Ravenna Boulevard is part of a 20-mile parkway designed by the Olmsted Brothers at the turn of the 20th century. Winding through Seattle, from Seward Park in the south to Discovery Park in the north, 1.5 miles of this network is known as Ravenna Boulevard, connecting the east edge of the University of Washington campus to the city’s famed Green Lake Park. In the middle of last century, Interstate 5 bisected Seattle, and with it came an interruption of the Olmsted legacy.

JA’s design for Ravenna Flats seeks to reconnect Green Lake residents to the pedestrian-scaled, walkable boulevard envisioned for them in the early 1900s. Softening the transition from the retail-heavy Roosevelt District and the mix of single-family homes and larger mixed-use developments in Green Lake, the 116-unit, seven-story apartment has a narrow footprint that takes advantage of recent changes in height allowance. The design takes cues from some neighboring historic buildings, including strong vertical façade shifts, gridded window placement, and a timeless brick exterior. An example for future developments, however, modern massing and a contemporary color palette respond to the area’s evolving built environment. The top two floors are set back, allowing for larger private decks and respecting the scale of other nearby multi-family buildings.

At street level and on a bus route, 1,500 SF of commercial space is included, ideal for a café or other business that will strengthen the pedestrian experience along Ravenna Boulevard. The interior design emphasizes a park-like setting, strengthening a connection to Green Lake. A community amenity space is provided on the 7th floor, and an expansive roof offers multiple seating spaces, outdoor dining tables, planted pathways, water filtration through a green roof, and photovoltaic arrays. A canopy covers part of this outdoor space, making it a three-season amenity for residents to enjoy. From this rooftop perch, the elegance of the Olmsteds’ tree-lined boulevard can be enjoyed by many more generations of Seattleites.

LOCATION Seattle, WA
AREA 100,000 SF
COMPLETED Estimated 2023