North Seattle Community College Opportunity Center for Employment and Education
 Schacht-Aslani Architects designed the new center to fit between the existing cast-in-place concrete building elements. |
Seattle, Washington
Client: Schacht-Aslani Architects Dates of Service: 2008-2010 |
Project Summary: The new Opportunity Center for Employment and Education had to be fitted into a web of already-existing buildings on the North Seattle Community College campus, presenting unique challenges. The new structure, composed of cast-in-place concrete and steel framing, is clothed with a metal panel wall cladding, curtain-wall and store-front window systems, and modified-bitumen and single-ply exposed as well as planted roofs. In addition, hot-rubber waterproofing and fluid-applied deck coatings are used at various decks. Sub-grade conditions include sub-slab drainage systems and bentonite waterproofing below the lowest-level slabs and at sub-grade walls.
PL:BECS Services: PL:BECS assisted the architect in the design of the exterior envelope. Services pertained to selection of appropriate exterior assemblies, products, and materials for the numerous different conditions, and design of proper exterior details.
To cost-effectively address the site’s wet soil conditions, PL:BECS recommended that sub-slab drainage systems be incorporated below the lowest level floor slabs, in combination with bentonite waterproofing below these same slabs and at sub-grade walls.
To minimize risk of potentially very costly repairs which could result from earthquakes in this seismically-active region, a cushioned, multi-layer membrane system isolated from the structure was recommended at the planted roofs. Where hot-rubber deck waterproofing was dictated by existing conditions, a fabric-reinforced system was recommended to limit risk of membrane ripping at cracks in the concrete substrate.
A full back-up system of building wraps with drainage flashings and weeps was incorporated behind the exterior metal wall panel system to provide protective redundancy for these weather-exposed walls.
PL:BECS Services: PL:BECS assisted the architect in the design of the exterior envelope. Services pertained to selection of appropriate exterior assemblies, products, and materials for the numerous different conditions, and design of proper exterior details.
To cost-effectively address the site’s wet soil conditions, PL:BECS recommended that sub-slab drainage systems be incorporated below the lowest level floor slabs, in combination with bentonite waterproofing below these same slabs and at sub-grade walls.
To minimize risk of potentially very costly repairs which could result from earthquakes in this seismically-active region, a cushioned, multi-layer membrane system isolated from the structure was recommended at the planted roofs. Where hot-rubber deck waterproofing was dictated by existing conditions, a fabric-reinforced system was recommended to limit risk of membrane ripping at cracks in the concrete substrate.
A full back-up system of building wraps with drainage flashings and weeps was incorporated behind the exterior metal wall panel system to provide protective redundancy for these weather-exposed walls.
 A newly-planted green roof caps a portion of the new center, designed by Schacht-Aslani Architects. |
 Schacht-Aslani Architects designed the south-facing curtain-wall windows to be recessed within the building’s exterior walls to reduce leak risk, and incorporated exterior sun-shade devices to reduce excess summertime heat gain. |
