When most people think of an electrical substation, they might imagine an ugly thicket of metal bars and wires, tucked in an out-of-the-way part of the city behind a chain-link fence. The new Denny Substation in Seattle, the city’s first new substation in more than 30 years, is meant to subvert these expectations.
Located between the Amazon-dominated South Lake Union neighborhood and Denny Triangle, the substation—which officially opened on July 20—will provide power to energy-hungry tech companies and local residents through a dedicated underground network. But it is also intended to serve as a community gathering spot. In addition to “stepping down” the high-voltage electricity coming from area power plants, the substation offers a walking path, a dog park, art installations, and indoor community rooms. Its designers hope that it will pave the way for a new generation of public-facing infrastructure.
