Trailside Student Living.

Project brief

Trailside Student Living is a student apartment community at 4801 24th Avenue Northeast in Seattle's University District. It sits at the northeast edge of the University of Washington campus, beside the Burke-Gilman Trail. Phoenix Property Company developed it in partnership with Barings. Weber Thompson was the architect and interior designer, and The Walsh Group was the builder. The community has 265 fully furnished units and 762 beds, in layouts ranging from studios to five bedrooms.

The design is organized around the trail and around outdoor space at ground level. Weber Thompson split the mass into smaller, distinct buildings that frame courtyards and keep public access to the trail open. Lantern-like elements mark the ends of the composition. A rooftop clubhouse opens onto a large deck. Shared spaces include a fitness center, private study lounges, a golf simulator and a dog run. The first phase opened in the third quarter of 2021. Weber Thompson lists a second phase for the third quarter of 2025 and describes it as LEED Gold certified. The project received a Gold Nugget Award for Best Student or Faculty Housing.

In 2020, ahead of the opening, BOGZA produced exterior and interior renderings, animation, 360° tours and film for the community. Among them is a dusk view into the central courtyard between the residential buildings.