“Crystal” Proposal Makes Tracks in Federal Way

By Alex Girda, Associate Editor A proposal for a $300 million mixed-use project with a cutting-edge design is moving closer to fruition in the city of Federal Way. Officials are negotiating exclusively with ARCADD Inc. to design and develop Crystal Way, [...]

By Alex Girda, Associate Editor

A proposal for a $300 million mixed-use project with a cutting-edge design is moving closer to fruition in the city of Federal Way. Officials are negotiating exclusively with ARCADD Inc. to design and develop Crystal Way, a series of glass towers intended to evoke London’s legendary Crystal Palace.  A final agreement could be reached by early 2012.

On Oct. 18, the Federal Way City Council authorized Mayor Skip Priest to enter into a purchase-and-sale agreement with West Newton, Mass.-based ARCADD. As reported by the Seattle Times, the firm is proposing 900,000 square feet of restaurant, office, exhibition space, cinema and retail space, plus below-grade parking and an as-yet undetermined amount of open public space. ARCAAD’s proposal follows earlier unsuccessful ideas, including a four-tower project proposed by a Canadian developer and a plan to build two 45-story towers on the site.

Fifteen buildings would share a common four-story base that would include retail, movie theaters and exhibition space. Five of those buildings would be 20-story-tall residential and office towers marked by a distinctive wavy design. Ten more buildings, primarily residential, would be developed around the base of the central towers.

Crystal Way would also offer interactive glass, a high-tech feature that is  increasingly popular around the U.S. that presents commercials and other videos. ARCADD president Hisham Ashkouri has also said that he envisions Crystal Way as a complement to a proposed performing arts and civic center near the Federal Way Transit Center on 20th Avenue South, reported the Federal Way Mirror.

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