Ariel, a Northwest Native and mother of five, is a public sector executive with over 20 years of experience in architecture, construction, and operations. She holds a BARCH, MBA, and MEng. At DES, Ariel serves on the leadership team for EAS, overseeing 35 project managers and $1 billion in capital projects, ensuring strong financial oversight and client satisfaction. Previously, as an Executive Operations Manager in higher education, she helped manage a $70 million budget and prioritized operations for 1,000 staff and 10,000 students. As Chair of the Bainbridge Island Planning Commission, Ariel champions thoughtful planning, financial stewardship, and community resilience.
WHY DID YOU JOIN AIA SEATTLE?
I joined AIA Seattle to stay connected with the architectural community, contribute to shaping the built environment, and grow as a public sector design and planning leader. AIA Seattle offers a unique space where innovation, policy, and equity intersect—values I deeply care about. As an Associate AIA in the public sector, I appreciate how AIA Seattle leads conversations on climate change, housing, and community futures. It’s a place where creative ideas turn into real solutions, and I wanted to be part of a community pushing the profession forward while making our region more resilient, inclusive, and connected.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF AIA TO YOU?
What I love most about AIA Seattle is how it brings people together to tackle the critical issues shaping our built environment. As an Associate AIA, I find deep value in its commitment to affordable housing innovation, climate leadership, and inclusive community design. The organization fosters meaningful collaboration through active committees, supports growth with continuing education and ARE licensure resources, and sparks public dialogue through events like the Seattle Design Festival. AIA Seattle is more than a professional network — it’s a vibrant, forward-thinking community driving both policy and practice across our region.
WHAT RELATIONSHIPS HAVE YOU CREATED?
Through AIA Seattle, I’ve built meaningful relationships with fellow architects who are passionate about shaping a more sustainable, equitable future. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with significant changemakers and innovative individuals on topics like sustainable design, green building, affordable housing, and creating equity and inclusion in our built environments. AIA Seattle gives us common ground as Pacific Northwesterners — a shared foundation where we know we’re on the precipice of creating real societal change through architecture. I see AIA Seattle as one of the most forward-thinking organizations in the country. The collaboration of its visionary members around complex, urgent issues is already leading to meaningful change and continued growth for the betterment of our communities and our future.
WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve had the opportunity to lead and recently complete is the Newhouse Building on the Washington State Capitol Campus — the first new building constructed there in decades. I collaborated with Miller Hull to incorporate sustainable elements, including mass timber and a feature wall made from salvaged materials. While that project is complete, I continue to provide strategic oversight for state capital projects. Project managers on my team are currently leading or have recently completed the following significant projects: the CILE education building for Tacoma Community College, a library renovation for North Seattle Community College, health science and STEAM buildings at Shoreline Community College, a fine arts building at Spokane Community College and a CTEI building at Wenatchee Community College. These projects emphasize sustainable design, targeting at least LEED Silver certification and Salmon-Safe principles, and focus on creating collaborative, engaging spaces supporting college students’ success and well-being. These are just a few highlights from the broader portfolio of work I oversee statewide to improve Washington’s built environment.
WHERE IS THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTION HEADED?
The architecture, engineering, and construction fields are evolving rapidly in response to climate change, housing affordability, social equity, and rising construction costs. We’re shifting from simply building efficiently to building responsibly, inclusively, and with intention. AI is becoming an essential tool — improving design workflows and project efficiency — but equally important is storytelling. Architecture today is less about the “winning” design and more about honoring the stories of those who will inhabit the space. The focus is shifting to creating environments that reflect the people they serve, supporting expansionary thinking, celebrating our different cultures, and fostering community connection. From mass timber to LEED and Salmon-Safe certifications, we’re raising the bar on sustainability, but the values we embed in the process are how we shape and design truly meaningful spaces.
