Emerson Courtyard LLC, Rockmann Development LLC
Retail, Office
Fircrest, WA
26,400 sf
Helix Design Group
Perfectly located as a convenient venue for nearby communities and a stopping off place for commuters, Emerson Courtyard defines the ‘Neighborhood Lifestyle Center’ concept. The complex houses retail, restaurant, and professional office space, as well as attractive outdoor plaza areas.
The project presented more challenges than some. Emerson is built into a hillside requiring significant excavation and concrete work before starting the building itself. As an example, the concrete stormwater detention vault buried below the lower parking lot is 187 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 10 feet deep with 12-inch thick walls and roof.
The building features a variety of building materials and a curved roof to create an appealing look. The hybrid structure uses concrete, masonry, steel, and wood, with architectural metal walls and roof. The diversity of materials required significant teamwork, planning, and adapting in the field to work through all the details.
