Designed to be a curated culinary and social gathering brand—MG2 programmed and designed this 40,000 SF experience to include a variety of food, beverage, and entertainment options. The spaces serves as a hub for the community and surrounding neighborhoods with range of fast casual to full-service dining and drinking. This flexible market and outdoor eat/play zone anchor the ground floor while the second floor extends the experience with a national entertainment venue, zone for live music, and outdoor terrace bar and dining. Pillars of local, tech integration and sustainability were used to ground this flexible venue.
ENR 2024 Top 500 Design Firms: Artificial Intelligence Ramps Up
Commentary from the Top 500 Design Firms in 2024 reveals a shift in the use of artificial intelligence to complement design services. Last year, AI was the exception more than the rule, but this year more design professionals aim to integrate tech into operations.
MG2 CEO and Chairman Mitch Smith summed up the proliferation of AI use among design firms as “exciting,” but says the technology is “daunting to comprehend.”
April 2024 / By Our Inaugural Sustainability Impact Report
MG2 is proud to share our inaugural Sustainability Impact Report for 2023. This annual report will measure our progress year-over-year towards meeting the AIA 2030 Commitmentto reach towards carbon neutrality by 2030. Taking this step helps us reach our goal of transparency and accountability to our clients, our industry, and the communities where we live and work. This report demonstrates our progress in design and project work and also calculates our corporate carbon emissions.
While sustainability has long been part of the MG2 ethos, we formalized our position in 2020 by joining the AIA 2030 Commitment and publishing our first Sustainability Action Plan. With this 2023 Sustainability Impact Report, we’ve taken the opportunity to refine our plan and take advantage of new tools and processes. As part of that plan, we have established four goals as a firm:
Goal 1:
Operating Energy
With a focus on building performance, we aim to reduce the amount of energy needed to operate buildings. In new construction, this involves building heating and cooling, lighting, plug loads, etc. For retail tenant improvements (TI), we primarily focus on the lighting power density which calculates the light output per square foot.
Goal 2:
Embodied Carbon
This goal represents all the building materials required for new construction or retail TI. Each material has an associated Global Warming Potential (GWP) number which considers the material’s extraction from the earth, manufacturing process, transportation to the building site, and building construction, called “cradle to gate.” We calculate the material quantities in the building (typically from a Revit model) and apply a GWP number to those quantities to determine the metric tons of CO2 a building uses. Reducing this number requires higher efficiencies in our designs and our materials.
Goal 3:
Material Sourcing
Many material manufacturers provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for their products. This goal emphasizes the importance of collecting EPDs when we procure or specify materials. In addition to the AIA 2030 Commitment, we are proud signatories of the AIA Materials Pledge. Our job as designers is to bring a deeper awareness of the material makeup and offer our clients “good, better, and best” choices when selecting materials.
Goal 4:
Water Conservation
Water is one of our most precious resources. We calculate and track water usage for irrigation as well as indoor water use. No matter where you live, water is becoming a scarce resource, and as designers we are responsible for implementing innovative solutions.
You can’t improve what you don’t measure, and as a firm we always challenge ourselves to do better. We are constantly tracking data for the above goals during each design phase of a project, from Concept Development through Construction Documentation. Each design team is responsible for collecting and evaluating data during the design process and looking for ways to improve efficiencies.
MG2 invites you to check out our 2023 Sustainability Impact Report and check back each year to see our progress. Enter your name and contact information below to gain access, then click on the report to read full-screen.
Costco Headquarters Campus Addition is Seattle DJC’s Project of the Week
Costco Headquarters Campus Addition was the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce’s Project of the Week.
“Sustainability was a priority throughout the design of the new building. Sustainable elements include triple-glazing and a dedicated outdoor air system that efficiently recovers energy and reduces heating demands by using interior building heat to warm up outside air, reducing fossil fuel usage.”
Located across the street from Grand Hotel, The Jockey Club has become a favorite amongst hotel guests, island visitors and locals of Mackinac Island. Originally built as a Snack Bar to cater The Jewel Golf Course, The Jockey Club features the only wood-fire grill on Mackinac Island and welcomes visitors to enjoy signature cocktails, and mouth-watering dishes incorporating local ingredients, all while overlooking the 9th hole of The Jewel Golf Course.
Seeking to undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation and expansion of the restaurant’s popular outdoor dining areas, The Jockey Club partnered with MG2 to enhance the dining experience for guests while preserving the historic charm of the building.
Designing a Complimentary Solution
The renovation included the replacement of weathered exterior dining tents with a striking new permeant structure. Designed to be a visual complement to the memorable architecture of the existing building, the pavilion features clean lines and simple but elegant composition. With permanently covered dining that can be enjoyed throughout the season, The Jockey Club has been enhanced with an inviting and comfortable dining experience for guests to enjoy.
Keeping Legacy Local
Designers paid close attention to the furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) used in the restoration, sourcing local, vintage FF&E from around Mackinac Island to create a unified and community-centric space that could accommodate more guests. The result is a warm and inviting dining area, enshrouded in island history, that perfectly complements the legacy architecture of the building and the nearby, Grand Hotel.
Uncompromised Accessibility
Finally, to ensure The Jockey Club is fully accessible to all visitors, the team incorporated ADA accessibility features into its environment. This included ramps and lifts to enable easy access to the clubhouse and the addition of two exterior-accessible restrooms that meet ADA requirements.
With its stunning new design elements and ADA upgrades, The Jockey Club’s revitalization has enhanced this iconic destination’s environment while preserving its original building’s historic charm, making it a must-visit experience for locals and tourists alike.
Located in Washington Heights, the renovation of three residential lobbies focused on providing improved accessibility and updated finishes to better serve current and future tenants. MG2 worked to create a recognizable design for the client to help set a consistent standard across their many properties. Pulling inspiration from Art Deco style and the original detailing of the pre-war building, the design pairs custom ironwork and natural marble floors with wood accents and a light color palette.
This eight-story podium apartment building is located in the heart of Redmond’s Overlake neighborhood and is within walking distance of the new light rail station. The design team’s goal was to add to the richness of the community while positively impacting the nearby businesses and contribute to the area’s vibrant cultural diversity. The design emphasizes sustainability, community impact, and efficient design.
6 Corners Lofts Gears Up For February Move-Ins In Portage Park
“Scheduled to open for initial move-ins on February 1, the 6 Corners Lofts project at 4714 W Irving Park Road in Portage Park marks a significant redevelopment of the former Sears store.”
We’re excited to see 6 Corners Lofts and now open to residents. Located in Chicago, this complex features “50,000 square feet of retail space, with Target as the primary tenant, above which are 206 apartment units.”
‘Elevating Voices’ Exhibit Features Black Northwest Artists
Bellevue joins partners to present Black History Month exhibit at City Hall
In celebration of Black History Month, the City of Bellevue, in partnership with Seattle architecture firm MG2 and Onyx Fine Arts Collective, is presenting the exhibit “Elevating Voices,” featuring the work of 17 Pacific Northwest Black artists.
The Landing at Paso Robles is a unique location unifying various activities. From wineries and breweries to warehouse maker spaces, a blurred indoor-outdoor environment leverages the destination’s perfect climate to foster connections in a casual setting.
With elements influenced by the adjacent airport in wine country, Paso Robles is designed to offer a unique motif that fuses modern aesthetics with a rich local legacy. These themes can be found throughout the different building types, from grand sliding barn doors that reveal flattering glass walls to sweeping laminated timber beams that soar overhead.
A closer look at the site reveals the presence of existing oak trees, adding a natural charm and contributing to the spatial qualities with dappled light. To further enhance the story, a farm-to-table grape-growing demonstration garden was included to embrace the agricultural essence of the region.
The Landing at Paso Robles will boast diverse offerings, including resort hotels for a luxurious stay, a vibrant market hall, well-equipped office spaces, and retail establishments. Each detail weaves together seamlessly to create an enticing and memorable destination.
Located in Seattle’s premier neighborhood of Capitol Hill, 1661 Olive Way promises to elevate the community’s unique character. The neighborhood’s restaurants, bars, small businesses, and civic history create a vibrant pedestrian experience that this new mixed-use development will enhance. The resulting mixed-use residential building will comprise retail on the ground floor, 170 residential units above, and amenity areas, including exercise, resident lounge, and rooftop.
Sears Six Corners Takes 28th Spot In Year-End Countdown
Snatching the 28th spot in our year-end countdown is the redevelopment of the former Sears store at 4712 W Irving Park Road in Portage Park. Sitting on the six-corner intersection with N Cicero Avenue and N Milwaukee Avenue, the project adds density to the intersection anchored by Clarendale Six Corners which took the 31st spot in our 2021 countdown. Finishing touches are currently being added by developer and general contractor Novak Construction.
Clocking in at 47 stories, First Light is a multi-faceted mixed-use project in downtown Seattle. Currently, under development at the corner of 3rd and Virginia, the design boasts street-level retail—including three restaurants and a coffee shop—topped with six floors of office space, and 38 floors of residential condominiums.
MG2 has partnered with Vancouver-based designer James KM Cheng to make the vision for First Light a reality while preserving affordability for professionals working and living in the city. The design features an enclosed greenhouse-like rooftop garden with panoramic views, a swimming pool, and a lounge area. Gracing the exterior of floors two through seven, passers-by will encounter a massive art installation by local artist James Holden. Once complete, this tower will bring beauty and functionality to the city’s ever-growing downtown corridor.
100 & Main is a collection of ten premier residential units combining classic luxury with modern architecture. Designed as a “Swiss watch built on a postage stamp,” the building, which balances making a statement with sitting lightly on a busy pedestrian-friendly corner, proved deceptively challenging. By artfully addressing a steep slope and condensed lot size with architectural detailing, 100 & Main is a unique treasure in Old Bellevue.
100 & Main was honored with NAIOP’s Night of the Stars Multi-Family Residential Development of the Year Award.
Mitch Smith’s Philosophy of Transparency and Authenticity
“It’s incredibly important to our organization that we are very open about what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, what our strategy is, our finances, how we’re performing, and really promoting a mindset of radical transparency. What I’ve found is that it builds a tremendous amount of trust with our employees in the organization. It’s when they don’t know that there are issues.” Mitch Smith said to John Stearns of 425 Business.
Seattle Suburb Gets Some Love at NAIOP’s Night of the Stars
Multifamily Development of the Year (fewer than 100 units) is 100 & Main in Bellevue, by Paramount Hotels. It was designed by MG2 and Compton Design, built by JTM Construction and engineered by Coughlin Porter Lundeen.
Westbank Tops Off 48-Story Mixed-Use First Light Project in Downtown Seattle
Westbank, a global real estate development company dedicated to city building and the creation of beauty in all forms, will top off their Seattle project, First Light, on October 18.
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