Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Cornish College of the Arts: Cornish Commons

  • 05/01/17
Cornish College of the Arts 

PHOTOS © ANKROM MOISAN ARCHITECTS / CASEY BRAUNGE

In 2014, Cornish College of the Arts embarked on its first “ground up” project since 1921. The century-old performing and visual arts college located in the heart of Seattle, WA, needed a new residence hall for its students as well as additional practice and studio space. The resulting 20-story Cornish Commons was developed by Capstone Development Partners (Capstone) with Ankrom Moisan Architects and Howard S. Wright as design builder.

The $49.6 million project was completed on budget and on time, and all members of the team worked to make the space especially friendly to visual and performing artists.

Since its opening, the building has won rave reviews from the college’s students. Designed as a live/work/play space for future artists and innovators, the ground floor has become Cornish’s living room for both commuters and residents. The studios are kept constantly busy with rehearsals or preparations for the 200+ performances and exhibitions that occur on campus every year. Stunning views from the 20th floor student lounge always impress prospective students and parents when touring the campus.

Cornish Commons also has racked up an impressive number of awards, including Building of the Year/Daily Journal of Commerce (2015), Best New On-Campus Development (2016), Most Creative Public/Private Financing (2016), Best Public/Private Partnership Development (2016), Multifamily Executive Student Housing Project of the Year (2016), Design Build Institute of America: Award of Excellence (2016) and LEED Gold certification (2015).

“In our industry the Cornish Commons project has come to symbolize what can be achieved and accomplished in a partnership that is willing to think creatively, focus on quality of life and quality of design/construction and work hard to bring it to reality. We are honored to be Cornish’s partner on this fantastic project,” says Bruce McKee, principal, Capstone Development Partners.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • California District Breaks Ground on Major Campus Renovation

    Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced that construction has begun on a major campus overhaul for Otis Elementary School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Lathrop Construction Associates, Inc., for its design and construction, respectively.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

    Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance.

  • CSU Starts Construction on New Engineering Building

    Colorado State University in Denver, Colo., recently began clearing space for the construction of the new Don and Susie Law Engineering Future Technologies Building, according to a news release.