To meet the evolving demand for high-quality student housing options near campus that provide an alternative to traditional “dorm life,” Phoenix Property Co. delivered the Trailside development for University of Washington students. Located at the northeast end of the campus, the two-phase development is adjacent to the Burke-Gilman Trail.
A parallel process to design review, a robust public benefits package was added to the overall development, according to the developer.
Primary programming for the project centered on the pedestrian experience for students and creating direct connections to the nearby trail, which initially lacked arterial street frontage and access.
The goal was to create two front doors to the project: one along the Burke-Gilman Trail and the other on the streetside.
According to the developer, providing public access to the trail and maximizing outdoor space at the ground level was essential.
Architect and designer Weber Thompson broke the building’s mass into smaller, distinct structures to help frame or bookend the outdoor spaces with distinctive lantern elements.
The Trailside’s roof-level clubhouse opens to an expansive deck, continuing the theme of connection to the outdoors and delivering biophilic benefits to students with views of the surrounding landscape.
