The Port of Seattle (Washington USA) initiated the renovation and modernization of the historic Ship Supply Building at Fishermen’s Terminal on May 21, 2024. This project aims to transform the site into a Living Building Challenge (LBC) certified Maritime Innovation Center (MInC).
The new facility will address various maritime industry needs, bringing together students, business innovators, public agencies, academic institutions, and community stakeholders. The Port is collaborating with the architectural firm Miller Hull Partnership to create a distinctive structure for the Pacific Northwest. To support the future of commercial fishing and maritime industry activities at the terminal, the Port is investing US$100+ million in new infrastructure as part of a strategic redevelopment plan. This plan includes maintaining docks for commercial fishers, enhancing upland facilities, and celebrating Fishermen’s Terminal’s historical significance. The renovated building will feature new wayfinding and interpretive signs, as well as several art projects under the Port’s 1% for the Arts program.
These enhancements will ensure the facility continues to support the maritime industry and Seattle’s working waterfront, which plays a crucial role in the regional economy. The MInC will support the next century of commercial fishing and maritime industrial activity at one of Seattle’s most historic waterfront locations. The Port of Seattle is committed to fostering a Blue Economy, which emphasizes a sustainable maritime industry that supports healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and long-term economic growth. Washington Maritime Blue will be the anchor tenant for the MInC, aligning with the Port’s vision of promoting sustainable maritime business, technology, and practices.
The MInC’s design and construction will adhere to the Living Building Challenge (LBC) framework, the world’s most advanced sustainability standard, in line with the Port’s sustainability objectives. As a Living Building, the MInC will generate its own energy, capture its own water, and process its own waste. Advanced LBC sustainability features will include net positive energy, use of salvaged materials, reduced carbon emissions, rainwater capture, stormwater treatment, gray and black water treatment.
The adaptive reuse project will preserve and respect the form and mass of the 1918 building fronting the working waterfront. Most of the building and its century-old heavy timber structure will be salvaged and reused. Miller Hull’s design will enhance the iconic pitched roof using locally sourced and industrially appropriate materials. Sustainability will be a prominent feature with the inclusion of rainwater cisterns and an on-site photovoltaic array.