ECHO

PASSIVE HOUSE — GREEN BUILDING — MISSING MIDDLE Housing

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

ECHO is a design-certified Passive House, under construction in Seattle’s Lake Union neighborhood, slated for completion in the late summer of 2026.

This 10-unit SEDU (small efficiency dwelling unit) apartment building replaces a single-family structure in this residential urban village, adding important middle housing.

The design utilizes the stacked-flats concept, pushing the bounds of the single-family envelope while maintaining an urbanism-friendly street frontage. The two homes on the ground floor are both fully accessible. And, the top two units have high ceilings with lofted sleeping areas. Six flats have balconies.

The design uses additional insulation, reduced thermal breaks, including balconies that are pinned to the facade rather than cantilevered, and heat pumps and ERVs to maintain a constant flow of fresh air.

Green Design: ECHO is a Design Certified PHIUS (Passive House Institute US) Core 2021 project; specific elements include: thermal control, airtightness and moisture control, balanced ventilation, high-performance glazing; also pursuing 5-Star Built Green