Skanska selects Pickard Chilton to design innovative office tower in Bellevue, Wash.

Skanska has recently selected Pickard Chilton to design The Eight, a 25-story tower set to be built in Bellevue, Wash.

The project will feature 540,000-sf of commercial office space with open floor plates and 10-foot ceiling heights, a 7,000-sf public plaza, 12,000-sf of ground floor retail, and a 1,200-sf retail pavilion built with heavy timber. Seven of the floors will feature balconies and a private, 3,000-sf rooftop deck with a retractable roof will also be included. A unique, activated space dubbed the “Living Room” will act as a “third place” public amenity for gathering, working, and socialization directly connected to local retail.

Amenities such as a fitness center, event space, and a landscaped terrace are included on the double-height second floor. An underground parking garage will include parking for 200 cars along with parking for over 200 bicycles. The Eight’s location at 10660 NE 8th Street offers immediate pedestrian access to the new light rail station and Bellevue transit center as well as direct freeway access. The tower’s massing is articulated with exposed structure and balconies that are interwoven with greenery to know the building together.  

A healthy HVAC system and touchless controls are included while the spacious lobby and multiple terraces and outdoor spaces will help to keep the building’s tenants and visitors socially distanced. The Eight is targeting LEED Gold and Fitwel certifications.