MxM team members helped lead the re-design two historic alleys in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, and in the process established a new standard for the entire neighborhood. The team’s central challenge? Create a design that conformed to the historic district’s rigorous design standards, created a more welcoming and accessible streetscape and amplified the alleys’ civic role as community gathering spaces.

Drawing on material inspiration from the district’s Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, the final design integrates new unit pavers with salvaged historic pavers to create a paving pattern that integrates both clay and stone pavers to create a compelling visual identity that can be adapted to a variety of conditions. Following this work, our team created and the Pioneer Square Preservation Board approved the Alley Design Manual using the design for these two alleys as the template for all future alley improvements in Pioneer Square.

A community-focused design process involved workshops with stakeholders and the public as well as an innovative “nightseeing” workshop led by Leni Schwendinger to analyze and develop innovative illumination strategies for evening activation.

Project completed by Brice Maryman while at MIG