From Viaduct to Vibrancy: Seattle’s Waterfront Reimagined

Delivering complexity with confidence

Jacobs’ role on the waterfront spanned the full lifecycle of design and construction management — overseeing 14 contracts, stakeholder coordination and quality assurance. The team delivered:

• More than 55,000 square yards of new and restored pavement
• Multimodal transportation facilities including dedicated bike and bus lanes, and countless pedestrian walkways
• More than 16,000 linear feet of dry and wet underground utilities
• Over 12 acres of new landscape and over 100,000 plants and trees
• Two new public parks on new piers and new habitat enhancements within the tidal areas
• Features such as playgrounds, swings, benches and art installations

Overlook Walk: A landmark connection

One of the program’s signature achievements is the Overlook Walk, a new elevated park officially opened in October 2024 that reconnects downtown Seattle to its waterfront. Spanning a four-lane roadway and bridging nearly 100 feet of elevation between Pike Place Market and the Seattle Aquarium, Overlook Walk includes two integrated concrete structures (precast and cast-in-place) with accessible ramps, stairs, elevators and a glass-canopied café. The design incorporates landscaped planters, seating areas, a kids play zone and panoramic views of Elliott Bay — creating a welcoming, inclusive space for residents and visitors.

The project was named one of the New York Times’ “Four Must-See Parks” and received the American Council of Engineering Companies’ National Gold Award in the Transportation category, among other honors.

A new icon rises at Pier 58

The opening of the new Pier 58 in July 2025 marked another major milestone. The new pier features a marine-themed playground anchored by a 25-foot jellyfish-inspired climbing tower, 18-foot slide and crab wobble boards — all designed with community input and accessibility in mind. The restored Waterfront Fountain and light-permeable decking support both public enjoyment and marine habitat restoration.

Driving innovation and value

On the Overlook Walk project, Jacobs and City of Seattle leadership worked with the city’s General Contractor/Construction Manager (GC/CM) contractor to develop a flexible cost tool that enabled real-time value engineering. More than 22 workshops used a decision-tracking matrix to evaluate cost components dynamically, accelerating design decisions and avoiding delays tied to traditional milestone estimating.

Other innovations across the Seattle Waterfront Program included:

• 4D BIM modeling to validate construction sequencing and optimize scheduling
• Just-in-time delivery and off-site fabrication to reduce site congestion
• Agile formwork strategies to maintain momentum amid shifting adjacent project schedules
• Working without interruption through a global pandemic; altering construction management practices while maintaining consistent quality and documentation to meet the client’s needs
• Strategically working through a regional concrete strike 

Award-winning impact

Projects across Seattle’s waterfront have earned impressive acclaim — from dozens of awards for the Elliott Bay Seawall to multiple honors for the Habitat Beach. The Union Street and Marion Street pedestrian bridges, along with the Overlook Walk, have each received both local and national recognition, underscoring the Waterfront Program’s excellence in design, delivery and community impact.

These accolades reflect not only the strength of the program, but Jacobs’ ongoing commitment to helping cities thrive — through resilient infrastructure, thoughtful collaboration and spaces that connect people to place.

A new way to experience Seattle

Opened in September 2025, the revitalized waterfront now offers a seamless pedestrian experience from Pike Place Market to the Aquarium and beyond, with public art, native landscaping and improved east-west connections into downtown. Visitors can explore the Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion, ride the Great Wheel or enjoy concerts or fishing at Pier 62. The corridor is alive with activity — including Zumba classes, food trucks and whale-watching tours.

From the jellyfish climbing tower at Pire 58 to the Overlook Walk, Jacobs helped the City of Seattle shape a waterfront where the city meets the Sound — and where people rediscover both. What was once a barrier of concrete and viaducts is now a vibrant, accessible and resilient public realm. It’s a place where children climb, salmon swim and communities gather. Through bold design, technical excellence and deep collaboration, Jacobs helped Seattle not only reclaim its shoreline, but reimagine what it means to belong to it.