Four Story Mixed Use Building - Bellingham, WA

Broadway station -Crafting the Future of Bellingham's Fountain District

Architect: Grindstad & Wagner

Builder: Exxel Pacific

This mid-scale mixed-use development transforms a key site on Meridian Street—Bellingham's bustling corridor—into a modern blend of ground-level commercial/retail and upper-level apartments. Designed to enhance walkability, support local businesses, and add much-needed housing, the project exemplifies smart urban infill in the Fountain District.

Structural Highlights & Engineering Solutions - Our team provided comprehensive structural engineering, tackling site-specific challenges with practical, code-compliant designs:

  • Pile-Supported Foundation — Engineered deep foundation system using driven or drilled piles to transfer loads through variable or low-bearing soils common in Bellingham's urban zones. This ensures long-term stability, minimizes settlement risks, and supports the building's multi-story loads without excessive excavation or ground improvement.

  • Understory Parking — Structured parking garage integrated beneath the main building levels (podium-style), providing secure, dedicated stalls for residents while keeping parking concealed from Meridian Street views. This maximizes street-level activation for commercial use, improves pedestrian experience, and complies with City of Bellingham urban village guidelines for hidden vehicle access.

  • Additional key features: Optimized framing for open commercial spans, robust seismic lateral systems (shear walls/braced frames) to meet Washington's high seismic demands, careful load transfers between parking/residential occupancies, fire separations, and diaphragm continuity for overall resilience.

From early feasibility and onsite assessments through stamped calculations, sealed plans, and construction support, we collaborated closely with the architect, builder, geotechnical consultant, and city reviewers to deliver a buildable, cost-effective structure that fits seamlessly into the neighborhood.

Our Commitment to This Project - At Alpine Engineering, we're fully committed to every job—especially those shaping Bellingham's future. This Meridian Street project reflects our dedication: hands-on problem-solving for complex foundations and parking integrations, early issue identification to protect budgets and timelines, and true partnership with your team. Building on successes like Broadway Station nearby, we engineer structures that stand strong while supporting the community's growth and vibrancy.