Two former fish processing facilities in Seattle, Wash., have been transformed into a commercial and cultural district.
Graham Baba Architects designed the West Canal Yards adaptive reuse project. It converts a once-industrial waterfront site into a multi-tenant business environment.
Long a central part of the city’s fishing economy, the site included a working processing plant and a 2,787 m2 (30,000 sf) freezer. Rather than replace these robust, utilitarian structures, the design builds on their existing strengths. With nearly 304.8 m (1,000 ft) of wharf frontage, generous parking, and expansive volumes, the property offered a rare opportunity to reactivate a largely overlooked stretch of Seattle’s Ship Canal.
The architectural strategy focuses on selective intervention. In the former freezer building, tilt-up concrete panels were selectively removed and replaced with large expanses of glass and metal cladding. This introduced daylight, ventilation, and outward views. Inside, new mezzanine levels in steel and mass timber make use of the 6.7 m (22 ft)-tall interior. They create additional usable space while maintaining the building’s industrial character. A linear “zipper” of skylights draws light deep into the core.
The result is a highly adaptable environment accommodating a mix of tenants, from makers and marine-related users to retail and public-facing businesses.
