The Seattle WREC focuses on the interactions between Research and Education, Water and City and the urban space generated by these relationships. The massing is divided into two bars, the east-west bar houses the laboratories for water testing, the north-south bar provides space for exhibits and presentations. The two are bridged by a communal space that connects the two programs and allows for building systems and circulation. The ground floors of both programs are open to a stepped amphitheater leading into the Puget Sound. Water is collected from the surrounding site is guided through an exposed channel that leads to the water. Water from the roof enters this channel after traveling down a cable system which slows and make the water flow visible. The steps act as a filtration system emphasizing the importance of water conservation and sustainable water practices on a city wide scale.
