Historic Westland Building Transformation: Hotel Renovation
The Westland building, a former century-old industrial warehouse, has been transformed into Populus, a 120-room boutique hotel offering rooftop views of Elliott Bay. The renovation preserves historic timber while incorporating modern amenities.
A Century of History, Reimagined
Originally built in 1907, the Westland building has served as an industrial warehouse, office building, event space, and now a boutique hotel.
It has been reimagined as Populus, with a design that highlights its original structure while bringing in new energy. Through thoughtful adaptive reuse, the original Douglas Fir timber beams that once supported the weight of commerce now frame inviting spaces, while expansive windows that have overlooked the city for over a century draw in natural light.
Working alongside our partners at Urban Villages, with architectural design by Miller Hull and interior design by Curioso, we’ve preserved the building’s historic character while incorporating modern elements to make the space ready for guests.
Boutique Luxury Meets Historic Charm
1
Full Seismic Upgrade
Bringing century-old infrastructure up to modern safety standards while preserving historic elements required innovative engineering solutions and meticulous planning.
2
120 Boutique Guestrooms
Each room uniquely integrates modern luxury with historic architectural elements, creating distinctive spaces that tell the building's evolving story.
3
Dining & Entertainment
The hotel features a restaurant, café, two distinctive bars including a spectacular rooftop venue with Elliot Bay views, and a fully glazed "Solarium" dining space.
4
Original Timber Preservation
Original Douglas Fir beams preserved to frame inviting spaces, meticulously restored through a medium coarse sand blast restoration process.
The Rooftop Experience
The crown jewel of the Westland transformation is the 5,000 square-foot penthouse addition featuring a spectacular rooftop bar. This stunning space offers breathtaking views of Elliott Bay and the Seattle waterfront, creating an unparalleled dining and social experience.
The rooftop venue will also service the adjacent food hall, extending the building's community impact beyond its walls. With thoughtfully designed outdoor patio spaces and seamless indoor-outdoor flow, this addition represents the perfect space to enjoy the city skyline and a carefully crafted drink.
Case Study: Historic Timber Preservation
One of our greatest achievements in this project was the preservation of the original 1907 heavy timber construction, a defining feature of the Westland Building's character and historical significance.
After extensive design coordination and testing of various refinishing options, we selected a medium coarse sand blast restoration process. This delicate work required precise scheduling with other trades and comprehensive protection measures, as the finished product is highly susceptible to water damage.
The collaborative effort resulted in a beautifully preserved timber framework that anchors the hotel's aesthetic while honoring its industrial origins.
The Solarium: Reinventing Infrastructure
Another standout achievement was transforming the existing power infrastructure in the North alley into the "Solarium"—a fully glazed, immersive dining space that blends the building's industrial past with contemporary design.
The Solarium creates a unique dining atmosphere where guests can connect with both the building's history and the surrounding urban environment through transparent walls and thoughtful preservation.
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Safety: Our Number One Core Value
Leadership Commitment
Safety is led from the top. Our executives and supervisors don't just talk about safety, they demonstrate it through their actions every day, establishing safety as our foremost business value.
Employee Empowerment
We encourage all employees and trade partners to speak up about potential hazards without fear of retaliation. Their involvement in safety planning, hazard analysis, and continuous improvement is essential.
Psychological Safety
Our safety approach extends beyond physical concerns to include mental well-being, stress management, and creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels secure.
In today's rapidly evolving construction industry, our commitment to safety guides every decision, process, and person on site. This is especially evident in complex historic renovations like the Westland project, where unique challenges demand innovative safety solutions.
Safety Challenges in Historic Renovation
The Populus project presented numerous safety challenges typical of historic renovations:
  • Working within a century-old structure with unknown conditions
  • Implementing full seismic upgrades while preserving historic elements
  • Managing limited laydown/staging areas in an urban environment
  • Coordinating restricted street-use permits for deliveries and equipment
  • Protecting workers during specialized restoration processes
Total Worker Health: Beyond Physical Safety
We recognize that a healthy worker is a safer worker, especially in fast-paced environments like the Populus renovation. Our holistic approach integrates mental health support, substance use resources, sleep hygiene guidance, stress management techniques, nutritional support, and financial wellness programs.
This comprehensive strategy has proven particularly valuable during complex, long-duration projects like the Populus, where maintaining worker focus and well-being over 21 months is essential to both project success and personal safety.
Data-Driven Safety in Modern Construction
Leading Indicators
We track preventative metrics like safety observations, near misses, and training completion, not just injury rates, to stay ahead of potential issues.
Technology Integration
Using Autodesk and Power BI to analyze safety data, identify trends, and implement proactive measures based on real-time information.
Industry Partnerships
Collaborating with vendors and peers to research, develop, and implement cutting-edge safety technologies and methodologies.
Knowledge Sharing
Openly sharing best practices with subcontractors, industry bodies, and competitors to elevate safety standards across the construction industry.
Project Team
Client: Urban Villages
Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP
Interiors: Curioso
Operator: Aparium Hotel Group
Civil Engineer: MIG
Structural Engineer: Coughlin Porter Lundeen
Landscape Architect: Site Workshop Landscape Architecture
Envelope Consultant: Morrison Hershfield
Acoustical Consultant: Tenor Engineering Group
Vertical Transportation Consultant: Lerch Bates Inc.
Fire and Life Safety Code: Holmes Fire
Historic Report: Kathryn Rogers Merlino
Photographer: Stovall Studio
Mechanical: Holaday-Parks, Inc.
Electric: Valley Electric Company
Drywall: Mehrer Drywall, Inc.
Doors: Frontier Door & Cabinet
Glass & Windows: Sargent Construction
Washington Commercial Painters
Work In Progress Photo Credits: Tim Rice Photography
Finished Photo Credits: ClaymoreMac Media