team
Our name, BuildingWork, reflects our straightforward approach to architecture and design: at a fundamental level we work on buildings – with attention to context, craft, and detail.
At the same time, BuildingWork is a verb. It signifies action, teamwork, and collaborative engagement in the processes of design, documentation, and construction.
At BuildingWork we actively support equity and inclusion in our studio, in our work, and in the communities we serve. Founding Partner Matt Aalfs is an enrolled tribal member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Matt honors his Native American heritage in his work through storytelling, sensitive use of materials and resources, and a careful regard for the health of cities, the environment, and culture. Matt has worked to support local organizations with leadership on equity and inclusion – serving as the Co-Chair of the AIA Seattle Diversity Roundtable (2010-2011), as the Co-Chair of the King County Library Foundation Board’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (2018-2022), and as a member of the ACT Theater Board of Directors Diversity Committee (2019-2021). In addition, our firm works strategically to advance women in leadership roles in our profession, led by Partner Kate Weiland and our team of outstanding Project Managers and Project Architects. We do this strategically through our processes for hiring, mentoring, and promotion. Our goals in these efforts are to create a strong team with a broad range of voices and perspectives, and to better reflect and serve our clients and the larger community in which we work.
Matt founded BuildingWork in 2016 to focus directly on work that supports the health of cities, the environment, and culture. With over twenty-five years of professional architecture experience, Matt specializes in the design of civic and community facilities, public libraries, creative workplaces, adaptive reuse projects, and historic preservation.
Matt leads the firm with a collaborative, thoughtful, and honest approach that consistently delivers exceptional architecture. BuildingWork’s projects reveal Matt’s commitment to designing innovative, well-detailed, and beautiful buildings that make significant contributions to the communities and clients they serve.
Matt received his Bachelor of Arts and a post-graduate certificate in Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz, studied architecture at California College of the Arts in San Francisco, and earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington. Matt has been a guest lecturer and design studio instructor at the University of Washington Department of Architecture in Seattle and in Rome, Italy. Matt is an alum of the Urban Land Institute Center for Leadership, has served on the AIA Seattle Board of Directors, the ACT Theater Board of Directors, the King County Library System Foundation Board, and has served on the Seattle Design Commission as Architect Commissioner.
Kate leads a wide range of project types at BuildingWork and oversees the firm’s quality control, production standards, and project management systems. Her active leadership shepherds our most complex projects through clear communication, organized execution, and a collaborative approach to design. She has a strong interest in exploring how a community adopts and adapts to its environment and is passionate about creating vibrant spaces for communities. Kate’s recent work includes the creation of libraries, the renovation of landmarked buildings, and adapting spaces to meet the changing needs of active community organizations.
A sought-after speaker in and around Seattle, Kate regularly shares her expertise on everything from library design to seismic retrofits and has served as guest critic at the University of Washington Department of Architecture since 2014. She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with a minor in Architecture History from Miami University. She studied the intersection of architecture and life in Rome, Italy, and Chandigarh, India, and is an alum of the Urban Land Institute Center for Leadership.
With more than two decades of professional architecture experience, RJ brings specific expertise in design for mixed-use projects, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and K-12 and higher education projects. RJ currently leads several significant projects at BuildingWork and is overseeing the construction of the Metropole Building – a complex community-oriented adaptive reuse project with a LEED Platinum design in Seattle’s Pioneer Square Historic District. A good listener and team player, RJ is adept at building consensus among stakeholders and brings a straightforward approach to solving technical, constructability, and design issues.
RJ earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While at the University of Illinois, RJ studied abroad at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture à Versailles.
Amelia is energized by the dynamic nature of historic renovation projects, which not only present unique code problems that require creative solutions, but also preserve the embodied energy of existing built environments. She strives to contribute to a body of work that intentionally and positively impacts the history of our community.
Amelia earned a Master of Architecture at University of Washington with a certificate in Historic Preservation. She received a BA from Occidental College in Film and Media Studies. A LEED Green Associate with many years of experience as a project manager on multi-family housing projects, she specializes in urban-infill and high-density development. With an extensive understanding of building and municipal zoning codes, she can confidently navigate the complex permitting process required in historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects. Coordinating with engineers and consultants through all phases of design, she enjoys collaborating with other disciplines to see a design fully realized.
Kami is passionate about projects that have a civic impact, that inspire fellow designers, and that preserve elements of the past. She has seven years of experience working for public clients and private developers throughout the northwest region. As a project architect, she is well-versed at coordinating teams through all design and construction phases. Her recent work includes the renovations of the Tacoma Public Library’s Main Branch and the Wenatchee Public Library.
Kami has a Master of Architecture, with a concentration in Sustainable Systems and Design, from the University of Washington. While at the UW she was a Scan Design fellow and exchange student at the Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark, as well as the recipient of the Elizabeth Ayer scholarship, named for the first woman registered as an architect in Washington. She earned a BA in art history and a BA in film studies from Clark University, where she wrote her honors thesis on Italianate architecture in Massachusetts and spent two summers surveying and drawing the marble blocks of a third century Roman temple ruin in Turkey.
Elise is a licensed architect with ten years of experience in the design profession, a passion for public interest design, and a background in sustainability. A well-rounded architectural professional with a strong design eye and keen attention to detail, Elise works closely with both our consultants and our clients to see projects through from concept to construction. She has worked on projects across various scales and markets, including academic, civic, corporate, healthcare and recreation projects. She particularly enjoys engaging with clients to identify and creatively address their project goals, producing architecture that enhances the wellbeing of local communities and the environment.
Elise holds a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis, and a BA in Environmental Analysis from Pomona College. Her architectural studies included semesters in Barcelona and Buenos Aires, and she is bilingual in English and Spanish. In alignment with her passion for public interest design, Elise is a SEED certified professional.
Maria has experience in the design of public libraries, mixed-use, healthcare, and single-family home projects. She brings passion for interior design and expertise in 3D modeling to our team. Maria’s project work includes research, design, documentation, and construction administration for a wide range of projects. Maria recently completed work on the Lakewood Interim Library and is currently a design team member for the Walla Walla Public Library. A dedicated and enthusiastic team member, Maria always finds a way to help her colleagues in the studio whenever there is a deadline. She enjoys seeing how adaptive reuse projects can transform an existing building while maintaining its essential character and extending its life for the community.
A native of Brazil and fluent in three languages (Portuguese, Spanish, and English), Maria brings broad perspectives from the countries and cultures that she has lived and practiced in. Maria has a degree in Architecture and Urbanism from the Catholic University of Brasilia, Brazil, and studied abroad at the Catholic University of Murcia, Spain.
Sam oversees a wide range of key functions that keep our studio running smoothly. With her keen sense of detail and broad systems thinking, Sam manages the day-to-day office operations, project administration, and invoicing, while leading coordination with our vendors, consultants, and clients. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Northern Arizona University.
Prior to joining BuildingWork, Sam led operations, information management, and recruiting for companies in the construction and technology sectors, where she developed her abilities to identify gaps and find creative solutions to improve processes and streamline workflows. This experience, along with her interests in architecture, historic preservation, and interior design, makes Sam a natural fit for her role at BuildingWork. Her versatile skillset and dedication to effective operations are essential to the success of our firm.