800 Stewart is a 605 foot mixed-use tower located on an extremely small site in the rapidly evolving Denny Triangle neighborhood of Seattle. This provides a massive structural and architectural challenge as wind forces increase dramatically with a tall and slender tower, and the limited space on the site leaves little room for architectural expression. How can we shape a high-rise tower in order to mitigate wind forces imposed on the building while also creating an elegant and sculptural architecture that adorns the Seattle skyline?

The design team utilized the concept of Vortex Shedding and varied the cross section of the tower throughout the height of the building in order to reduce the impact of wind forces. Digital parametric modeling, wind analysis, and rapid prototyping using 3D printing were paramount in rapidly iterating and testing various massing schemes against these challenges, while also ensuring a well-proportioned and elegant tower form.