kids encyclopedia robot

The Emerald (building) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
The Emerald
The Emerald (2nd & Stewart) under construction, April 2018 (39436803460).jpg
Construction work at the Emerald in April 2018
General information
Status Topped-out
Type Residential
Location 1613 2nd Avenue
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates 47°36′38″N 122°20′26″W / 47.61056°N 122.34056°W / 47.61056; -122.34056
Construction started July 2017
Topped-out July 2019
Estimated completion September 2020
Height
Architectural 439 ft (134 m)
Top floor 400 ft (120 m)
Design and construction
Architecture firm Hewitt Architects
Developer Daniels Create World Seattle, LLC
Main contractor Andersen Construction
Other information
Number of units 262 condominiums
Parking 63 spaces

The Emerald is a tall building in Seattle, Washington, that will have homes and shops. It is located in the city's downtown area. This 40-story tower will feature 262 apartments, known as condominiums. It will also have shops on the ground floor and special outdoor areas for residents. Building started in July 2017 and is expected to be finished in 2020.

Building History

The spot where The Emerald stands used to be home to a two-story building called the Ames Building. This older building was there from 1914 until 2017.

Early Plans and Design Changes

In March 2014, a company called Wood Partners wanted to build a 400-foot (120 m) tall apartment tower here. The owner of the Ames Building tried to get it recognized as a historic landmark. However, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board decided in August that the Ames Building was not a landmark. This meant it could be taken down to make way for the new tower.

Later that year, Wood Partners and Hewitt Architects showed their first design for the tower. Their plan included a cool feature where the top 24 floors of the tower would stick out over the building next door. This design idea is called a cantilever.

New Owners and The Emerald's Name

During 2015, the building's design was changed several times. The number of apartments was reduced from 230 to 177. More parking spaces were added, both underground and above ground.

In June 2016, a Chinese company, Create World America, bought the project. They planned to change the apartments into condominiums, which are homes that people buy instead of rent. In January 2017, a new design was revealed. It had 266 condominiums, more shops, and all the parking was moved underground. At this time, the building was given its name, "The Emerald." This name was inspired by Seattle's nickname, the "Emerald City."

Construction and Completion

Construction of The Emerald started in July 2017. The building reached its full height, or was "topped out," two years later. It was first planned to be finished by March 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the completion date was moved to September 2020.

As of February 2020, about 25 percent of the homes in The Emerald had already been reserved by buyers. The building is expected to be fully ready for people to move in by September 2020.

Building Design

The Emerald will be 40 stories tall. The bottom two stories will be a glass "podium" with 4,600 square feet (430 sqm) of shops. Above that, there will be 38 stories of condominiums.

Apartment Features

The building will have 262 condominiums. These homes will have one, two, or three bedrooms. They will range in size from 569 to 1,189 square feet (52.9 to 110.5 sqm).

The very top floors will have 22 special homes called penthouses. These are usually very large and luxurious apartments. Some of these penthouses will be about 4,000 square feet (370 sqm) in size.

Unique Structure and Amenities

A unique part of The Emerald's design is that the upper 23 floors will stick out 14 feet (4.3 m) over the building next door. This makes the floor area larger on the upper levels.

Residents will have access to two special areas for fun and relaxation. One will be on the rooftop, and the other on the third floor. Both will have outdoor balconies with amazing views of Pike Place Market and the Olympic Mountains. Residents will also be able to use a fleet of Tesla electric cars through a special phone app.

The Emerald has 62 parking spaces. This is a small number compared to the number of homes, but residents can also use 20 extra spaces leased from the nearby Thompson Hotel.

kids search engine
The Emerald (building) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.