Photo Credit: Runberg Architecture Group

Batik Apartments

Seattle, Washington

 

 

Advancing Equitable, All-Electric Housing at Yesler Terrace

Batik Apartments is a seven-story mixed-use residential development located in Seattle’s historic Yesler Terrace neighborhood. As part of a larger 30-acre redevelopment effort led by the Seattle Housing Authority, Batik aims to create a more inclusive and vibrant community by blending affordable and market-rate housing with retail and public amenities. Completed in 2018, the project includes 195 apartments—39 designated as workforce housing—and 2,400 SF of retail space. Batik, along with its companion building Cypress, represents a critical step in the neighborhood’s transformation into a mixed-income, transit-connected urban district.

The building features high-efficiency HVAC systems including ductless mini-split heat pumps for zonal space conditioning and heat recovery ventilators to ensure healthy indoor air quality while minimizing energy use. Domestic hot water is delivered through a central CO₂-based heat pump water heating system, paired with low-flow plumbing fixtures to reduce load. The all-electric design avoids fossil fuels and supports long-term decarbonization while achieving significant operational energy savings. Batik serves as a case study for energy-efficient, electrified multifamily housing in dense urban settings, aligning with the City of Seattle’s climate goals and equity-focused housing priorities.

Learn more about the project here:

CLIENT: Runberg Architecture Group

SIZE: 226,256 SF (195 units)

COMPLETED: 2018

SERVICES: Mechanical-Plumbing design, Engineer of Record, LEED Energy Modeling, Commissioning

EUI: 23.3 kBtu/SF/yr (2023)

CERTIFICATIONS: LEED Homes Platinum, Salmon Safe

PHOTO CREDIT: Photos by Michael Walmsley and Christopher Servieres, courtesy of Runberg Architecture Group