Though construction has completed at The Sanctuary, downtown Seattle’s newest events venue, thousands of workers continue to toil away on the building’s roof. These workers don’t wear hardhats or carry hammers. Nor did they participate in the design and construction of The Sanctuary’s extensive renovations.
Instead, they are hard at work providing a sustainable source of honey for The Sanctuary’s chef, Gavin Stephenson, to drizzle across food on the facility’s menu. If it hasn’t already clicked, the workers in question on the roof are thousand of honeybees, spread across four ZGF Architects-designed beehives.
So how did the roof of this events venue become a honey-rich apiary? It began with the design of The Mark, the neighboring 44-story office and hotel tower. In designing The Mark, Daniels Real Estate, the project’s developer, had the rights to demolish a historically significant neighboring church. But instead of razing the church, Daniels Real Estate and ZGF designed The Mark to cantilever over the building.
After the rescued church was renovated into The Sanctuary, ZGF was enlisted to create the four urban beehives. The hives needed to be functional for their future inhabitants. They also needed to look good, as they would be visible from Fifth Avenue and neighboring offices.
ZGF designed wooden hives that are composed of stackable boxes. The hives stand over five feet tall and, when occupied, can weigh up to 300 pounds each. The exteriors reflect the colors of regional pollinator-preferred flower species, such as bright orange nasturtiums, yellow black-eyed susans, purple borage, and pink marguerite daisies. The selected colors are light shades, which, when combined with the ventilated design, prevent the hives from overheating.
See Also: Net zero construction trailer brings health and wellness to the jobsite
A lantern lid made from etched plexiglass with a dynamic honeycomb graphic adds a final aesthetic flair. Stephenson described ZGF’s final design as “a five-star beekeeping hotel.”
The residing bees can travel up to six miles from their hives atop The Sanctuary to gather nectars from maple trees and other plants to produce the urban honey. Upon return, the hives act as a place to feed, reproduce, and live.
In addition to providing a renewable source of honey for The Sanctuary’s menu, the beehives also bring awareness to the importance and current plight of honeybees.
Related Stories
Great Solutions | Sep 14, 2017
Hydraulic underground boardwalk and gangway system reunites the public with the coastline in Istanbul
The bespoke system is part of a master plan by Dror and Gensler that creates the world’s first underground cruise operation.
Great Solutions | Aug 14, 2017
Transmogrifying ‘E ink,’ energy-harvesting paint remove the ‘fiction’ from ‘science fiction’
These materials can turn an ordinary wall into dynamic real estate.
Great Solutions | Jul 12, 2017
The writing on the wall: Maker spaces encourage students to take an active role
Maker spaces, dry-erase walls, and flexible furniture highlight Kinkaid’s new Learning Center.
Great Solutions | Jun 6, 2017
Good vibrations: Portable tuned mass damper provides lightweight, cost-effective way to reduce structural vibrations
Developed by a team at Virginia Tech, the PTMD has been shown to reduce vibrations by as much as 75%.
Great Solutions | May 5, 2017
No nails necessary: Framing system comes together with steel zip ties and screws
Clemson University’s School of Architecture develops a patent-pending construction method that is gaining attention for its potential use in rapid, low-tech sustainable housing.
Great Solutions | Apr 6, 2017
Phone booths for the 21st century
Spotting a phone booth on a public street may not become any less rare, but they may soon become fixtures in the modern office.
Great Solutions | Mar 8, 2017
Pop-out balcony is a breath of fresh air for stuffy hotel rooms and apartments
In less than one minute, Bloomframe transforms from an insulated picture window to an open balcony.
Great Solutions | Feb 3, 2017
Drone-based hospitality concept looks to make nomads of us all
Driftscape could take the resort industry to places no hotel has ventured before.
AEC Tech | Sep 6, 2016
Innovation intervention: How AEC firms are driving growth through R&D programs
AEC firms are taking a page from the tech industry, by infusing a deep commitment to innovation and disruption into their cultural DNA.
Great Solutions | Aug 23, 2016
GBBN designers take on wellness research
In a new research paper, three healthcare specialists present factors that contribute to a psychological state that is receptive to healing.