SEATTLE—December 5, 2003—"We want to commend you for breaking the mold and pursuing a project that demonstrates true innovation and design excellence in the public realm."
This was how the Seattle Design Commission expressed their commendation of the High Point Master Plan at a ceremony attended by Mayor Greg Nickels and hosted by the Design Commission on December 4.
The Master Plan was developed by the Seattle Housing Authority and its development partners. The agency was recognized, along with Mithun Architects, SvR Design and Nakano Associates. City of Seattle partners included the Seattle Department of Transportation, Department of Planning and Development and Seattle Public Utilities.
Specifically, the Commission praised the team's willingness to "stretch across agency lines and bring open minds to the challenge of redevelopment on the site, seeing it not just as physical design but as a social venture." Other attributes of the plan that received praise included:
- Laying foundations for a project that pushes the envelope of sustainable design on a mega scale and serves as a model in its use of materials, alternative street design and natural drainage system.
- Integration of natural, physical, and social systems to realize truly holistic design solutions.
- Creation of a solid, design-focused Master Plan that will continue to guide redevelopment in phases into the future.
According to Seattle Housing Authority Executive Director Harry Thomas, "We are very proud of the innovation at High Point. It is a real tribute to the team that the value of this innovation is recognized by the Design Commission. I am convinced that this is just the first of many awards this new neighborhood will win in the years to come."