Renovations to the historic King Street Station’s second floor have transformed the space into an 11,100-sq-ft cultural space where artists, especially those from historically underrepresented communities, can thrive. The $3.86-million Station Space is home to five youth-centered arts organizations—Totem Star, Rhapsody Project, Red Eagle Soaring, Whipsmart and the Jackson Street Music Program. Each group has a 60-year rent-free lease. This guaranteed longevity and stability enables these organizations to concentrate on nurturing and mentoring young artists.

The renovated space features rehearsal and performance spaces, recording studios, a black box theater, instrument library and workshop, and general gathering spaces available to the community. Other amenities include a kitchenette, community amenity spaces and support space to facilitate classes, workshops and performances.

Photo by Cleary O'Farrell

Nestled in a portion of the station that had been vacant for 60 years, Station Space is designed to seamlessly blend new and old. A recording studio is isolated from its surroundings using a floating floor and double stud acoustical walls. A high-efficiency variable refrigerant flow system with separate energy recovery ventilated outside air, tied into the station’s ground loop system, provides quiet heating and cooling. The original vaulted concrete ceilings and riveted columns are left exposed, juxtaposed against modern insertions such as a hemlock-clad central hallway.

Photo by Cleary O'Farrell

Working within the operational King Street Station, which serves three Amtrak lines and Sound Transit commuter trains, required meticulous planning to ensure safe pedestrian passage through the active construction zone. The team worked closely with a marketing team to design and install clear, informative wayfinding signage, ensuring that commuters could navigate the area safely and efficiently. This additional signage not only guided pedestrians, but also presented a unique opportunity to showcase the logos of all organizations involved in the project as well as the five nonprofits that now occupy Station Space. The city’s Office of Arts and Culture, which is on the third floor of the station, remained open throughout construction.

Photo by Cleary O'Farrell

The station was first built in 1906. As a result, crews encountered some unusual challenges. For one, the existing HVAC system did not have the infrastructure for tie-ins, partially due to incomplete ductwork in the shelled space. Preserving the structure’s historical features and maintaining the existing plaster columns and ceiling finishes in the public corridor—as well as the windows and steel columns—was another priority. Communication and collaboration among project partners proved to be critical in solving these problems and ensuring that the project was delivered on time and budget after just five months of construction in October 2023.