Bergelectric played a pivotal role in the construction of The Confidential, an impressive 29-story stepped apartment tower located in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. This architectural marvel features a striking glass exterior that rises from a sturdy masonry base, complete with a first-floor office space overlooking outdoor café seating and approximately 9,000 square feet of retail and restaurant areas.
Upon completion, The Confidential will provide high-end apartments tailored for urban living in a vibrant neighborhood. During peak construction, Bergelectric had a skilled workforce of 3 foremen, 16 journeymen, and 12 apprentices, all dedicated to meeting the project’s unique demands.
One of the standout features of this project is its custom lighting design throughout the amenity spaces, which enhances the living experience for future residents. The Confidential is also pursuing LEED SIlver certification, showcasing a commitment to sustainability through the incorporation of energy-efficient lighting controls, LED fixtures, and a mechanical system aimed at reducing the building’s environmental impact.
The project utilized Building Information Modeling (BIM), which greatly facilitated the detailing of deck drawings and clash detection for MEPF-FP systems. This technology was instrumental in coordinating the electrical rooms and amenity areas, ensuring a seamless integration of electrical systems throughout the building.
Bergelectric faced several challenges during the project, particularly due to the tight footprint of the downtown property. This required meticulous coordination for deliveries from their prefabrication warehouse and various vendors. To tackle this, innovative practices were employed, including the use of Topcon layout tools for precise measurements across all 34 poured-in-place concrete floors, and shark cages for delivering lighting and control systems to each floor.
Effective project management was achieved using Bluebeam job status reports, allowing for clear communication with the general contractor regarding prerequisites needed before progressing to the next phases of work. This tool also aided in tracking the completion of project closeout lists.
Environmental conditions posed additional challenges, particularly the winter rains and winds encountered when working on open decks more than 15 stories high. Moreover, smoke and air quality issues from nearby wildfires in Eastern Washington, Oregon, and Canada added complexity to the work environment.