Located in the South Lake Union section of Seattle, Washington, Alley 24 owes its name to the fact it sits on a city block subdivided into four quarters by intersecting midblock alleys. Perhaps a name suggesting sustainability would have been more appropriate though, as the project is among the city’s most environmentally friendly and represents one of the U.S.’s first LEED-certified mixed-use projects.

Anchored by the landmark Richmond Laundry building, Alley 24 blends commercial office and retail shop space with 172 low- and moderate-income apartments, creating a vibrant, substainable live/work/play environment. Skanksa USA, the project’s general contractor, is among the corporate tenants. Among the development’s many environmentally construction features are thermostatically controlled blinds and fixed aluminum sunscreens, both of which help limit solar gain on sunny days.

The UNA-CLAD™ Custom Sunscreens—formed from .25” clear anodized aluminum—were manufactured by Firestone Building Products. All New Glass of Auburn, Washington was the installer.

The building was designed by Seattle’s nbbj. Since the project’s completion in February 2006, Skanksa USA, the project’s general contractor, has become one of the development’s many corporate tenants.