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Vulcan Cascara
Vulcan Cascara
Seattle, WA, United States
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Other Projects by Ankrom Moisan Architects
Vulcan Cascara
Seattle, WA, United States
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2025
SIZE
300,000 sqft - 500,000 sqft
Inspired by and named after Washington’s Cascade Mountain range, Cascara embraces connections to nature and the Pacific Northwest’s culture of outdoor recreation. Located at 225 Broadway in Seattle, Cascara is a collaboration between Ankrom Moisan and Vulcan Real Estate. The project is part of the 2011 Yesler Terrace Development Plan, a framework for the renewal of housing and enhancement of the 30-acre Yesler Terrace community. A mixed-income urban community for the 21st century, Cascara provides a comfortable, safe, and sustainable place to live.
Cascara is made up of two buildings comprising 345 units total–including 90 affordable units, linked by an underground parking garage. A pedestrian walkway bisects the site, enhancing walkability and connecting residents to the surrounding neighborhood. The buildings step down in tandem with the slope of Yessler Terrace to maximize the allowable height and the amount of housing available, as well as to avoid added construction costs typically associated with high-rise systems.
A south-facing courtyard at the center of the C-shaped west building offers shared outdoor space with hammocks for residents to enjoy. Ground-level outdoor stoops and patios activate and enhance the street-level experience on the public-facing side of the tower while providing vantage points to surveil the public realm and preserve the privacy of units, contributing to the safety and wellness of residents. On top of each building, rooftop decks encourage residents to facilitate events and socialize while providing panoramic views of Seattle’s waterfront, Mount Rainier, and the Olympic Mountains.
Taking advantage of the smooth natural slope of Yesler Terrace, the design steps down the hill, extending the site’s natural architectural language to create an engaging pedestrian experience and lush green space for residents to enjoy. Cascara’s landscape design draws inspiration from the Cascades, with a dynamic courtyard and pedestrian walkway designed with switchbacks that mimics a hiking trail. The pedestrian walkway reduces steepness and ensures universal accessibility. A total of 11,535 square feet of native or drought-tolerant landscaping enhances the site, with over 70% of plantings being local species.
The site utilizes 2,231 square feet of stormwater bioretention planters to help mitigate the flow of runoff during heavy rain and other intense weather events. These planters effectively filter pollutants and reduce the volume of water runoff, contributing to cleaner waterways and groundwater recharge. A large portion of Cascara’s lush landscape sits atop the underground garage structure–to support robust plant growth, the site utilizes deep soil profiles in intensive planting zones, maximizing greenery, and minimizing hardscaping. This approach reduces the amount of impermeable surface on site, supporting stormwater management and sustainable urban design.
At the base of the structure, dark brick mirrors the rocky walls of an alpine mountain, while materials like metal panels and fiber cement at the upper level create impressions of a snow-covered peak. Pockets of green from residential balconies recall evergreen trees emerging from a mountainside. A distinctly modern, nature-inspired entry patio is anchored by timber accents, a welcoming fireplace visible from the sidewalk, and LED light strips that highlight the main entry with striking emphasis.
Cascara is a model for truly sustainable urban development, achieving Salmon Safe Certification and targeting LEED Platinum Certification. As an all-electric building, Cascara utilizes high-efficiency heat pumps and dryers, low-flow fixtures, and Energy Star appliances to lower both water-heating demand and overall utility costs. High-performance Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) contribute to Fan and Space heating savings. Occupant sensors and timers on common area light fixtures have resulted in a 56% Lighting Power Density reduction, contributing to a predicted EUI of 27.7, a 54.2% reduction from the LEED baseline, compliant with Washington’s Clean Buildings Act. 52% of the paving on the project is high solar reflectivity, reducing the effect of urban heat islands, contributing to more comfortable temperatures for both people and runoff, and protecting aquatic wildlife.
Environmentally responsible materials include low-Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) finishes, GreenGuard Gold paints, insulations, sealants, and adhesives, and FloorScore-certified flooring to protect indoor air quality. Facade materials like brick, glass, and coated metal panels do not contaminate water quality, leading to Cascara’s Salmon Safe certification. Concrete aggregates used during construction were sourced from within 100 miles of the site, reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation.
Supporting environmentally conscious living, the building features 272 dedicated resident and 18 visitor bike stalls. Large rooftop planters, in turn, help Cascara’s resident gardening program to thrive, allowing residents to spend time in nature, grow their vegetables and herbs, and connect with their neighbors. The buildings are thoughtfully set back to preserve a large, mature oak tree on the west side of the site.
As part of the Yesler Terrace development, Cascara replaces outdated housing to provide a convenient, environmentally conscious, comfortable, and well-connected living option for Seattleites—particularly those working in the nearby medical facilities on First Hill.
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