Built in 1923, the original Bressi Garage was one of the first parking garages to serve the City of Seattle. Tom’s Watch Bar is committed to embracing Seattle history and respecting the historical landmark of the original Bressi Garage. Generator Studio was selected as both the architect and interior designer of the heritage-inspired, sports-centric space.
Designed to accommodate automobiles, Bressi Garage was a single-story brick building with a square footprint of roughly 120’ x 120.’ Technically comprised of two buildings with a shared party wall, certain elements of the landmark building could not be touched including the exterior, the wooden trusses, and the Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT) roof. The newly built second-level enclosure rests above the original roof, constructed to reinforce any buckling of the existing historic wood trusses. A pre-existing hole in the roof was filled in with materials to match the NLT of the existing structure, authentic to the building’s original material.
As the only building on its block that reflects the historic, pre-World’s Fair Lower Queen Anne neighborhood character, Tom’s Watch Bar’s exterior incorporates both brick and metal panel for the exterior material palette to maintain existing charm. The addition integrates an open expansion, connecting the existing building with the second floor and an outdoor patio deck to create a harmonious flow between the two areas. Legacy trees on the north end of the building provide shade to the 3,500 SF outdoor patio with views of Climate Pledge Arena, the Space Needle, and Elliot Bay.
Inside Tom’s Watch Bar, a screen-forward layout prioritizing quick service is achieved through expansive bar space and a collection of televisions and projectors contributing to a 360° viewing experience and a “no bad seat at the bar” philosophy, synonymous with the Tom’s Watch Bar brand. Tom’s Watch Bar proudly employs 165 Seattleites that serves the community of Seattle. Both floors showcase a flexibility that invites groups of all sizes to come together to watch the game or visit before or after an event at Climate Pledge Arena.
The first floor maintains an industrial feel to pay homage to the building’s history. The 88-ft. bar is treated with a backlit metal screen detailing. Programmable LEDs allow the bar to take on the color of whatever Seattle team may be playing that day. Staircase access to the second floor is tucked behind the bar allowing complete separation and contributing to a more seamless event experience on two different floors.
The second floor of Tom’s Watch Bar features scaled-back finishes and a black ceiling, allowing the screens to become the main focus of the space. The patio’s operable 19 ft. window connects the outdoor seating counter back to the inside of the second floor.
In designing the structural support for the new construction, careful consideration was given to preserving the underground tunnel that runs beneath the building. Piers were drilled deep below the tunnel to prevent any weight from being transferred onto it, ensuring stable support for the second story while spanning the approximately 70-foot gap. The presence of the tunnel also inspired distinctive aesthetic features in the bar area, including C-shaped channels joined together as structural supports—showcasing a look authentic to the construction methods of the 1920s.