Lincoln Square expansion marks milestone | Final beam placed on development

Construction crews placed the final steel beam onto the new Lincoln Square expansion Friday morning, marking a milestone in the construction of a multi-use facility that will double the square's imprint on Bellevue Way.

By Allison DeAngelis • March 11, 2016 3:14 pm
Photo courtesy of Red Fish Blue Fish Photography
Photo courtesy of Red Fish Blue Fish Photography

Construction crews placed the final steel beam onto the new Lincoln Square expansion Friday morning, marking a milestone in the construction of a multi-use facility that will double the square’s imprint on Bellevue Way.

Kemper Devleopment Company joined GLy Construction and crews from Ironworkers Local 86 at the “topping off” ceremony on March 11, during which the final wide-flange beam into place at the new office tower at Lincoln Square’s 1.5 million square foot expansion site.

“Kemper Freeman’s visionary focus with the expansion of Lincoln Square is transforming Bellevue’s downtown urban environment; it’s how innovative leaders build great cities,” says Jim Karambelas, GLY President + CEO.

When completed, the new tower will add 710,000 square feet of Class A office space to Bellevue’s downtown core and The Bellevue Collection. The 31-story office tower is part of the larger Lincoln Square Expansion project that includes a second tower to house 231 luxury apartment homes, a 245 guestroom W Hotel, and 180,000 square feet of additional retail, restaurants and entertainment space.

The South Tower, which will leased as office space, will be the largest office to be built on the Eastside, according to Kemper Development Company. The company expects employees will appreciate the opportunity to work in close proximity to restaurants, shopping and entertainment, Jennifer Leavitt, vice president of marketing for The Bellevue Collection, said in a statement.

Kemper Development Company also announced some of the new restaurants that will take up residence in the expansion. They include Henry’s Tavern, and American Bar and Grill that originated in the Blitz-Weinhard Brewery building in Portland, Ore.; Brazilan steakhouse Fogo de Chão; James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson’s restaurant in the upcoming W Bellevue; and an Eastside location of Japonessa, a sushi restaurant that started in Seattle and brings a Latin flair to Japanese sushi.

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has also leased the top floor of the office tower.

The expansion is expected to begin occupany later this year.