Getting Here:
Parking Options (map):
- The space in front of our building nearest the sidewalk (marked "Luminous Works")
- 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!
By Bus
Be aware many routes have changed or been eliminated on October 1, 2012
System Maps | Route Maps
The nearest stops are at 15th Ave NW and NW Market St (just around the corner from us).
From Downtown, catch the RapidRide Route D [schedule | map]
From the U-District & Montlake, take the 44 bus [schedule | map]
By Uber
Nicer than a cab and nearly the same price, we're rather charmed with the towncar service provided by Uber. One has to sign up, then we recommend getting the mobile app to summon the nearest car.
By Bicycle
You may wish to view this bicycling map of the approach to our building.
There are tricky spot in the area to note: the south end of the Ballard Bridge. Heck, it's a bridge with small sidewalks and no bicycling on the road surface. We're just a few blocks north of the Bridge. The Ballard Locks are a much more pleasant, if round-about approach:
From downtown, along the waterfront, and 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 85th St. (heading West)
- Continue driving west on 85th
- Turn left onto 15th Ave NW
- Go approx 1 mile then turn left onto NW 65th Street
- Take 1st right 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
- Turn left onto 15th Ave NW
- Go approx 1 mile then turn left onto NW 65th Street
- Take 1st right 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 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:
- Just past Stone Way, there's a slight right onto N Midvale Pl and a slight left merging onto N 46th St. Get in right lane.
- Continue on N 46th St., passing under Highway 99 (Aurora) underpass. Follow the arterial...
- N 46th merges into N Market St as it bends gently right, downhill, 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).
