The Shoal
Waterfront Seafood Market + Shellfish Farm
Winter 2018
Throughout Seattle’s entire history, water and water ecology has acted as a critical cultural and economic resource for the city. Exploring themes of urban context, site analysis, urban and architectural design, this seafood market brings new life to the underutilized pier 48 along Alaskan Avenue on Seattle’s downtown waterfront. Just South of the Seattle Ferry Terminal, The Shoal is a direct response to the push for greater public access to the waterfront while revitalizing the fishing industry of the city.
Nesting a visitors center, public market and fishing and shellfish farming infrastructure under a single undulating roof, the structure reaches northward, greeting pedestrian traffic from Pike Place Market while better engaging the southern downtown communities of Pioneer Square and the International District. Continuations of the roof structure and pattern extend down the pier, hosting covered picnic areas and space for recreation. This project celebrates the historically significant side of Seattle in its connection to water while giving new life to a dwindling local industry within the city.
Professor: Elizabeth Golden
Aerial image showing seafood market with abstracted potential extension of form as public, tourist and local communities grow out and extend along waterfront.
Concept diagram for waterfront seafood market.
Building function diagram.
Material and construction proposal for seafood market.
Site plan showing extension of roof covering down public pier.
Transverse and longitudinal sections showing relationship between the buildings with an open market as well as extension of programming and accessible space onto the adjacent pier and towards the rest of downtown Seattle.
View from fish intake dock to main operational building and market beyond (to left)
View towards fish intake and processing facility.
View from public pier towards fish intake facility and market.
View west showing covered outdoor public market.
Section model showing slice of covered market, public steps and main intake/processing building with offices above.