Sneak Peek: Luma, Sales Center of the Future

Photo credit: Weber Thompson

Checking out the sales center for Luma, Seattle’s next big condo, at 8 am seemed like a good idea last week but I think both parties found 8 am on a Monday to be just a tad bit early today.

First quick refresher on Luma: 24-story condo in First Hill. 168 units from 600 square feet to 1,700 square feet. Developed by Lowe Enterprises, designed by Weber Thompson and built by Lease Crutcher Lewis, marketed by Red Propeller, co-listed with Julie McAvoy. Occupancy early summer 2016.

The highlight of the Luma sales center is their innovative use of an Oculus virtual reality headset enabling buyers to walk through selected units and amenities.

I hadn’t worn a virtual reality headset since the mid-1990’s at a computer expo so perhaps I’m easily impressed – it was pretty cool! Studio216 and DEI Creative have done a nice job re-creating Luma in a virtual world. Even going so far as to fly up drones to take aerial photography so you can see what the view is like from three different floors. Apparently only took them a few months to pull it together.

Here’s me nerding out:

It’ll be very interesting to see how buyers receive the Oculus and how the sales team will be able to manage a busy sales center and virtual reality walk throughs at the same time. But nice to see a sales team take a chance on something new.

The other innovative thing they’ve done is create an iPad (available now) and iPhone app (coming soon) that enables you to walk through the same virtual reality re-creation of Luma but without the Oculus. Warning: it is a massive download!

When word first got out about Luma I was skeptical of the First Hill location. But since then I’ve become more appreciative of places very close to the craziness of Capitol Hill but not in the thick of it. Plus First Hill is getting a shot in the arm with Whole Foods coming in 2018. So I think First Hill will be a great location for those looking to own, rather than rent, and to live on the fringe of Capitol Hill without having to deal with the drunken insanity that Friday and Saturday evenings have become.

The building, designed by local firm Weber Thompson, seems nice (at least online). The rooftop amenity will be killer because of its views. Plus there’s an outdoor hot tub. Nice touch: the grill’s are spaced out so you don’t have two parties in the same space. As for the interiors, the kitchen example in the sales center makes the kitchen in both condos I bought in 2007 look like I bought them ages ago. And it may sound silly but I really like the flooring they picked. Even though it is engineered hardwood it seems more reclaimed than engineered.

What else? They’re commission black and white photography for every floor to tie into the theme behind their name. There is a gym. And for live/work fans, they’re selling one ground floor live/work unit. The sales center opens this Saturday at 907 E Pike St. Actually sales will start a month from now. My only suggestion would be to keep the sales center open until 8 or 9pm instead of 6pm.

If you’re thinking of buying and need an agent to help you navigate the process, drop me a line, [email protected]. Happy to help you.

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