Award-winning architecture studio Pickard Chilton and project developer and contractor Skanska Commercial Development recently announced the completion of the newest office tower in Bellevue, Wash.
Located at 10770 NE Eighth St., the building is situated on the northwest side of the lot in order to maximize ground-level open space — a new public realm that prioritizes open space, pedestrian pathways, and design guided by elements of placemaking. Dubbed The Eight, the property rises 25 stories and brings 540,000 square feet of rentable Bellevue, Wash., office space.
The Eight, the newest addition to the downtown Bellevue, Wash., skyline, rises 25 stories above NE Eighth Street and is slated to be the city’s first LEED v4 Core & Shell Platinum project.
The newest addition to the downtown Bellevue skyline features 23,000-square-foot floor plates; 11,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor; and subterranean parking built for nearly 1,060 spaces. Proposed for LEED Platinum certification, The Eight would be the third LEED v4 Core & Shell Platinum project in the state of Washington and the first in Bellevue.
“The massing, color, and structural expression pay homage to the natural beauty and the architectural heritage of the Pacific Northwest,” said Anthony Markese, principal at Pickard Chilton. “The Eight’s unique faceted tower form and sunlit public plaza were envisioned as a prototype for the catalytic transformation of a key site in the heart of Bellevue, Washington.”
Pickard Chilton designed the building to have a side core, which would allow for open, column-free floorplates, 14-foot ceilings, and expansive views. Notably, the diagonal braces that emerge from a structural diaphragm below grade wrap around the faceted tower to create a robust lateral system capable of resisting the regional seismic forces.
This unique structure also exposes the braces at strategic, terraced, active-use spaces along the façade, which adds to the dynamic feel of the building.
The Eight offers trophy class office space in downtown Bellevue, Wash., featuring 23,000-square-foot, column-free floor plates; 14-foot ceilings; and expansive views.
Designed for occupant wellness, The Eight was developed using numerous sustainable design and construction methodologies. In fact, its high-performance enclosure was designed to exceed the city’s energy code. Meanwhile, the street-level plaza, open rooftop, and seven tenant terraces demonstrate the prioritization of access to daylight, fresh air, and inspiring views.
Additionally, a publicly accessible lobby lounge called the “Living Room” opens directly onto the plaza, thereby blending interior and exterior space. And, anchoring the eastern edge of the site is an independent pavilion that was designed as a carbon-efficient, heavy timber structure that nestles into the site by integrating ramps and accessible pathways, and inviting community open space.
“From day one, our goal on The Eight was to deliver more than just an office tower,” said Charlie Foushée, executive vice president and regional manager for Skanska USA Commercial Development’s Seattle region. “We set out to create a dynamic, welcoming place that meets the flexibility, wellness, and sustainability needs of today’s top-tier tenants. Our collaboration with Pickard Chilton resulted in an iconic building that features light-filled, engaging spaces for everyone — from office workers to residents and visitors — to connect, gather, and thrive in the heart of the city.”
