October 1, 2015 – Universities that serve busy adult learners need facilities that enable students to learn, connect and collaborate as they advance themselves personally and professionally. That’s the vision for Antioch University Seattle (AUS) as the campus prepares to move into a new space just blocks from its current location.
Antioch University recently signed a long-term lease securing space in a three-story building that is under construction at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Battery Street (2404 3rd Avenue), just three blocks from the current Antioch University Building at 6th and Battery. On September 30, Antioch University completed the sale of the 6th and Battery building to HB Management, a private Seattle real estate company, generating excitement about the Seattle campus move to a brand new location, which is expected to be completed by late 2016. Until that time, AUS will remain in the current building with no disruption to class offerings and schedules.
“We are excited to design and outfit a building around today’s student. The days of rows of desks, a chalkboard and lectern are long gone,” said Dr. Dan Hocoy, AUS president. “Our students need space to collaborate, learn experientially and leverage technology. We’ll be working together with students, faculty, staff and the AUS community to make sure our shared vision for the new space becomes reality.”
Antioch University is nationally recognized as a leader and innovator in providing adult students experiential educational opportunities that lead to personal and professional enhancement. AUS, one of the five campuses of Antioch University, has occupied its current downtown Seattle building since 1996, and celebrated its 40th year in Seattle this past February. Its recent sale includes a provision through which AUS will lease back its current space until December 2016 to make the transition to the new location as seamless as possible.
AUS’ strategic relocation comes at a perfect time, as its current location in the Denny Triangle is in the midst of a commercial and residential construction boom. Antioch is reinvesting a portion of the sale proceeds in a state-of-the-art campus. The new campus is located along the 3rd Avenue transit corridor connecting Seattle’s major employment centers—South Lake Union and Downtown—both of which employ current and future Antioch students. It is walking distance to Downtown, Amazon, and the Seattle Center. As a new construction building, AUS has the opportunity to optimize space and improve the student experience.
“Because of the sale, we are able to make a significant investment in the new space to ensure that it’s a true 21st century learning environment. This is such a unique opportunity and so much has changed since we moved into the current space 19 years ago. We’re very excited to announce the move and have our vision for the new facility become reality,” said Felice Nudelman, chancellor of Antioch University.
The new space is being leased from Martin Selig Real Estate. Construction of the new building is under way now. In addition to modern classrooms and a lounge space for students, it will include a large event area for university and community events.
“Over the next four months the design team, led by global design firm Gensler, will be working with campus leadership, our real estate advisory team and campus user groups to design and refine our new home. It’s been a long and complex process and I am so pleased that we are evolving with the vibrant downtown Seattle community while serving our students in new ways,” Dr. Hocoy said.
“Antioch’s commitment to creating a built space that reflects the University’s unique educational model and supports the evolving needs of its students is commendable,” said Matt Anderson, Principal at Heartland LLC. “Furthermore, the University’s pro-active approach to leveraging its real estate portfolio in support of a resilient business model is well-timed and important for organizations and firms across all sectors to be thinking about.”
“In alignment with Antioch University’s learner-centered educational mission, we’re excited to be working with a group of dedicated educators, staff, and students to redefine the modern university campus, through detailed user research and educational strategy, to create a compelling learning environment for the future leaders of the region,” said Ryan Haines, Principal and Research and Design Strategy Lead at Gensler.
Heartland LLC, a Seattle-based real estate advisory and investment firm, is serving as Antioch University’s strategic real estate advisor across the five-campus portfolio and supported Antioch in its campus sale and new campus site selection and lease negotiation. Gensler is designing Antioch’s space in the 3rd and Battery location and Robinson Company is serving as Antioch’s owner’s representative on the space build-out.
About Antioch University
Antioch University is an accredited, non-profit university and a bold and enduring source of innovation in higher education that serves adult students around the world, online and from its five campuses in four states in addition to its University-wide international and doctoral programs. The University lives by its mission every day by helping students realize their potential and achieve their educational goals through rigorous and responsive learning environment. Antioch University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Learn more at antioch.edu.
About Heartland LLC
Heartland LLC is a Seattle-based real estate advisory and investment firm with over 30 years of experience designing, analyzing and implementing strategies to manage risk and optimize value in all aspects of both the built and natural environment. Heartland specializes in assisting private and public clients across many realms: civic real estate, corporate owners/users, real estate companies and investment opportunities. In all cases, we are advisors first and combine strategy development with rigorous analytics and implementation capabilities to provide tailored services to help our diverse client base define and implement their vision. Learn more at: www.heartlandllc.com/
About Gensler
Gensler is a global design firm grounded in the belief that great design optimizes business performance and human potential. Their 5,000 practitioners networked across 46 offices use global perspective, local presence, and a data-driven design methodology to innovate at every scale. Whether they are focused on the student experience, refreshing a retailer’s brand, planning a new urban district or designing a super tall building, they strive to make the everyday places people occupy more inspiring, more resilient, and more impactful.
About Robinson Company
The Robinson Company is a 13 person, 30-year-old project management firm that also has a division that provides hundreds of cost estimates every year. Since 1985 they have managed dozens of both large and small projects for clients in the private, public and non-profit sectors. They specialize in working with universities, K-12 schools and non-profit clients who may do one major project every 10 – 20 years. Three principals own the company: Sharon Kennedy, Principal-in-Charge of Estimating Services; Jean Robinson, Principal-in-Charge of Finance; and Kirk Robinson, Principal-in-Charge of Project Management Services.