Miller Hull

The elevated Overlook Walk straddles a nearly 100-vertical-foot gap over the new Alaskan Way roadway, bridging the 97-year-old Pike Place Market and the new 20-acre waterfront development below. The pedestrian connection offers panoramic views of downtown, Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier while creating an accessible route between the Market, the new Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion, and Elliott Bay. The project includes enclosed building spaces for waterfront operations management, cultural and educational events, and vendors.

While Miller Hull’s new MarketFront project expanded the historic Pike Place Market—including a mixed-use development with low-income housing, retail areas, and public plaza space—the Overlook Walk now extends and integrates this iconic destination into the larger transformation of Seattle’s waterfront.

A distinctive element of Overlook Walk is its food and beverage concessionaire space topped with a covered canopy. Through collaboration with Magnusson Klemencic Associates, the design team developed a structural solution in which the roof framing of the café serves as the shear diaphragm of the canopy, creating structural interdependence between the two elements. This integration achieved a lighter, more efficient framing design that gracefully frames views across the Overlook Walk while complementing the geometry of the landscape and urban design elements of the site. Additional features include a playground with climbing structures and a slide near the Pike Place MarketFront, enhancing the experience for visitors.

Project Team

Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP
General Contractor: Hoffman Construction
Owner: CH2MHill
Structural Engineer: Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Urban Design Lead: Field Operations