Skanska, a leading global development and construction firm, today announced the first retail lease at 2+U’s Urban Village, the 24,000 square feet of covered, open and outdoor space under the development’s lifted office tower. The developer has signed a 2,200 square-foot lease with Seattle-based restaurateur Ethan Stowell to bring Tavolàta, one of his original and most critically acclaimed restaurant concepts, to the heart of downtown Seattle in late 2019.
Centrally located in the 2+U Urban Village, Tavolàta will span 2,232 square feet within, and will include a full bar concept and dining for private parties. The restaurant will also feature indoor and outdoor seating, allowing patrons to enjoy the arts, cultural and other planned activations within the Urban Village while they dine.
“Ethan Stowell’s creative mindset and passion for bringing communities together makes Tavolàta a perfect fit for the Urban Village at 2+U,” said Skanska Executive Vice President Murphy McCullough. “Tavolàta’s vision for locating at 2+U, aligns with our goal of creating an urban environment where both office tenants and the community can experience exceptional northwest food and beverage offerings.”
Combining elements of its sister sites in Belltown and Capitol Hill, Tavolàta’s 2+U location will feature its signature pastas as well as pizza. The menu will focus on the elegantly simple Italian fare that Tavolàta is known for supported by a curated wine list of Northwest and Italian wines and a seasonal cocktail program focusing on classic recipes and local ingredients.
“Tavolàta at its heart has always been a restaurant based on the idea of gathering around the table to enjoy great food and company. This is an exciting opportunity to bring that everyday charm to the downtown audience whether they be on a lunch break from their office or visiting Seattle for the first time.”
With five access points, including the refurbished alley off University Street and two welcoming access points from First and Second Avenues, the Urban Village includes 16,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, as well as approximately 1,100 square feet of arts and cultural space named The Studio. This unique open, outdoor space will feature local art installations and event programming in The Square, and will connect visitors with nature through its more than 220-foot long structural GeoWall made from local soils and The Lookout, where office tenants, shoppers and visitors can take in sweeping views of the Puget Sound. With construction nearly complete at 2+U, Skanska plans to open the Urban Village to the public in late August.
2+U is a 686,000 square-foot office tower in the heart of downtown Seattle. Skanska engaged community stakeholders in the planning stages of the project to create a building that adds immediate value to the tenants and the surrounding community. Located at the corner of Second Avenue and University Street, the building is adjacent to Seattle Art Museum and Benaroya Hall, and just steps from the new waterfront. Through its thoughtful design, 2+U becomes a connection linking the new waterfront, Pioneer Square and surrounding downtown neighborhoods. 2+U is now 60% leased.
Current tenants include:
- Leading online employment search company Indeed.com (200,000 square feet)
- Global collaboration platform firm Dropbox, Inc. (121,000 square feet)
- Flexible workspace innovator Spaces (91,000 square feet)
Other Skanska developments in the Seattle area include Stone34, the global headquarters for Brooks Sports, which was the first project to meet the City of Seattle’s requirements for the city’s Deep Green Pilot Program, making it one of the greenest buildings in the region. At 400 Fairview, Skanska delivered headquarters offices for Tommy Bahama, Impinj and Car Toy’s/Wireless Advocates, and assembled a Market Hall with mix of local retailers, as well as a rooftop restaurant with unparalleled views. Skanska also developed Alley 111, a 260-unit multi-family project with 6,000 square feet of retail in the community of Bellevue.
In July 2018, Skanska purchased a land parcel located at NE 8th and 108th in the Bellevue’s downtown core, ideally located near major Bellevue employers, including Microsoft’s Bellevue Campus, Amazon, Salesforce, Paccar, Symetra, Expedia and Concur. In October 2017, Skanska also purchased the 2200 Block, a 19,440 square-foot parcel comprised of three properties on 4th Avenue in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, which is currently being designed and entitled for a 300-unit multifamily tower.
With more than 70 years of history in the Puget Sound region, Skanska combines generations of local knowledge with the vast tools of a global development and construction firm to build what matters for local communities. Skanska’s portfolio ranges from investing its own capitol and developing award-winning sustainable real estate, like Brooks Sports’ headquarters at Stone34, to building local landmarks, such as Benaroya Hall and the Museum of Glass, major infrastructure projects like the replacement of the southern mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and small tenant improvements. Recognized as one of the region’s top corporate philanthropists, Skanska is also committed to creating new opportunities for local small, traditionally disadvantaged businesses.