RIVER DANCE

FEDERAL CENTER SOUTH

Federal Center South redevelopment transformed a superfund site by Seattle’s Duwamish Waterway into a 21st century workplace for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District Headquarter. The highly collaborated design team was led by ZGF Architects. Flora Yeh was the design landscape architect and project manager for Site Workshop on this project.

Rain gardens and swales with native emergents were created as part of the site stormwater strategy. A trail system connecting various plazas and terraces provide spaces for repose and gathering.

The Federal Center South building is divided into four quadrants, which are named after the four rivers that historically came together to form the Duwamish River. Offices take shape on the outside of the oxbow and surround the atrium. The concept of ‘River Dance’ for the atrium landscape is an interface between work of Army Corps and flow of waterway. Hardscape materials such as driftwood, river cobble and slate create surface texture variation and symbolize flow of rivers.

Flora Yeh conceptualized the “source stones” representing the rivers in the region and Army Corps’ works. The rain that falls on the Federal Center South building is collected and stored in a cistern, then reused for irrigation, toilets and cooling tower. The rainwater is also sent to the ‘source stones’ in the atrium and recirculate. Flora worked with the stone sculptor, Daniel Haney, and coordinated with the architects and MEP engineers to create these spiritually rewarding focal features in the atrium landscape.

The Federal Center South received a LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council for its high-performance building and sustainable site development.