The 112 unit Hudson apartments on Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill features unobstructed 
views of Lake Union and the Cascade foothills. With a 4,600 square foot deck overlooking the lake, the Hudson, originally constructed as senior housing nearly forty years ago, was at half occupancy and in need of serious improvements. Buffalo Design joined the design and construction team of Mas Architecture and Saltaire Construction to develop exterior improvements and a complete interior renovation. Financing requirements dictated an extremely tight design window and we worked as a collaborative design-build team to produce the final design in four months.
Heavy wood balcony railings gave the building a dated appearance, obstructed views from the balcony and darkened the apartments. We replaced wood railings with glass, lightening and modernizing the overall appearance of the building. The deck overlooking the lake received glass railings, new decking and a barbecue pergola.
Lobby – Before
Lobby – After
Interior work included new finishes throughout all common areas including hallways, elevators restrooms, and offices. In the two story main entry lobby we replaced chunky wood railings with glass and stainless steel to brighten and modernize the space. The lobby features a pair of custom designed screens to separate spaces but provide transparency and light. A former cafeteria was converted to a bright, flexible gym space with views to the lake. We created a yoga studio in front of the fireplace in the former library and a bike workshop in an unused office.
All 112 apartments received a complete overhaul. Because these units are slightly smaller than typical units within this market segment we arranged kitchen areas to be as functional and unobtrusive as possible to maximize living space.
Design and construction were successfully completed within a 14 month period while the building was occupied.
