lobby, Multipurpose Room, Conference Room
- Level 2: Diversion Sleep Floor
- Level 3: Standard Sleep Floor
- Level 4: Popsicle Place
- Level 5: Popsicle Place
- Level 6: Welcome and Intake, Heat Treat, Staff Area, Marketplace
- Level 7: Dining Room, Full Kitchen, Play Area, Interfaith Prayer Room
- Level 8: Rec Room, Terrace, Laundry, Games, Large Conference Room
While designing the center, Graphite invited Mary's Place staff to contribute ideas to best support guests. The group brainstormed words, images, and scenarios that eventually helped craft the space into a community-serving shelter.
Mary’s Place Family Center was also recognized at the AIA Seattle Honor Awards and the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Awards for its novel approach to urban development. Graphite believes the project acts as a model for how other cities can activate underutilized space to answer larger urban housing challenges while balancing growth and social equity.
On the Building Team:
Owner: Amazon, Global Real Estate and Facilities team and Mary's Place
Developer: Seneca Group
Architect: Graphite Design Group
Structural/Civil Engineer: Coughlin Porter Lundeen
Electrical/Acoustic Engineer: Stantec
Mechanical/Energy Design: WSP
GC: GLY Construction
Related Stories
Office Buildings | Feb 11, 2020
Want your organization to be more creative? Embrace these 4 workplace strategies
Creativity is the secret sauce in the success of every business.
Office Buildings | Feb 11, 2020
Forget Class A: The opportunity is with Class B and C office properties
There’s money to be made in rehabbing Class B and Class C office buildings, according to a new ULI report.
Office Buildings | Feb 3, 2020
Balancing the work-life balance
For companies experiencing rapid growth, work-life balance can be a challenge to maintain, yet it remains a vital aspect of a healthy work environment.
Sponsored | HVAC | Feb 3, 2020
Reliable Building Systems Increase Net Operating Income by Retaining Tenants
Tenants increasingly expect a well-crafted property that feels unique, authentic, and comfortable—with technologically advanced systems and spaces that optimize performance and encourage collaboration and engagement. The following guidance will help owners and property managers keep tenants happy.
Office Buildings | Jan 29, 2020
Zaha Hadid Architects to build OPPO’s new Shenzhen HQ
ZHA sees your two connected towers and raises you another two.
Wood | Jan 24, 2020
105,000-sf vertical mass timber expansion will cap D.C.’s 80 M Street
Hickok Cole is designing the project.
Office Buildings | Jan 22, 2020
Headspace expands Santa Monica corporate HQ
Montalba Architects designed the project.
Office Buildings | Jan 19, 2020
Internet platform connects its employees with mile-long staircase in new HQ
Color also plays a big role in the interior design of this 19-story building.
Office Buildings | Jan 16, 2020
Jaguar Land Rover’s Advanced Product Creation Centre has the largest timber roof in Europe
Bennetts Associates designed the project.
Office Buildings | Jan 14, 2020
The workplace should be a tool for improving employee engagement
A survey of 1,600 North American workers hints at what workplace elements have the greatest impact.
