DEVELOPMENTS

News about construction projects underway

Posted November 2007

Kent adds activities, Thunderbirds in exciting new Events Center

Kent is a city on the move. The dynamic new Kent Station mall is being complemented with the 6,025-seat $78 million Kent Events Center, due to open early in 2009.

Expectations are that the center will host more than 110 events a year, including about 40 Thunderbirds Junior Hockey games. The Western Hockey League’s Seattle Thunderbirds team has signed a 30-year lease with the Kent Events Center.

The center will be located at West James St. and Fifth Avenue North, on a 17.5-acre plot in the Commons Playfield. It is within walking distance of Kent Commons, Kent Station and the Sound Transit station.

Estimates are that the center will create 138 long-term and 500 to 700 short-term jobs. A long-term city goal is to leverage the center, Kent Station and Sound Transit to entice people to live downtown. It is expected that the center will attract more retail, offices and mixed-use development.

Having a large facility in Kent makes it possible to attract big entertainment and host high school graduations locally.

The city of Kent received some funds from the state, which requires that the new center meet the environmental LEED silver certification. LEED is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It will be the first LEED-certified center of its kind in the United States. Among the LEED projects are a hangar-door design to control daylight, parking-lot water collected and piped to other areas of the property for reuse, low-flow toilets, recycled materials and computerized optimization of the energy system.

Funding comes from the state Public Facilities District designation, bonds, concessions, Thunderbirds’ rent, etc. The PFD allows part of the area’s sales tax to be funneled into the events center instead of going back to the state. PFD funds will pay back two-thirds of the bonds. This is the same type of funding used for Safeco Field.

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Innovative luxury hotel chain being launched in Seattle

Luxury hotels are not a new concept, but the level of service planned for Candela Hotel and Residences is new. The concept is to attract the world’s most discriminating travelers with highly personalized experiences in a healthy, environmentally friendly facility. Local entrepreneur Tom Pigott is the founder, president and CEO.

To make it more convenient and pleasant for guests, Candela will eliminate the check-in process, serve organic food in its restaurant, provide hypoallergenic bedding and brighten guest rooms with natural sunlight. There will be a 24-hour fitness center and a spa. Piggott expects Candela to earn a five-star rating.

A key service of Candela will be a 26-hour stay, starting when you check in from your room. This eliminates the lines in the lobby as guests will be checking in and out at all hours of the day.

Guests are asked when they make a reservation whether they will want hookups for computers, PDAs and audiovisual equipment. Guests who are anti-tech will receive full personal attention from the concierge.

Piggott and Seattle developer Urban Visions plan to open the first Candela Hotel in 2010, at Pike Street and Second Avenue in Seattle. Two dozen more hotels are planned for North America, China and India.

The 36-story tower includes fewer than 150 guest rooms and suites plus about 90 condominium residences. Candela’s site is a block away from Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, which plans to open in 2008. Other luxury hotels within walking distance are 1 Hotel & Residences, Hotel 1000 and the Fairmont Olympic.

Candela is the first hotelier to join the U.S. Green Building Council. Candela aims for LEED Gold certification. LEED is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.