Firm: Weaver Architects

Project Name: MKA

Project Statement: After an extensive search throughout the Seattle real estate market for a potential move, this client opted to stay put at Rainier Tower, their home for the past 30 years. The result was a temporary all staff relocation and a complete scrape of 32,000 square feet of commercial office space over two full floors - not to mention the purge of accumulated "stuff" that 30 years can produce.

Following the first visioning session with the client, the project goal was simple: “design a world class facility fit to usher in a new era.” Design moves were to be deliberate and purposeful, with two distinct criteria: (1) The space should cater to the daily needs of the invaluable professionals that occupy its footprint, and (2) The space is to be a timeless design statement appropriate to the vision, identity, and culture of its occupants. The resulting design solution is a progressive, dynamic, and easily navigable interior environment with a keen sense of purpose and place.

Upon exiting the elevator, employees and visitors alike are greeted with references to metal, wood, and concrete, all visual connections to the core materials inherent to this firm’s livelihood. Flanking the elevator lobby, occupants are immediately drawn to the grand Reception Hall and the exterior natural light and stunning views of the Seattle skyline, Elliott Bay, and the Olympic Mountains beyond. Here again references to metals, woods and concrete are highlighted, this time mixing in a dose of biophilic media, static 2d and 3d illuminated branding graphics as well as an impressive multi panel electronic display, streaming dynamic project images and informative time lapse digital content.

Throughout the two contiguous floors, the space was designed to support all modes of work. Open office pods are situated on the North and South quadrants of ea. floor plate, where personal workspace is awarded with 180 degrees of unobstructed natural light and stunning exterior views. Internal pedestrian “boulevards” lined with a variety of shared amenity options serve to connect the two halves of the floor plate physically as well as visually, while also encouraging team “collisions” and person interactions. A host of reservable, acoustically controlled and technology enabled rooms provide ample options and opportunities to support a wide variety of dedicated meeting types and sizes. For less formal gatherings, semi- enclosed nooks are provided for impromptu standups, quick huddle sessions or lounge-style get togethers. Sprinkled amongst the meeting spaces, one can find a beverage refreshment center, bottle fill stations, or quickly duck into any number of heads down focus rooms offered up for those needing to step away for a quick call or quiet moment. Rounding out the space are a couple of client specific requests of the design team. The first is the design of a large configurable CEU training room with a robust A/V system to support multi-configurable layouts, presentation formats and room functions. The other is a dedicated technology room to support a burgeoning and forward thinking VR technology need. The overall space is highly efficient with flexibility in mind. The standard planned density ratio of 145sf : 1 person is the baseline, with a back-pocket opportunity to easily reconfigure the plan to achieve a density of 125sf :1 if conditions and needs warrant increased density.

Prioritizing the needs, health and wellness of all employees was paramount. In the open office spaces, forced circulation to the exterior perimeter encourages occupants on the move to take advantage of the exterior territorial views while maintaining equitable access to the infiltration of natural light for all. Core restroom facilities were renovated and re-imagined with user experience in mind. Individual full height privacy stalls were incorporated into the redesign as well as the addition of four (4) gender neutral accessible standalone restrooms to the project. All restrooms were upgraded to provide secure access to ensure employee safety. Finish treatments and enhanced lighting within the restroom continue the design theme pulled from the general project finish palette by incorporating subtle steel details set in wood wall treatments. With user experience in mind, the restroom portal pre-entry surround incorporates an inset drink niche and laptop/binder cubbies for occupants to utilize while using the facilities.

The culminating design feature in the project is the central kitchen, open dining area and adjacent snack and beverage bar. Situated at the top of the internal communicating stair from reception below, the unobstructed Western sound views are the best in the city and have been reserved for firm-wide use to encourage staff and guests alike to congregate, re-energize and refresh. The open ceilings create a lofty feel and highlight the building’s structural system while also serving as a backdrop to the engaging light installation floating within its volume. This space serves not only as the town square for a multitude of uses and extracurricular activities, but its adjacency to the reception area and communicating stair was a purposeful extension of the reception / entry experience and an opportunity to further highlight the identity and culture of the firm.



Jarrod Arbini
Architect / Designer
Christopher Mosier
Architect / Designer
Jeanette Webster
Lead Interior Designer
Rosa Sanchez
Architect Intern
Paul Grundhoffer
Project Architect
Taylor Martin
Interior Design

General Contractor | Sellen | | 

Construction Management | Recon Mngmt LLC | Billy Sanchez | 

Lighting Designer | Dark Light | Jill Cody | 

Furniture | Porter | Lizzy Klusmeyer, Becca Norris, Mathew Marshall, Mia Miggin, Annie Durfee | 

Audio Visual | VECA | | 

Graphic Design | MKA | Kristine Svehla-Brown | 

Low Voltage | Veca | | 

Electrical | Sequoyah Electric | | 

HVAC | Hermanson | | 

Signage / Graphics | Sign Associates, Inc. | Rod Heyes |