Getting Here:
Parking Options (map):
- Two spaces in front of our building (marked "Luminous Works" and "Customer Only")
- The Safeway parking garage (1 block north of us at 14th Ave and 54th St)
- Free street parking along 14th Ave, 53rd or 54th streets
Parking Map: You'll get a larger version of this to print when you sign up. close X
Choose Your Directions:
Just below, we have directions by bike, bus, car, ferry and even private boat. Note that although we're giving directions to the classroom, many students go directly to the Safeway parking garage one short block north (on 54th) for ease of parking.
Mapquest will almost certainly get you lost!
WARNING: The Ballard Bridge is being painted between November 2011 and April 2012. One lane, and a sidewalk, will be closed during this time. Click here for more information
By Bicycle
You may wish to download and view this PDF file of the Seattle North Side Bicycle Guide Map. It's nice with its elevation shading. We're located in the grid area 5-D (near the west edge of that area)
There are tricky spots in the area to note:
the Ballard Bridge [ PDF Map | JPEG Map ], because, heck, it's a bridge with small sidewalks and no bicycling on the road surface. We're just a few blocks north of this map's area.
You may find other maps at Seattle DOT's Bike Program page.
a pleasant alternate route from downtown, along the waterfront, is through the Ballard Locks.
Driving from Downtown Seattle
Google map and step-by-step directions
- Head north-ish on 1st, 4th, or 6th Ave
- Turn left at Denny Way
- Denny merges onto Western Ave W as it bends right (north)
- Continue as Western merges into Elliott Ave W
- Continue as Elliot merges into 15th Ave W
- Cross Ballard Bridge and get into right lane
- Turn right at NW 53rd St to go directly to Luminous Works (limited parking) or turn right onto 54th to the Safeway garage at the end of the block on the left (lots of parking)
- Leave the Safeway garage on foot exiting at 14th Ave NW (McDonald's is across the street); turn to the right and walk south 1.5 blocks to 53rd Street; turn right on 53rd and look for our sign board on your immediate right at 1406.
Driving from the North on I5
View Google map and step-by-step directions
- Head south on I-5 S
- Take exit 172 and merge right onto N 80th St. (heading West)
- Continue driving west on 80th for approx. 1.5 mi.
- Turn left onto 8th Ave NW
- Go approx 1 mile then turn right onto NW 65th Street
- Take 3rd left onto 14th Ave NW
- Proceed straight for about 1/2 mile and cross NW Market St (McDonalds is to your left, and Safeway to your right)
- Immediately turn right into Safeway garage (lots of parking) or continue 2 blocks and turn right onto NW 53rd St to go directly to Luminous Works (limited parking)
- Leave the Safeway garage on foot exiting at 14th Ave NW (McDonald's is across the street); turn to the right and walk south 1.5 blocks to 53rd Street; turn right on 53rd and look for our sign board on your immediate right at 1406.
Driving from the North on Hwy 99 (Aurora)
View Google map and step-by-step directions
- Head south on Aurora Ave N
- Turn right at N 80th St
- Continue driving west on 80th for approx. 1.5 mi.
- Turn left onto 8th Ave NW
- Go approx 1 mile then turn right onto NW 65th Street
- Take 3rd left onto 14th Ave NW
- Proceed straight for about 1/2 mile and cross NW Market St (McDonalds is to your left, and Safeway to your right)
- Immediately turn right into Safeway garage (lots of parking) or continue 2 blocks and turn right onto NW 53rd St directly to go directly to Luminous Works (limited parking)
- Leave the Safeway garage on foot exiting at 14th Ave NW (McDonald's is across the street); turn to the right and walk south 1.5 blocks to 53rd Street; turn right on 53rd and look for our sign board on your immediate right at 1406.
Driving from the South or Eastside
directions from I-90 or SR 520 to I-5:
- First, check the traffic reports and perhaps predicted travel times
- Pick the better bridge, enjoy the wind over the lake, the light on the water, the driving habits of distracted motorists....
- Take I-5 Northbound...
View Google map and step-by-step directions
- Take exit 169 for NE 45th St. Get in left lane as you merge briefly onto 7th Ave NE
- Take the 1st left onto NE 45th St., heading west
- Follow the arterial as it bends and twists on its way to Ballard:
- Not far past Stone Way, route bends slightly right onto N Midvale Pl and almost immediately bends slightly left onto N 46th St. Get in right lane.
- Continue onto N 46th St., passing under Highway 99 (Aurora) underpass
- N 46th blends into N Market St as it bends gently right and down, then left, into Ballard
- Turn left at 14th Ave NW (McDonalds on your left)
- Immediately turn right into Safeway garage (lots of parking) or continue 2 blocks and turn right onto NW 53rd St directly to Luminous Works (limited parking)
- Leave the Safeway garage on foot exiting at 14th Ave NW (McDonald's is across the street); turn to the right and walk south 1.5 blocks to 53rd Street; turn right on 53rd and look for our sign board on your immediate right at 1406.
from Seattle Ferry Terminal at Pier 52
View Google map and step-by-step directions
- Turn left as you leave the ferry terminal and head northwest on Alaskan Way
- Alaskan Way turns right and becomes Broad St
- Turn left at Western Ave
- Continue as Western merges into Elliott Ave W
- Continue as Elliot merges into 15th Ave W
- Cross Ballard Bridge and get into right lane
- Turn right at NW 53rd St directly to Luminous Works (limited parking) or turn right onto 54th to the Safeway garage at the end of the block on the left (lots of parking)
- Leave the Safeway garage on foot exiting at 14th Ave NW (McDonald's is across the street); turn to the right and walk south 1.5 blocks to 53rd Street; turn right on 53rd and look for our sign board on your immediate right at 1406.
From the Sea
directions from Puget Sound:
- You'll have to pass through the Hiram M. Chittenden (aka "Ballard") Locks.
- To Starboard (South), you'll see Fishermen's Terminal as you enter Salmon Bay and the Ballard Bridge looms before you.
- For moorage information contact the Port of Seattle/Fishermen's Terminal
- Walk towards the Ballard Bridge. Use the pedestrian underpass to get to the walkway along its east side
- Cross the Ballard Bridge northbound.
- A few blocks North, turn Right onto NW 53rd St.
We are at 1406 NW 53rd (toward the end of the block on the left).
Accommodations:
We are pleased to announce a partnership with the Pan Pacific Hotel! Students who call the hotel reservations department and ask for the "Luminous Works Rate" get a special deal (as a backup, one can ask for the Rainier Rate). Rates do not include applicable taxes. The four-star Pan Pacific is one of the most highly rated hotels in Seattle! See tripadvisor.com
Contact us (email link at top of page) for our growing list of other hotels and B&Bs, most of which have been vetted by other students.
Driving directions from the Pan Pacific to Luminous Works
Bus directions from the Pan Pacific to Luminous Works
Our Neighborhood:
Nearby are both high-end and laid-back restaurants, vibrant pubs and taverns, all mixed in with the historic area's vital light manufacturing and fishing industries. Oh yes, and the growing list of galleries means there's always art nearby to inspire. So if the traffic that awaits is not appealing, why not stay in the neighborhood and relax for a while?
For more info on our neighborhood: inballard.com. (or Wikipedia's entry on Ballard).
