Chambers Apartment
Bellevue, WA
Function: Residential
Total Floor Area: 185,149 sf (w/o parking)
Level: 7 + 3 under ground parking
Status: Ongoing
Situated in the heart of Bellevue’s rapidly evolving Bel-Red Subarea, The Chambers Apartment Community is an inviting mixed-use development that will bring over 200 new homes, a wide range of indoor and outdoor amenities, and nearly 3,000 square feet of street-level retail to this growing neighborhood. Located just east of the recently completed Vicino Apartments, the project helps establish the residential critical mass necessary to support a vibrant, family-friendly neighborhood in this new transit-oriented development (TOD) district.
MZA has been a key team stakeholder in making our Multifamily project in the Bel-Red area a success. They worked closely with our team to maximize unit efficiency, meet zoning requirements, and create a design solution that stands out in the market. MZA truly understands the balance between design, schedule, and economic goals of the project development . They have always been present to share and help in develop creative solutions that maybe other design firms are not as experienced to do. The additional effort the MZA team gave provided a substantial economic advantage to the project. Their responsiveness, goal driven approach, listening to the clients objectives, and deep understanding of the Bellevue zoning code has helped shape and form a very successful project.
-Glen Scheiber, Development Director
Design exploration process... |
At the heart of the community are a variety of family-oriented gathering spaces. A south-facing courtyard open to the sky offers generous sunlight throughout the day and serves as a flexible outdoor setting for community activities. A covered TV lounge and gaming area enable year-round outdoor use, while a landscaped dog walk provides pet-friendly amenities. At the roof level, an indoor/outdoor lounge offers sweeping southern views, including sightlines to Mt. Rainier on clear days.
A bold yet welcoming presence — strengthening Bel-Red’s transformation through vibrant residential life and activated streetscapes.
The project activates both 129th and 130th Avenues NE with a mix of residential and commercial uses. Along 130th, active ground-level retail and a prominent residential entry contribute to a welcoming streetscape and reinforce the growing commercial corridor along Northup Way. Along 129th, indoor residential amenity spaces create an active street edge and a strong synergy with the neighboring Vicino development.
Creating first impressions that last — layered public and private realms invite belonging, comfort, and daily life along Bellevue’s reimagined streets.
Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from Bel-Red’s past, present, and future—reflecting the area’s transition from an industrial center to a vibrant residential and mixed-use transit-oriented community. A material palette of warm greys and wood-toned siding is layered over blackened steel, cool grey panels, and a concrete base, creating a richly textured façade that speaks to the district’s evolving identity.
A dynamic corner presence anchors the building in the neighborhood, blending retail transparency, residential rhythms, and lush street trees to craft a human-scaled arrival.
