Whole Foods Market

Named for a style of anchor that secures ships in harbor, The Danforth symbolically, visually, and literally anchors three distinct districts on one corner: lively Capitol Hill, historic First Hill, and intellectual Seattle University.

The corner’s small, hillside footprint required highly efficient site planning. Whole Foods needed 40,000 sf of retail space, plus 12,000 sf for building and loading services—both major drivers and challenging design variables. The final grocery design integrates a shared loading dock (also used by the tower), two freight elevators, three passenger elevators, and a grand interior staircase. The program has a private residential entrance and lobby, underground parking for shoppers and residents, wide sidewalks, and access to a nearby streetcar stop.

The first floor is dedicated to gourmet groceries, and the second to prepared foods and dining. The second-floor entry, facing the Seattle U campus and the Swedish Hospital complex, provides a direct connection to takeout food for students, medical visitors, and workers at both institutions.