Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
Posted: August 16, 2021

The seven-story, 66-unit Ellie Passivhaus apartments, the city’s largest Passive House project to date, recently opened at 320 Queen Anne Ave. N., a block from Climate Pledge Arena.

The project is designed toward Passive House Institute US certification, a rigorous set of building standards and techniques that target aggressive energy and carbon reduction while taking into account variables such as climate zone, source energy and costs.

It has 32 studios, six open one-bedrooms, 25 one-bedrooms and three live-work units on the ground floor. Apartments average 476 square feet and the live-work units 764 square feet.

Units have continuous, filtered fresh air, allowing for healthier living indoors. A reduction in thermal bridging creates a tight building envelope, leaving the homes naturally cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Ellie Passivhaus is estimated to consume up to 85% less energy compared to other standard buildings in Seattle.

Developer: Sound West Group

Contractor: Cascade Built

Architects: NK Architects, Balance Architects

Civil engineer, surveyor: PACE Engineers

Mechanical, plumbing engineer: Staengl Engineering

Electrical engineer: AWA Electrical Consultants

Shoring engineer: Ground Support

Geotechnical engineer: Geotech Consultants

Structural engineer: DCI Engineers

Landscape architect: Karen Kiest Landscape Architects