Bell Street Pier & Cruise Ship Terminal
Seattle, WA

Architecture, urban design and landscape architecture for a 14-acre, mixed-use development on Seattle's downtown waterfront.

Hewitt worked on the design of every phase of Bell Street Pier, from the initial master planning and site design through landscape improvements along Alaskan Way and the completion of the Cruise Terminal. Our work began with the development of design guidelines for the 14-acre site on Seattle's central waterfront. The guidelines included delineation of site boundaries for private development, design standards for new construction and plans for a public framework that addressed service and emergency access, pedestrian and vehicular circulation and open space.

Architectural design included the pier apron, with 1,900 linear feet of moorage for deep water vessels; the Bell Harbor International Conference Center, a short-stay public moorage facility; a maritime museum; space for three restaurants; and a pedestrian bridge that connects to Belltown.

Hewitt also designed an urban trail for pedestrians and bicyclists, a 10,000 square foot central plaza and boardwalk, roof terrace, children's play fountain and landscape improvements for pedestrian bridges linking the Bell Street Pier to Belltown and the Pike Place Market.

As the final phase of Bell Street Pier, the Cruise Terminal is Seattle's premier home-port facility for mega-liner cruise ships that sail to the Inland Passage and Alaska. The highly-efficient, 56,000 square foot facility guides passengers from the plaza arrival point through an interior concourse to ground transportation connections. Expansive clerestory windows enhance the upper level ticketing/waiting area, which also functions as a banquet/exhibit area for the Bell Harbor International Conference Center.