Brooks Sports announced that it will be relocating its global headquarters to the new ‘living building’ Skanska development planned for 3400 Stone Way in Fremont.  Set to open in late 2013, Mayor Mike McGinn said that “Brooks Sports’ decision to locate in Seattle means 300 new jobs. That’s a big deal for us right now.  It shows that Seattle has what it takes to attract significant new investment even in these tough economic times.  And Skanska’s response to the Seattle Living Building Pilot Program is evidence of regulatory reform facilitating job creation in Seattle. This is a win for business and a win for Seattle.”

Lisa Picard, executive vice president of Skanska USA Commercial Development’s Seattle office, said, “We are excited to have found a community and a tenant whose company aligns so well with ours and the deep green strategies planned for this building.”  The Fremont neighborhood is an attractive place for businesses to relocate; the new Brooks building will be located right on the Burke-Gilman trail and next to Lake Union.  The site offers the developer a unique opportunity to create a meaningful trailhead—a gathering place for the community and trail users—that is anchored by Brooks, a brand that promotes an active lifestyle.

Brooks Sports is recognized as one of the best places to work, and this Seattle office will be no exception.  The ground floor of the new Brooks headquarters building will also house the brands’ first ever retail concept shop.   President and CEO Jim Weber said, “We have an incredible opportunity to create a new home for our leading performance brands that exemplifies who we are and ingrains us in the local running community.  Brooks’ mission is to inspire people to run and be active, and it’s our hope that we become a welcoming trailhead along the Burke-Gilman Trail. We believe runners, walkers and others will gather at Brooks to meet friends, start their workouts and celebrate a good run.”

The project is Skanska USA’s first development effort in the Seattle market. The project is participating in the City of Seattle’s Living Building Pilot Program, which encourages the implementation of sustainable strategies toward the Living Building Challenge.  Such projects provide benefits to tenants and the community by lowering energy use, providing greater access to daylight and strong ground-floor community connection. 3400 Stone is the second project since 2010, and the first market-rate project, to pursue the City’s Pilot Program.  In a news release, Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark applauds Skanska’s application to the City’s Living Building Challenge.

 

See the entire press announcement on the Seattle Channel.

View the full press release, fact sheet, and rendering of the project.

More coverage in Daily Journal of Commerce, Seattle P.I., and Seattle Times.