BNBuilders headquarters
Seattle
Award of Merit, Renovation/Restoration and Award of Merit, Sustainability
Presented by BNBuilders
Leading design company DLR Group
Owner/General Contractor BNBuilders
This adaptive reuse project achieved an 83% reduction in embodied carbon compared to new construction and is expected to achieve Zero Carbon certification from the International Living Future Institute as well as LEED Gold certification. This renovation of a 28,000-square-foot space brings new life to Seattle’s historic Ainsworth & Dunn building that was originally built in 1902 as a salmon processing warehouse.
Almost all of the original envelope and structure was retained in its current iteration. Crews also preserved key historic elements, including the brick exterior, heavy wood framing on the first floor, and the adjacent site on the west side.
A new steel staircase connects the three floors, with steps and landing made of reclaimed wood taken from the building itself. Modern updates include a kitchenette, a third-floor kitchen, and an open patio with a roll-up door that maximizes the waterfront setting.
Photo by Ed Sozinho
The team used laser scanners to capture thickly braced timber columns before and after the demonstration, allowing designers and trades to confidently pre-fabricate building systems and avoid conflicts.
Cupix 360 mapping archived all surfaces throughout the project. Revizto coordinated building systems using augmented reality, allowing carpenters to see through walls, plumbers to visualize future ductwork, and project engineers to perform quality control without measuring tapes. The project came in under budget by revitalizing many of the building’s existing materials.
