How the Denny Substation Will Help Supply Seattle’s Growing Need for Power While Also Fueling Community
The new electric hub is set to open Oct. 6
By Maggie Kerr October 5, 2018
This article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the October 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe.
UPDATE 11/27/18: The substation community celebration/grand opening will occur in early 2019.
Substations—the electrical distribution networks that power our city—are typically utilitarian in design and hidden from view. But a new substation, the South Lake Union 13kV Distribution Network System known as the Denny Substation (South Lake Union, 1250 Denny Way; 206.684.3000), scheduled to open October 6, is radically different—and a first of its kind for the city—with features and amenities specifically for public use.
Designed by the architects at NBBJ (which also created the Amazon spheres and worked on the new Hugo House), the substation—which fills an entire city block—is a community center that includes more than 55,000 square feet of public space, an elevated ADA-accessible pedestrian walkway, a pocket park with an off-leash area for pets, and temporary and permanent art exhibits (including work from Seattle’s renowned Lead Pencil Studio).
It’s “a symbol of pride for the neighborhood, City Light, City of Seattle and the natural region that powers the city,” says Scott Thomsen with Seattle City Light, who calls the nearly $300 million addition to the neighborhood part of a “fully developed urban environment.” We think it’s a project that might just illuminate the path toward future city growth.
Follow Us
The Hidden Costs of Smoking
Washington smokers spend more on cigarettes than residents in most states
Cigarettes killed my father. He smoked two to three packs of cigarettes each day and died of emphysema at age 76. It’s a slow, painful way to go. I remember him buying cartons of cigarettes at a time, but as a child I never thought about the money he spent on such a vile habit….
As Homelessness Persists, Every Step Counts
Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission will build a new shelter for unhoused women and children
A 21-unit shelter for unhoused women and children may seem insignificant, but it represents another step toward eradicating homelessness in King County. Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission has received a $3 million award from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines to fund the construction of the emergency shelter in South King County for homeless…
Amazon Numbers Still Aren’t in, But Downtown is Again on the Upswing
The Downtown Seattle Association notes persistent gains in foot traffic
It’s still too early to weigh the ramifications of Amazon’s return-to-work mandate, but another report from the Downtown Seattle Association finds that more workers are returning to the city’s core on a daily basis. The organization’s Downtown Revitalization Dashboard shows a 5% increase in December compared to the same month in 2023. In fact, every…
Milken Institute Lauds Olympia for its Booming Tech Sector
The city ranks among the best in the U.S. for economic growth
You may not think of Olympia as a hub of innovative technology. You may not know that the city’s technology sector grew faster than that of any city in the United States from 2018 to 2023. You may also not be aware that the city is among the “most equal” in the country, meaning that…