SMR Architects

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

The Eastrail NE 8th Street bridge is now open, featuring a stunning 100-foot mural and origami-inspired design. Local Japanese American artists collaborated with Isan Bellevue to create artwork for the steel exhibit walls. Thanks to Douglas Ito, FAIA, SMR Managing Partner, for his work with Isan Bellevue on this project. Doug is a founding board member and current board president for Isan Bellevue, a non-profit organization that celebrates the history and resilience of the Bellevue Japanese American community through place-based art installations and historical markers of remembrance. https://lnkd.in/gZvPqxT6

If you visit the Seattle Design Festival Block Party this Sunday, be sure to stop by SMR’s pop up, Balancing Act! Our interactive installation will be at Lake Union Park on Sunday, August 18th, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Imagine Seattle's future at Balancing Act, an interactive pop-up experience where you'll explore alternate realities through "What If?" prompts. Throughout the day, contribute your ideas to build an intricately balanced structure from recycled materials, physically representing the delicate balance of potential futures for our region. Thanks so much to our design team - Kim Anh Tran-Dinh, Brandon Milling, and Augusta Milford! We appreciate all of your amazing work on this effort! https://lnkd.in/gU--4i5v The Seattle Design Festival is scheduled to take place from August 17th to August 22nd, featuring a variety of events. To learn more about the festival and its activities, you can check the official website at www.seadesignfest.org. #seattledesignfestival #whatif

Congrats to the City of Renton for receiving its twelfth Governor's Smart Communities Award for Sunset Gardens which won the Smart Partnership Award. This new affordable housing project serves veterans, persons with disabilities, and seniors, while also housing the Renton Housing Authority's administrative office. We enjoyed collaborating with RENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY and Andersen Construction on this important addition to Renton's Sunset neighborhood. https://lnkd.in/g3hGF6JS #AffordableHousing #homes4allkc

With heavy hearts, we share the news that Jerry Stickney passed away on July 2, 2024. A founding partner of SMR and a pillar of our architectural community, Jerry's vision and expertise left an indelible impact on our firm and the broader industry. Jerry co-founded Stickney & Murphy Architects (now SMR Architects) in 1977 with Ron Murphy, focusing on the firm’s design and detailing, while also shaping SMR's culture. A Washington State University alumnus, Jerry obtained his professional license in 1961. Throughout his career, he led diverse projects in Seattle and the broader Northwest region. His portfolio included designing museums for both the University of Washington and Washington State University. In the public sector, Jerry worked on renovating and creating new fire stations for Seattle, as well as providing historic preservation consultation for the King County Court House and numerous other historic structures in the Puget Sound area. He was the architect behind the original Seattle Trade Center Facility, which incorporated spaces for public gatherings. Jerry's expertise extended to the private sector, where he was involved in various stages of commercial and affordable multi-family housing projects. These encompassed both new construction and renovation projects, with notable examples including the Tashiro Kaplan Artist Lofts and Terry Denny Apartments. His legacy lives on in the numerous Pioneer Square renovations and new construction projects he completed during his career. We celebrate Jerry and the lasting mark he left on SMR. He will be deeply missed, and our thoughts are with his loved ones. An informal open house will be held in his honor on Saturday, August 3rd from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at The Issaquah Senior Center. https://lnkd.in/gUnh285S

Today is National Intern Day, and we would like to highlight the work of our summer 2024 intern, Leslie. Since 2022, SMR Architects has worked with the Rainier Scholars Program, University of Washington, and Washington State University to create an annual internship program to help introduce BIPOC students to the architectural profession. For our 2024 internship, SMR recently hired Leslie, a rising sophomore at the University of Washington who is majoring in Architectural Studies and hopes to apply to the Architectural Design major. Over this summer, she has supported the Juniper project team by assisting with interior finishes research, presentation, and selection, Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard documentation, as well as providing construction administration support. Developed by Seattle Housing Authority, Juniper is a new development in Yesler Terrace that is currently under construction with 114 affordable units, community multi-purpose space, building management offices, and community P-Patch space. Leslie also participates in various SMR meetings and events to gain broader exposure to different aspects of the practice. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Leslie for her outstanding work this summer. Her numerous contributions to the firm have been truly valuable and we appreciate her dedication and efforts. #nationalinternday

We are hiring! SMR has openings for an Architectural Staff 1 / Architect 1 and an Architectural Staff 2 / Architect 2. Apply today to become part of our team and help us achieve our shared vision of a world where everyone has a safe and affordable home! https://lnkd.in/gWsDRh7J

We are excited to be working with Uplift Northwest, The Schuster Group, Inc., and GLY Construction on the renovations of Uplift NW's headquarters in Belltown. The renovated facility will amplify the organization's impact, providing a transformative hub for those in need. By offering job training, dignified employment opportunities, and vital support services, it will empower individuals to regain stability, build confidence, and create a brighter future.

Join Tacoma Housing Authority for a Community Open House this Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM to explore one of SMR's latest designs, Housing Hilltop South! During this event, you can tour the new facility and see firsthand what this addition brings to the Hilltop neighborhood!