At the heart of Little Saigon, a celebration of Vietnamese culture, local entrepreneurs, and generations of community.

Side x Side is working with Friends of Little Sài Gòn (FLS) on the design of their new Vietnamese Cultural and Economic Center in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood. Located at the heart of a mixed-use affordable housing development operated with SCIDpda, the center is envisioned as a vibrant, multi-generational hub for cultural celebration, economic opportunity, and community support.

The street level, 10,000-square-foot space will feature two anchor food establishments led by local Vietnamese American restaurateurs, along with an incubator kitchen to support culinary entrepreneurs and host cooking classes. A large, flexible community hall will accommodate cultural events, vendor pop-ups, and dining for the adjacent restaurants.

A prominent seating stair, designed for casual gathering, performances, and film nights, connects to the upper level, where a small art gallery, FLS offices, and additional meeting spaces are located.

The design is deeply informed by the vision and values of Friends of Little Sài Gòn, an engaged and expressive advisory committee, as well as input from ongoing community meetings. The project aims to be a distinctly Vietnamese American space that honors the community it serves.

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