Marina Square
Best Mid-Rise Apartment Community (Six-Nine Stories)
Location: Bremerton, WA
Award Applicant: Sound West Group
Architect/Interior Designer: Encore Architects
Developer: Sound West Group
General Contractor: Compass General Construction
Photographer: LCP Media
Interior Merchandiser: Objekts
Marketing Firm/Web Designer: People People
PR/Advertising Firm: Sound West Group
Project Website: marinasquarebremerton.com
Project Statement
Marina Square was one of the first Qualified Opportunity Zone projects in the country. Built in front of the Bremerton Marina and boardwalk, the development features two residential towers with 270 units, 380 underground parking stalls and 12,991 square feet of retail, including a market and restaurant space. All are connected with a public plaza and direct access to the waterfront and ferry terminal.
Marina Square’s two towers are: Shearwater, comprising 125 market-rate apartments offering seaside serenity at water’s edge, and Fleethouse, comprising 145 efficiency studios and market-rate units with 50 furnished suites to offer a place to “tie your line” for a stay of 30 days or more. All homes have views, with the sawtooth design of the building to maximize light and waterfront vistas. Select units feature balconies and patio terraces.
Ferry Oriented Development (FOD) access to Seattle is available with a fast ferry to downtown Seattle in just 30 minutes. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS), the county’s largest employment base, is within walking distance.
The market studies indicate a current shortage of 500 rental units in the downtown core to serve the $4 billion economic machine of the five major local military bases in the area along with local renters. Originally a hotel was planned to provide housing for shipyard contract workers, the Kitsap Conference Center located next door to Marina Square and local tourism. There are only two downtown hotels, which currently are used for long-term stays, because of the lack of short-term, furnished rentals.
Green building techniques include solar panels, recycled landscaping, abundant drought-tolerant plants and trees to enhance living spaces, EV charging stations, LED lighting, high-efficiency fixtures and fittings, water-efficient appliances, thermally efficient building envelope, PSE-focused rebate programs, highly effective roof membrane, and access to open spaces.
