Comments on: Pb Elemental is on Fire

By: Pb Micro-Ghost Towns | hugeasscity

Pb Micro-Ghost Towns | hugeasscity — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:52:49 +0000

[...] Pb Elemental cranked out a remarkable number of progressive projects like this one with the big orange wall on 23rd Ave. Alas, their timing was just a wee bit off. The three Central District projects in these photos were looking pretty lonely last time I checked. It’s too bad, cause Pb pushed design innovation much further than most in Seattle, particularly with the creative use of site. But now that the recession is over, perhaps these bad boys will start filling up. [...]

By: foxgarden

foxgarden — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:56:22 +0000

They’re young guys, but I think their success so far makes them more than amateurs.

They do have a bit of a signature style so far, and I’ll admit that I personally don’t want to live in a concrete loft, but it’s working for them and growing their business. Yes they’re profit-minded, which doesn’t usually seem like much of a criticism to me, since most people who pour their lives into work are in fact trying to make a profit. They seem to be pretty committed to the ideals of city infill (as opposed to developing new land) and incorporating green/sustainable strategies into the residences they build. (You could argue, though, that that’s a profit-driven strategy in today’s upscale markets.)

By: Spencer

Spencer — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:55:35 +0000

Jesse,

Good luck with that.

By: Spencer

Spencer — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:55:02 +0000

Durtay,

You got it. It’s incredible to see they have a spec house in Columbia City for $1.2 million. That’s four times the average house value! Thanks for upping property values im the last affordable/close in neighborhood. Jack-asses.

By: SoDo Mojo Risin | hugeasscity

SoDo Mojo Risin | hugeasscity — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:33:39 +0000

[...] Up at 4th Ave and S. Washington St, Pb Elemental has proposed a 24-story mixed-use project with a 144-key hotel, 105 condo units, retail, and 140 above-grade parking stalls (as noted here). The bus/light rail tunnel is below the site, which is why the parking must be above-grade. The current zoning at this site allows a max building height of 120 feet, and the proposed upzone is for 240 feet — this project could not happen without the upzone. [...]

By: Jesse

Jesse — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:32:59 +0000

Well i have to say as a man that has worked on many of Pb’s job sites.I beleive there one of the best out there if not the best,Yes it maybe that thay are young,but ive seen this firm make nice progress to becoming a major developer.Mark my words thay wiil be around long time.

By: Dell

Dell — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:12:59 +0000

Wow Durtay, you sound like a very disgruntled person. Could there be any chance you are either an out of work “amateur” architect or maybe even a former employee of Pb who was let go because of lack of ability? Hmmm makes me wonder. I agree Pb has a distinct style (as does every practing architecture firm. If they have only been existance for four years I would assume all of the current projects where designed during the same period, the images above at least to me seem like they have moved past “Compositions of cedar rainscreen facades and cement board boxes” but would you rather see the 2000 viynl clad faux craftsman that have plauged our City for the past twenty years?

As far as the main force behind gentrification…. Wow you give these guys a ton of credit (and have absolutly no idea of what your taking about…. suprised you know how to use a computer) How many projects have they built 10, 20? How about the forty 4000 sqft crafstman mcmansions behind my house in the central district all selling for above 900k. My house is probably 300k if that. But we live in a City, it is ever changing and thats what is endearing and vibrant about it. Maybe take your negativity and use it for good. Go volenteer with habitat for humanity, I do, and would love to discuss these issues with you.

By: danb

danb — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:13:43 +0000

durtay: What firms in Seattle are designing multifamily housing that you like?

By: durtay

durtay — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:14:13 +0000

Pb elemental are a bunch of amateurs….each and every building they design/build are strikingly similar….I am sick of seeing their buildings all across town. Compositions of cedar rainscreen facades and cement board boxes with industrial details and garage doors for windows….it’s been done, over and over again. How about something creative now??

On top of that, they are totally overextending themselves….I will laugh quite loud when the townhouse /condo market collapses in Seattle and they are forced to turn their $250/sf properties into “high-end” apartments. I’ve seen it time and time again. Pb elemental is a group of young republicans dressed in hippy wear trying to come off as if they care about the communities they develop in….they are a cheap, profit-driven facade of a design firm. They are one of the main forces behind the gentrification of many neighborhoods in Seattle. It is a shame that they can operate in the manner that they do. No one is going to pay $18 million to live on the top of a flagpole that will sway with the slightest shift of the earth. In 5 years Pb Elemental will be out of business…mark my word

By: Dell

Dell — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:53:05 +0000

The stranger article that just came out says the principals are 29 and 30. I think Seattle appreciates progressive design like this and I hope they do get built. If Pb is developing them they probably will.