Helix Bridge

Amgen, a leading human therapeutics company in the biotechnology industry, chose to connect their Seattle headquarters with a new signature pedestrian bridge spanning 400 feet. The large curved pipes are designed to represent the double helix of DNA — a fitting architectural statement for one of the world's foremost biotech campuses.

Tight erection tolerances, irregularly weighted components, and an active train corridor running beneath the structure all added to the complexity of the steel erection. KWH developed and executed an erection scheme using falsework and temporary stays to overcome these challenges while allowing unimpeded train passage under the bridge throughout the construction period.