Museum House

Seattle, Washington

Adding Artful Dimension to Seattle's First Hill Neighborhood

Located between downtown Seattle and several major medical campuses, Museum House appeals to young professionals and healthcare workers seeking proximity, culture, and community. The 506-unit, mixed-use rental residential development blurs the line between art and architecture through a series of shifting screens on the building’s facade that recreate works from the neighboring Frye Art Museum’s collection, allowing residents to interact with the building’s exterior animation. The structure operates as an ever-changing canvas, spanning two diverging towers joined by a glass bridge.

Client: Project Terry LLC (Westbank & OPTrust)
Size: 605,000 square feet
Completion Date: 2025

Aerial view of two high-rise buildings in an urban landscape, with construction sites and historical architecture in the foreground.

On an urban scale, Museum House contributes to Seattle’s post-pandemic growth and cultural revival. The design team relocated the main drop-off to a side alley, allowing Terry Avenue to become a pedestrian-centric “festival street” that supports public art, community programming, and a more active streetscape. Retail and dining options within the building further energize then neighborhood, while a ground-floor public gallery expands the block’s cultural footprint.

Museum House reflects our deep commitment to the integration of art and architecture. One of our core beliefs has always been that great design creates lasting value, and this building is the embodiment of that approach.

Ian Gillespie, Founder, Westbank

Two towers with unique facades stand against a clear blue sky, featuring a distinctive gap and varied window designs in an urban setting.

As residents slide the movable screens outside their units, fragments of the art dynamically reconfigure and, when properly arranged, wholly recreate the works on display.

Facade of a multi-story building featuring vertical slats and large windows, with photo art integrated into the design. Clear blue sky in the background.

The facade of the new towers is reimagined as an enlarged gallery wall, composed of perforated screens with patterns drawn from paintings in the Frye Art Museum.

A Living Gallery Wall

Paintings from the Frye’s historic Salon were chosen based on traits that would maximize their visibility in greyscale and at a distance. Selected images underwent an editing process to boost contrast, capture the maximum amount of detail, and ensure that average light values were equalized across all images. Then, each image was converted to a series of custom perforation patterns and cut out of the panels.

Art gallery interior showcasing a variety of framed artworks on the walls, with a red velvet chair positioned in the foreground.

The Salon at the Frye Art Museum.

Architectural drawing displaying a grid layout with dimensions alongside an artistic depiction of figures in a detailed scene.

In total, 34 works appear on the facade, including Austrian artist Franz von Defregger's "Im Gasthaus (At the Inn)" from 1887, part of the Frye's founding collection.

Stylish interior space with large glass windows, wooden flooring, and contemporary seating. People engage in conversation and relaxation.

The sky bridge incorporates a structural solution inspired by bridge technology—crisscrossing tensile cables between the towers provide seismic stability.

View of two tall buildings with textured facades, connected by a glass bridge against a clear blue sky.

Four oculus windows frame views to the street below.

Creative Tension

A sky bridge connects the two diverging towers, allowing residents to traverse the void and access the two amenity spaces located in each building. The creative tension formed at the bridge is enhanced by the unparalleled views both to the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges as well as through the glass viewing portals in the floor to the Frye Museum below.

Rooftop terrace with seating and greenery on a concrete and glass building, featuring expansive views of the city skyline at sunset.

Building amenities include two roof terraces featuring a pool, hot tub, fitness center, and gathering areas for residents and their guests.

Rooftop pool area featuring sun loungers, greenery, and city skyline views. Two individuals engage in fitness activities near the water.

Two individuals engage with a scale model in a space featuring glass walls and concrete accents, with natural light illuminating the area.

Northwest-Inspired Materiality

Throughout, the interiors emphasize transparency and lightness, creating a sense of suspension and perspective. Materials such as raw concrete, warm wood, and refined steel accents reference traditional Northwest craftsmanship and Seattle’s aeronautical legacy. Red List–free materials promote healthier interiors, while durable finishes extend the life of high-traffic areas and reduce waste over time.

Interior view of a stylish apartment featuring a gray sofa, round table, and large windows with cityscape views. Natural light fills the space.

The project also advances social equity through the inclusion of below-market (MFTE) housing units distributed evenly across both towers, ensuring that residents from diverse backgrounds and income levels share the same quality of homes, amenities, and community spaces.

Interior view of a living space featuring a sofa, coffee table, potted plant, large windows with cityscape, and modern light fixture.

In each of the 506 rental units, perforated screens provide privacy, shade, and wind protection.

It’s a building that reflects Seattle’s creative identity and reimagines how community, culture, and design can come together to inspire. We look forward to the new energy it will bring to the neighborhood.

Peter Busby, Perkins&Will Firmwide Design Principal

Project Team

Ryan Bussard

Gavin Smith

Peter Busby

Museum House

Project Team

Related Content