News
December 17, 2024—The Seattle Times
After a 20-month renovation, the library branch, on East Green Lake Drive North, reopened Oct. 28. Thanks to a 2019 voter-approved levy, this historic building is re-imagined for future generations.
October 13, 2024—dezeen
Architecture studio BuildingWork drew upon historic buildings and Indigenous culture to create the cedar-clad La Conner Swinomish Library in a maritime community in the Pacific Northwest.
October 1, 2023—Library Journal
The La Conner Swinomish Library, WA, cleverly incorporates its maritime and native histories through interior and exterior design.
October 25, 2024—gb&d
The small maritime town of La Conner, Washington is known for its rich historic district. Buildings built as early as the mid-1800s line the streets between dark evergreen trees. Among them, the La Conner Swinomish Public Library blends in beautifully, even though it’s entirely modern.
November 22, 2024—Puget Sound Business Journal
Metropole project fulfills nonprofit sector’s desire for space that puts communities of color front and center.
January 1, 2024—The Architect’s Newspaper
In Washington, BuildingWork ties maritime elements and Indigenous traditions into a timber library.
July 31, 2024—ARCHITECT Magazine
Set in La Conner, Wash., the new La Conner Swinomish Library stems from a collaboration between Seattle-based BuildingWork and the Swinomish Tribe.
July 27, 2022—Daily Journal of Commerce
When Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) began donating money for the construction of libraries he probably could not have predicted the impact he would have on the civic architecture of American cities, Seattle included.
July 13, 2022—La Conner Weekly News
Swinomish master carver Kevin Paul’s latest work, a carved and painted thematic totem story pole was installed near the new La Conner Swinomish Library entrance July 7.
March 7, 2022—The Daily Journal of Commerce
In 2016, architect BuildingWork was selected to design a new public library for the town of La Conner. Following an extended fundraising campaign, design, permitting, and delays related to COVID, six years later the library is now under construction.
August 25, 2021—The Daily Journal of Commerce
Unico Properties and BuildingWork will flip the 125-year-old office building, above its two retail levels, from offices to 202 apartments.
August 4, 2021—Situated between Lake Union and downtown Seattle, the South Lake Union neighborhood has been transformed. 760 Aloha retains the neighborhood’s unique character and offers a different approach to the demolition and replacement of existing buildings.
July 16, 2021—Merely adding more sustainably designed new structures is not the answer to effectively addressing the building industry’s impact on the environment. After all, the most sustainable building is the one already built.
June 9, 2021—In a pivotal step toward reclaiming Seattle’s waterfront, BuildingWork has begun the ambitious preservation and adaptive reuse of the Washington Park Building.
April 5, 2021—The Daily Journal of Commerce
The Satterberg Foundation, Forterra, and BuildingWork intend to renovate and expand the vacant, derelict Metropole Building. They envision the renovated Metropole as a hub for nonprofits and small offices, along with other uses including a childcare center.
March 24, 2021—The Daily Journal of Commerce
Nitze-Stagen and BuildingWork received their master use permit early this month for an office conversion project at 760 Aloha Street in South Lake Union.
March 15, 2021—The Daily Journal of Commerce
Unico, Lake Union Partners, and BuildingWork are planning for the renovation and addition to the Korn Walker Block, a half block in Pioneer Square, anchored by the Korn Building at 119 Yesler Way, on the corner of Occidental Avenue South.
February 3, 2021—The Daily Journal of Commerce
Unico, Lake Union Partners, W. G. Clark, and BuildingWork are closing in on their permits for the renovation of the office building at 68 South Washington Street.
September 21, 2020—Historic Seattle
We celebrate the renovation and historic preservation of Town Hall Seattle with the Exemplary Stewardship Award, recognizing the sensitive renovation of the landmarked building which enhances programming opportunities while honoring the historic aesthetic.
July 13, 2020—The Daily Journal of Commerce
Unico, Lake Union Partners, and BuildingWork are leading the effort for the renovation and addition plan for what’s now being called the Korn Walker Block.
March 27, 2020—A façade renovation of the Seattle Armory brings new energy and focus to a community hub, re-centering the community gathering space for the 21st century.
January 17, 2020—As we usher in a new year and a new decade, we want to take a moment to reflect on 2019 and express our gratitude. The past twelve months were an exciting period of growth for our team and we reached many project milestones. The BuildingWork team is so thankful to have you – our friends, colleagues, and collaborators – supporting and sharing our journey.
January 16, 2020—A beloved cultural institution, Town Hall Seattle, is a perfect example of giving a beautiful building new life amidst the crush of rapid new city development. But what happens when an existing historic church is no longer suitable for the modern needs of a growing community organization?
August 15, 2019—The Seattle Times
It bears a square shape, but to me, Town Hall Seattle always has felt round. This derives from its dome, but also from the sensation of sitting in its Great Hall. Scores of pews angled in a giant half-circle envelop the stage, bringing performer and audience together as one.
August 5, 2019—In American cities, many spaces and services are privately-owned with controlled access and a cost to use them, public libraries are one of the few places that remain free and available to everyone.
February 25, 2019—In November 2018, Principal Matt Aalfs and Associate Kate Weiland had the honor of attending the 2018 AIA Northwest & Pacific Region Design Awards in Honolulu to celebrate the Skyway Library winning the Merit Award.
November 9, 2018—Are you planning to renovate a building in the Seattle area? Or have questions about renovating a historic building that needs to be brought up to code, including a seismic retrofit?
November 2, 2018—In advance of AIA Seattle’s 2018 Design Awards on Monday, November 5th, the Seattle blog “The Urbanist” reviewed the 150 project submissions and selected their 5 favorites. Guess who made the top 5?
September 28, 2018—This month we had the honor of attending the 2018 AIA Washington Civic Design Awards in Spokane with our client, Greg Smith of the King County Library System to celebrate the Skyway Library.
March 14, 2018—The library services world is rapidly evolving. By definition, patron services are paramount, but resources don’t always keep pace with needs. Today’s most successful library systems are forward thinking groups that rely on flexible solutions.
October 30, 2017—The Daily Journal of Commerce
King County Library System has remodeled and expanded its library at Westfield Southcenter in Tukwila.
October 14, 2017—Kitsap Daily News
September 15, 2017—Design Cost Data
Located in an unincorporated area between the cities of Seattle and Renton, Washington, Skyway is a working class suburban community that is under-served by public infrastructure and services.
July 12, 2017—Seattle Weekly
April 25, 2017—Revitalize WA 2017 Conference
BuildingWork Principal Matt Aalfs gave a recent lecture titled “Innovative Seismic Retrofits of Historic Buildings” for the Revitalize WA 2017 conference in Ellensburg, presented by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
February 24, 2017—The Daily Journal of Commerce
February 8, 2017—The Daily Journal of Commerce
A free program on Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. will explore the past and future of Town Hall at 1119 Eighth Ave. in Seattle.
January 1, 2017—GRAY Magazine No. 31: Dec. 2016 / Jan. 2017
August 8, 2016—The Daily Journal of Commerce
The Metropole Building in Pioneer Square is 123 years old and looking worse for the wear.