SMR Architects

Join us for the Citizens' Institute on Rural Design (CIRD)'s 2023-2024 local design workshop showcase on Thursday, October 24th, from 2:00 - 3:30 PM ET. SMR Principal Kate Smith will participate in this webinar and discuss the Sunnyside Outlook project, an ambitious 57-acre initiative aimed at creating an inclusive community in Sunnyside. This project is being designed by an SMR team that includes Kate, Scott, and Whitney. During the webinar, you'll gain insights into CIRD's workshop process from various workshop communities and design partners at TBD Studio. CIRD brings together residents, non-profits, community organizations, and government to tackle design challenges. Don't miss this chance to see rural design in action! https://lnkd.in/gsrRBe-7

We enjoyed African Community Housing & Development (ACHD)'s Journey Home Luncheon this afternoon! Our project team working on the Center for African Diaspora (Doug, Megan, and Whitney) attended and were inspired by powerful speakers, moved by cultural performances, and uplifted by community success stories. Thank you to all who made this luncheon unforgettable! #CommunityStrength #AffordableHousing #Homes4AllKC

Douglas Ito, FAIA, SMR Managing Principal and 2024 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Award recipient, was recently interviewed by Evelyn Lee of Practice of Architecture's podcast, Practice Disrupted. Listen to this episode to learn about his efforts designing 2,800+ affordable housing units, advocating for social justice in architecture, and inspiring the next generation of leaders. Ito's message: Every architect has a voice - use it for positive change! #ArchitectureForGood #SocialJustice #AffordableHousing https://lnkd.in/gYAJk2FC

SMR is proud to be part of a transformative project bringing affordable housing to Seattle. Our design for the former Dumar Substation site at 1605 SW Holden Street will create 21 permanently affordable homes, thanks to a $3M investment from the Seattle Office of Housing. The four-story building will include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units (below 80% AMI) as well as a ground-floor commercial space for community vibrancy. Kudos to all of our project partners: Homestead Community Land Trust, The Cultural Space Agency, and local supporters like HPAC: Highland Park, Riverview, & South Delridge Action Coalition and HPIC. Click the links below for more information on the project. www.tinyurl.com/dumarsite https://lnkd.in/g3FUs3if #homes4allkc

Last night, one of SMR’s recent projects, Bloomside, was recognized during the AIA Washington Council's Civic Design Awards with an Honor Award for Equitable Communities. Located in Burien, Bloomside is DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center)'s first permanent supportive housing project outside Seattle and was part of the City of Burien’s Affordable Housing Demonstration Program. The development features 95 studio units of permanent supportive housing with supportive services and indoor/outdoor community spaces for single adults who are disabled and formerly homeless. The successful expansion of DESC’s facilities outside Seattle marks a significant achievement, establishing Bloomside as a model for future developments that combine affordable housing with comprehensive supportive services. SMR Associate Megan Espinoza accepted the award on behalf of the project team. Liz Hallas AIA, LEED AP BD+C, a juror for the awards program, noted, “This project can serve as a model as a challenging building typology – this team did a really nice job with it. Comprehensive support services are bundled with this, speaking to how we can do this successfully as a community and as a nation as a whole… On the design, some nice outdoor spaces were created for the residents. The composed elevations, certainly using strong colors and the mural of course, to draw people in and be really welcoming. Really a well done project on so many holistic aspects of what is within this building and designed very nicely. Congratulations to the team!” SMR Managing Principal Douglas Ito, FAIA was also recognized during the event for receiving the 2024 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Award for his outstanding contributions to social responsibility in architecture. Congratulations to the Bloomside team and all of the winners in this year's awards program! https://lnkd.in/gZ8XWmu8

Last week, we celebrated the grand opening of Flourish on Rainier! This exciting new affordable housing project, developed by Bellwether Housing and built by Rafn Company, offers 182 units designed with families in mind. The campus boasts a range of amenities to enhance residents' lives, including a generous community space, an outdoor courtyard, and a children's play area. Additionally, it houses office space for Muslim Housing Services and a childcare center operated by Empowering Youth and Families Outreach. Flourish on Rainier is set to become a dynamic part of the neighborhood's fabric. We extend our warmest congratulations to everyone involved in making this project a reality! #homes4allKC #affordablehousing

SMR is proud to sponsor the National APIAHiP: Asian & Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation Forum, taking place on September 12th through 15th in Seattle - themed "Building a National Coalition to Preserve Local Communities." Hosted by the Asian & Pacific Islanders Americans in Historic Preservation (APIAHiP), this forum will take place in Seattle's Chinatown International District, recently named one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This four-day event is designed to deepen our understanding and commitment to elevating Asian & Pacific Islander American heritage through historic preservation. Participants will engage with place-based experts, community leaders, and fellow enthusiasts from across the country, exploring the latest innovations, challenges, and opportunities in the field. They will also have the chance to participate in workshops on best practices in community-led preservation and enjoy guided tours of culturally significant sites in Seattle’s historic Chinatown International District and Bainbridge Island. Networking opportunities with leaders, advocates, and scholars in historic preservation will further enrich the experience. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with leaders and advocates in the field and to contribute to the ongoing conversation about preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, visit and register at apiahip.org/forum-2024.

We're thrilled to announce that our YWCA Seattle renovation project has been awarded $2 million in state funding! This century-old landmark in downtown Seattle will provide 114 affordable housing units, ranging from 30% to 80% AMI. We are proud to be collaborating with YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish, Brawner & Company, and Andersen Construction on this $80 million transformation and preserving much-needed housing in the heart of Seattle. https://lnkd.in/gn8qQcWD #homes4allkc #AffordableHousing

Last weekend, a few of our staff members hosted the "Balancing Act" interactive installation at the Seattle Design Festival's Block Party. The installation invited visitors to imagine Seattle's future through exploring alternate realities with "What If?" prompts. Festival-goers shared ideas on cards, building a balanced structure symbolizing potential prospects for our region. The creativity was inspiring! Some of the thought-provoking "What If?" questions included: • “What if housing was affordable to all?” • “What if you knew your neighbor?” • “What if you were given a storefront downtown?” • “What if downtown Seattle was car free?” Special thanks to our design team: Kim Anh Tran-Dinh, Brandon Milling, and Augusta Milford. Thanks also to the Seattle Design Festival organizers and fellow exhibitors. We enjoyed exploring innovative designs and connecting with other professionals. #whatif #seattledesignfestival

Our summer intern, Leslie, is featured in this month’s Rainier Scholars newsletter! Leslie, a UW Architecture Studies major, brings fresh perspectives to our team, especially on the Juniper project for the Seattle Housing Authority. Her personal experiences with affordable housing and public transportation enriched our discussions and design process. We're proud to support Leslie's growth in architecture while benefiting from her unique insights. Her passion for equity and diversity in design aligns perfectly with our mission to create inclusive, affordable housing. Leslie, we're excited to see where your promising career takes you! Click the link below to read the article. https://lnkd.in/dE3tgGA2