The grand celebration for the opening of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s new $500 million headquarters was a rare moment not just for Queen Anne, but for all of Seattle.
Rarely have so many of the region’s power elite gathered in one place. Surrounded by business leaders, dignitaries, lawmakers, flashing cameras and movers and shakers of all stripes, Bill Gates held court on one side of the room. Nearby, another crowd surrounded Melinda Gates as she discussed the new facility.
However, how the foundation and the campus will impact the longterm economic future of the Queen Anne area remains to be seen.
Bill Gates seemed a little distracted as he shook hands with well-wishers from across the globe. He looked around at the building and peaked at the view from the window that opened onto an expansive courtyard and garden that are at the heart of the massive 12-acre campus, located at 500 Fifth Avenue N. It was almost as if he hadn’t really seen the project before.
Perhaps he hadn’t. During his short remarks, Gates gave the credit for the campus to Melinda, saying he really hadn’t had much to do with the building…well, except in one aspect. He and Melinda spent $350 million of their own money to build the high-tech campus that will bring together the organization’s estimated 900 employees formerly scattered around the Seattle area in five different buildings. Now, they will have one location to hold meetings, work, collaborate and connect.
He joked about having to, perhaps reluctantly, “ok” a few changes to the plans that apparently increased the cost. But Bill said he was excited to see the project completed and knew that is father, Bill Gates, Sr., was looking forward to working at the facility every day.
In her remarks, Melinda Gates said that the foundation looked at many sites, but chose this former parking lot across the street from the Seattle Center because it so a part of the “heart and fabric of the city.”
After more comments and congratulations and another song from the Total Experience Gospel Choir, the crowd toured the campus. What they found was a state-of-the-art facility of two buildings and a large public parking garage. A third building will be built in the northeast corner of the site in the near future. The two six-story buildings include 900,000 square feet of space. Various structures, including the parking garage, boasted green roofs that are designed to absorb 90 percent of the water that falls on them.
The unique open “U” shaped buildings are meant to convey a sense of arms reaching out to the world, according to a spokesperson for architect NBBJ.
The courtyard area consists of a large patio with pools on two sides. The courtyard also offers various native plantings that are non-invasive and drought-resistant. Along Fifth Avenue is a wide sidewalk and large wooden benches that invite those walking by to sit and rest. A large digital screen shows short films by international artists to those passing by and inspirational poetry from around the world is placed on a bench-high wall that runs along the sidewalk. At the end of this year, the foundation will complete a visitor’s center on the western side of the campus along Fifth Avenue North that will discuss the work of the foundation and its grantees.
While beautiful, the campus itself may be of secondary importance to many Queen Anne merchants who are hoping that the introduction of so many new workers to the neighborhoods will lift the area’s economy.
But exactly how to estimate that impact can be tricky. There is no doubt that the construction of the building was an economic help. According to an economic impact study written by Dr. Paul Sommers, an economics professor at Seattle University, construction-related jobs peaked at 1,350 in 2010 and fell to about 400 this year. Sommers writes that total indirect job creation in Washington state due to campus construction rose from 2,093 in 2009 to 3,500 in 2010. This year, it fell to 1,156. Of course such estimates a known for being inaccurate. Also, such job increases refer to every possible industry touched by the workers and the construction companies. Only a small fraction of that number would relate to the Queen Anne area.
Certainly so many new employees should mean an increase in business for local restaurants and retail stores. There is an on-site cafeteria and coffee shop. But that still leaves plenty of business for nearby eateries. One area business is will positioned for the foundation opening is the QFC grocery store directly across the street from the campus.
The campus’ location should also be a boon for nearby hotels and motels.
And then there is housing. Because the Gates Foundation isn’t planning to hire more employees, it isn’t clear how many current employees would move to the area. But anecdotally, it appears that some Gates workers are moving into the area.
Wendy Walker, a communications assistant for the Gates Foundation, said she knew that some employees are now renting apartments in the Queen Anne area and at least one person she knows has bought a house on Magnolia, in order to be close to work.
At least so far, there is little sign that the foundation will create more congestion on the roadways. The foundation employees are intent on creating the smallest carbon footprint possible. Walker said, like many employees, she rides her bike or takes the bus to work.
“In fact, I haven’t driven a car to work yet,” Walker said.
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