Located in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, 2201 Westlake Lobby serves as the first impression for a high rise multi tenant office building and an inviting way station for busy professionals. Our team transformed what was once a featureless entryway into a meeting place enveloped in beauty, turning a pass through lobby into a touch down space that feels like shelter from a storm. Designed to elevate what is typically a liminal space, the lobby pays homage to the Pacific Northwest through biophilia, light, and a strong connection to the surrounding neighborhood. A glass facade pulls daylight deep into the interior, while warm nested lighting evokes the natural diffusion of sunlight. Above the elevators, a light up indicator panel suggests the brightness of an open window, and understated champagne brass chandeliers complement the natural light filling the room. Upon entry, a massive living wall rises fifteen feet high and spans the length of the lobby, curving around corners to hint at hidden spaces beyond. Native Pacific Northwest ferns form a vertical garden designed in the shape of the Puget Sound, a subtle gesture that rewards a slower look. Glimpses of greenery from the garage elevators and around corners encourage continuous discovery as the space is traversed. Material choices reinforce warmth and grounding. Durable end grain wood sourced from Oregon delineates seating areas and echoes the tones of overhead beams, guiding the eye down to a fifteen by eighteen foot hand woven rug from Pakistan whose vivid blues evoke the impression of water. Following the interior canyon of the living wall, staff can slip into a secluded room tucked behind the lobby, an oasis reserved just for them. Here, employees and visitors arrive, take a deep breath, pause, and continue their day. Or they notice a hidden detail, feel the tranquility of nature around them, and stay in this urban sanctuary a little longer.