The Denny Substation features an unusual design that incorporates public spaces and community amenities into an otherwise utilitarian structure.
The 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m²) substation, designed by architectural firm NBBJ, is shaped in the form of an acute trapezoid, with its longest side facing Denny Way.
The structure slopes inward, allowing for sunlight to reach the open spaces surrounding the substation.
The outer walls use 35-foot-high (11 m) stainless steel panels (16 feet (4.9 m) above street level) with a ¹⁄₄-mile (0.40 km) elevated pedestrian ramp to provide views of the cityscape and the substation's interior.

In exchange for a street vacation that eliminated a block of Pontius Avenue, the Denny Substation project is required to include public benefits.
The substation has 44,000 sq ft (4,100 m²) of open space located on its western side, including an off-leash area for dogs and public art.
At the southeast corner of the facility is a community space with a gallery space, exhibit hall, a small theater, and an educational center known as the "Energy Inspiration Center".
A King County Metro bus stop on Denny Way will be integrated into the substation, with enhanced shelters and real-time arrival information.
A sound art installation was placed in a nearby alley, projecting the noise of rushing water in reference to the hydroelectric facilities located around the region.

The substation has two major pieces of public art, as part of the municipal percent for art program.
Transforest by Lead Pencil Studio is a 110-foot-tall (34 m) sculpture that combines the forms of an old-growth tree and a modern transmission tower.
On the exterior walls of the substation house Ned Khan's Switchwall, consisting of a strip of colored lights that change based on wind flows.

Earlier design concepts featured a more standard substation with 40-foot-high (12 m) walls, or incorporating the facility into the base of a high-rise building.
The chosen design was described as a "a celebration of the functionality" and called the "coolest electrical substation ever" by Slate.
Lead designer John Savo of NBBJ stated that they "[didn't] want it to be your grandfather's substation", desiring a facility that would "engage [with] the community, to make it an amenity and not a distraction".
The Denny Substation features an unusual design that incorporates public spaces and community amenities into an otherwise utilitarian structure. The 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m²) substation, designed by architectural firm NBBJ, is shaped in the form of an acute trapezoid, with its longest side facing Denny Way. The structure slopes inward, allowing for sunlight to reach the open spaces surrounding the substation. The outer walls use 35-foot-high (11 m) stainless steel panels (16 feet (4.9 m) above street level) with a ¹⁄₄-mile (0.40 km) elevated pedestrian ramp to provide views of the cityscape and the substation's interior.
In exchange for a street vacation that eliminated a block of Pontius Avenue, the Denny Substation project is required to include public benefits. The substation has 44,000 sq ft (4,100 m²) of open space located on its western side, including an off-leash area for dogs and public art. At the southeast corner of the facility is a community space with a gallery space, exhibit hall, a small theater, and an educational center known as the "Energy Inspiration Center". A King County Metro bus stop on Denny Way will be integrated into the substation, with enhanced shelters and real-time arrival information. A sound art installation was placed in a nearby alley, projecting the noise of rushing water in reference to the hydroelectric facilities located around the region.
The substation has two major pieces of public art, as part of the municipal percent for art program. Transforest by Lead Pencil Studio is a 110-foot-tall (34 m) sculpture that combines the forms of an old-growth tree and a modern transmission tower. On the exterior walls of the substation house Ned Khan's Switchwall, consisting of a strip of colored lights that change based on wind flows.
Earlier design concepts featured a more standard substation with 40-foot-high (12 m) walls, or incorporating the facility into the base of a high-rise building. The chosen design was described as a "a celebration of the functionality" and called the "coolest electrical substation ever" by Slate. Lead designer John Savo of NBBJ stated that they "[didn't] want it to be your grandfather's substation", desiring a facility that would "engage [with] the community, to make it an amenity and not a distraction".
Denny Substation