Roof Hatches Integral to Seattle Hotel Design

The Hyatt Regency Seattle soars more than 500 ft. and is the largest in the Pacific Northwest. One key component in the construction process—often overlooked in luxury hotels—was in the installation of roof hatches to provide rooftop access to mechanical equipment.

Four roof hatches manufactured by bilco provided an important component in the construction of the hotel. lmn Architects included two hatches that are 3-ft., 2-in. × 12 ft. and two more that are 3-ft., 2-in. × 14 ft. They provide rooftop access to mechanical equipment. “BILCO’s reputation as an industry leader and company’s ability to accommodate the sizes needed in a timely matter were almost assuredly important factors for LMN,” said Lisa Stevens of GVA Northwest, which procured the hatches for RC Building Specialties. The roof hatches are equipped with snow sensors and motorized operation. They also include safety railing systems.

The hatches were also equipped with motorized operation to facilitate opening and closing. They included modified curb liners and heating cables with snow sensors, which keep snow from accumulating on top of the hatch and automatically stop when the storm passes. The curb features the Bil-Clip flashing system, an innovative method to quickly and easily secure single-ply roofing to the hatch. The hatches include compression spring operators for lift assistance and an automatic hold-open arm with grip handle release and are manufactured with corrosion-resistant materials.

BILCO custom-built hatches include compression spring operators for lift assistance and an automatic hold-open arm with a grip handle release. They are also manufactured with corrosion-resistant materials. The curb features the Bil-Clip flashing system, an innovative method to quickly and easily secure single-ply roofing to the hatch.

The roof hatches were integral to the design of the hotel by the architectural team. “That’s what they specified, and we were able to install them without any difficulty,’’ said Chris Chesire, managing partner for RC Building Specialties, who worked on the project as a subcontractor for Sellen Construction.

The hatches required customization to be used on the roof of the hotel, which sits on an unusually shaped, narrow parcel in Seattle. The units were equipped with motorized operation to facilitate opening and closing in the city’s damp climate.