Location: Friday Harbor, Washington 

Architect: PBW Architects 

Arriving at Bramblewood House begins with a slow drive down a gravel road in densely wooded forest of old-growth fir and cedar trees. The topography of the site is variegated and steeply sloped, with areas of visible bedrock among clearings in the trees. From behind one of these grassy knolls, the house peeks into view only at the last moment. The house is nestled into the hillside: its foundation anchored directly to the rock. 

The clients envisioned a single-story home that could serve as a quiet retreat for bird watching and taking in filtered views of Puget Sound; consequently, the siting of the house was an important consideration from both an ecological and an architectural standpoint. Built into the slope, the house takes on an unassuming character and blends into its surroundings on the hillside when approached from above. The downhill side offers a sense of loftiness as it opens toward the tree canopy. During the construction process, substantial measures were taken to keep most of the trees intact to preserve the natural wooded environment, reinforcing the sense of seclusion while maintaining environmental integrity.  

The massing of the house is straightforward: a rectangular volume containing the bedrooms and the central living/kitchen/dining space beneath a low-sloped shed roof. On a relatively narrow lot with neighbors on both sides, the layout was carefully considered: the two bedroom suites are separated at either end of the house for privacy, while the living space is centered, with generous openings to both the forest and the water. Here, the mossy rock outcrop becomes a defining feature, present as both a backdrop to the courtyard and a grounding element glimpsed from multiple points throughout the house. The dual sliders frame this contrast: one opening toward the knoll and woods; the other toward the shore. 

Large sliding glass doors and clerestory windows allow the main space to be suffused with light and shadow, which changes constantly throughout the day. To the east, a deck projects into the trees, offering elevated views through the branches to Puget Sound beyond. To the west, an intimate courtyard is cradled between the house and the knoll, sheltered from prevailing winds. Together, these outdoor spaces extend the living areas, providing both protection and expansiveness. 

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: Taj Howe Photography

Location: Mount Vernon, Washington 

Architect: Christensen Design Management 

Background: Property is 2 blocks west of I-5 in Mount Vernon. Hidden behind commercial frontages, surrounded by the Skagit River & County Agricultural uses to the west. This unusual parcel is 2/3 of a mile long by only 150′-300′ wide. A Recreational Vehicle Resort was determined to be most viable. However, a Re-Zone, Conditional Use, Shorelines, Critical Area, Ecology and FEMA process was required before a building permit. It has been a long, challenging 6 year process. 

Challenge: Design a common use clubhouse facility for RV tourists and/or full time travelers without permanent homes, to experience a quality architectural experience that is unique to this NW geographic location, with only 30′ of street visibility. Create an environment, different than any other typical RV clubhouse in America. This difficult site needs…a wow factor design. 

Solution: How can a commercial building represent a place?  

Natural NW wood materials were emphasized along with the curving shapes of the Skagit River around this site. With weather concerns, a strong sense of entry was created with a large Port Cochere at this small road frontage along with a water feature/sculpture with otters, representing the northwest, to clearly know, you are in a different place. 

When entering the clubhouse, there is a logical connection to an entry reception reflecting the curves of the river & riverrock. The main entry circulation tile is embedded with custom bronze sculptures of the 5 different species of salmon that are only found in this Skagit River. 

Then…you look up. The wow factor is created with high, large curved beams representing the curving river and large video wall displays for the wonders of the northwest. This is the Great Hall, where dining and multi-use activities can take place. Off the side of the entry is a more intimate lounge for a different, quieter environment & an outdoor terrace. 

A retail store area (in process), and the Great Hall lead to the covered outdoor terrace that overlooks Pickle Ball courts and views to open agricultural lands to the west. A large men’s and women’s indoor spa area, with massage rooms access an outdoor spa pool area. Energy efficient and accessibility concerns were exceeded with cost effective, life cycle costs. 

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: David E. Christensen

Location: Orcas Island, Washington 

Architect: PBW Architects 

Set on the west side of Orcas Island, the Deer Harbor Residence transforms an existing house, guest house, studio, and garage into a refined island retreat that lives in harmony with its surroundings. The design re-envisions how the owners experience the property—bringing in light, strengthening the connection to the outdoors, and creating a home that feels both expansive and deeply personal. 

At the heart of the transformation is a bold intervention: a clean, modern incision through the center of the house that reshapes the entry sequence, introduces a covered porch, and extends upward to form a perched deck that opens dramatically to views across the San Juan Islands. 

Inside, the warren of small, enclosed rooms was reconfigured into spaces that breathe with light and landscape. The home retains its original layered hip roofs, but now celebrates their horizontality with carefully composed vertical window divisions and a refined material palette of thermally modified wood and cementitious siding. Heavy stone elements that previously blocked key sightlines have been replaced with glass, framing layered views of water, treetops, and gardens. Large sliding doors dissolve the boundary between indoors and out, extending the living space onto an expansive deck and pool terrace. 

Throughout the home, carefully curated moments enhance both daily rituals and larger gatherings. A reading and TV nook balances intimacy with framed views, while the reimagined main suite—perched above the landscape—provides a serene, spa-like retreat. Every space is designed to respond to its surroundings, whether capturing morning light through clerestory windows or opening wide to evening breezes off the water. A restrained interior palette of white oak and mild steel brings warmth and clarity, while a sophisticated, customizable lighting system subtly transforms the home’s atmosphere from day to night. 

Sustainability was integral to the design. A high-performance building envelope, roof-mounted solar array, and geothermal system—anchored by drilled piles beneath the garage—ensure year-round efficiency. The site was also carefully reconsidered, replacing rigid barriers with a more natural flow: a newly designed entry sequence welcomes guests through the landscape, a covered path connects the house to the garage, and a thoughtfully planned garden links the home to the waterfront beyond. 

The Deer Harbor Residence balances old and new, structure and site, openness and enclosure—creating a home that is both a refuge and an ever-changing lens on the natural world. 

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: Andrew Pogue Photography

Location: Edmonds, Washington

Architect: Designs Northwest Architects in collaborations with ARC Architects

Housing Hope Madrona Highlands is a low-income multifamily development on a 1.35-acre (+/- 58,646 square-feet) site designed to support local families with children who are experiencing homelessness. Four 3-story structures consist of 52 dwelling units totaling 43,619 gross square-feet, offering 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom configurations. All of the units are accessed via exterior balconies and stairways that are configured around a central courtyard to foster outdoor living for residents such as play areas, picnic and gathering spaces. The courtyard utilizes festival lighting for evening gatherings and to provide added security. To meet a tight construction budget, the buildings are designed as simple rectangular forms with shed and gable roofs. The facades are constructed of value-driven cement board panels and horizontal siding which are brightened with a variety of color configurations and surface modulation. 

Families receive tailored supportive services where coaches work with residents to help them engage in activities that strengthen their ability to be self-sufficient and participate within their community. Located on the ground level, these services include property management, health consultations, multipurpose rooms, food pantry, central laundry and maintenance. Site improvements include streetscape features such as raised planters and seating, courtyard outdoor living and play areas, covered bike storage, electric vehicle charging, 50 parking spaces, and an off-site sports court shared by a neighboring church. Accessibility is prioritized throughout the site and in common areas. The fourteen ground-floor units offer accessibility ranging from Accessible / Type A to Type B standards. All units were designed to bring in as much natural daylight as possible. 

in lieu of LEED certification, Madrona Highlands was designed to meet the Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard 4.0. with 78 points achieved. 

• Structural materials, siding and roofing were processed and produced within 500 miles of the site. 

• Durable finishes ensure that the interior spaces will support families and reduce maintenance/replacement costs. 

• All washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and kitchen vent hoods are Energy-Star certified and a central laundry is provided to reduce in-unit energy use.  

• High efficiency WSEC-compliant heat pump water heater plants serve each building. 

• Low flow toilets and faucets enhance water conservation throughout the units. 

• Enhanced lighting controls and occupancy sensors conserve energy. 

• Landscaping is composed of native or adapted, drought-tolerant plant species that require no irrigation once established.

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: Swift Studio

Location: Camano Island, Washington 

Architect: Designs Northwest Architects 

The Bayshore Drive Residence is a two-level waterfront home located on the north end of Camano Island. The clients are educators that have spent many years teaching abroad at international schools for American students. The last five years were spent in Saudi Arabia where the husband served as the head of administration for the American School in Riyadh.  

A project goal was to design a new home that reflected the couple’s years living abroad and allowed them to display their collection of art, rugs and weavings. They appreciated the style of architecture found in Saudi Arabia yet they did not want to mimic the traditional Islamic aesthetic. Instead, they desired a modern house with low maintenance/resilient materials that took advantage of their waterfront site and would last generations. The exterior materials consist of metal panels, cement panels, concrete and steel. Wood is applied to the courtyard screen wall to add warmth to the exterior. The home is heated and cooled with an energy efficient heat pump system. 

Islamic homes are frequently entered through a courtyard offering privacy from the street and a place for the family to gather. Often, there is a water feature located in the courtyard. The Bayshore Drive Residence sits at the base of a hill with houses on the uphill side overlooking the home’s site. To address the need for seclusion, an entry courtyard was designed with privacy screening to block views from the street and the houses on the hill. At the center of the courtyard is a reflection pond and a sitting area for the family to enjoy morning coffee and lunch in the sun. A wood bridge spans the reflection pool to connect the courtyard public circulation space to the privacy of the sitting area. 

The house is entered through a glass door opening up to the great room space with views of Skagit Bay beyond. An architectural concrete wall expressed in the north/south direction leads one from the seclusion of the courtyard to the gathering space of a great room (living, dining, kitchen area). The concrete wall becomes a symbolic gesture of the journey from the public realm of the street to the private living space of the great room. Once inside the home, the walls and floors become a gallery-like area for the couple’s collection of rugs, weavings and artwork. 

The upper level consists of the great room, living room, kitchen, dining room, primary suite, garage, laundry, pantry and guest powder room. The lower level consists of the family room, three guest bedrooms, guest bathroom, second laundry room and wine cellar. The decks off the upper level follow the angle of the shoreline setback. 

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: S. Brousseau Photography

Location: San Juan Islands, Washington 

Architect: PBW Architects 

Located in the San Juan Islands, the Boathouse stands foremost as a threshold between water and land, an idea it embraces literally by providing upland access to those arriving by boat or seaplane, and figuratively through its location and form. It straddles the elements, providing an entryway as well as a dramatic spot for a morning cup of coffee or a crab boil with the extended family.  

The Boathouse replaces a dilapidated, haphazardly constructed structure. This replacement of one built structure with another was done with a strategy aimed to naturalize the shoreline, removing the 400 square feet of concrete and creosote-coated piles from the water and replacing it with the 4 square feet of thin steel that supports the new structure. The shoreline restoration included the removal of a concrete breakwater and a significant number of old tires and detritus captured by the old structure’s foundation, replacing it with a native rock substrate. The new dock and ramp were carefully tuned to avoid and span beyond beds of eel grass, and design details such as the wood  

grated decking were crafted to allow light to permeate through the structure to marine life below.  

As on approaches the Boathouse from the land, it is barely visible through the trees; a dip in the topography together with the roof geometry serves to tuck the building into the landscape. Upon entry, the building opens dramatically to the Salish Sea. The ash ceiling draws a direct line to the view through glass walls and sliding glass corner doors. Services are tucked landward in a wood-clad volume, with windows strategically placed to highlight views of treetops and moss-covered stones. Steel accents notch into the wood volume to articulate the kitchen, fireplace, and shelving. 

The language of the interior continues to the exterior, but with resilient materials able to weather the harsh environment: the smooth ash ceiling and floor transition to rough stained cedar and heat modified ash decking, while the refined clear cedar interior cladding carries into rough tight-knot exterior siding. The weathered wood railings extend down to blur the mass of the structure’s façade and provide privacy from passing boats. 

Lightly landing at the edge of the sea, the Boathouse draws beauty and meaning directly from its surroundings and creates a place to contemplate, gather, and observe. 

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: Andrew Pogue Photography

Location: Mount Vernon, Washington 

Architect: HKP Architects

This project stands as a testament to innovation and community collaboration, marking the first design-build construction project for Skagit Valley College (SVC) and the SVC Foundation, and the first covered pickleball court facility to open at a Washington state community college. The Design/Build team, in collaboration with SVC, the SVC Foundation, and generous donors, worked to deliver a state-of-the-art covered outdoor pickleball facility that will provide lasting value for both Skagit County and the region. With 25,000 square feet under cover, this pavilion hosts ten courts, providing ample space for players to engage in the increasingly popular and accessible sport of pickleball. 

Innovative design choices ensure optimal playing conditions year-round. The structure is cleverly designed with open walls up to eight feet in height, eliminating the need for costly fire protection, while still providing natural ventilation and shelter from rain and cold winds. This design element helps prevent the common issue of wet courts, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, ensuring yearround playability regardless of the weather. 

Lighting is meticulously planned to eliminate hot spots and hard shadows while also meeting USA Pickleball tournament requirements. Translucent paneling around the perimeter provides weather protection while emitting diffused light onto the courts. Creative entries to the courts from the center aisle control errant balls, ensuring a seamless playing experience for all participants. Additionally, a standing path around the perimeter is sloped to effectively direct rainwater away from the courts, maintaining their integrity and minimizing maintenance requirements. Bird netting throughout the facility helps prevent birds from nesting, while bird control spikes are included at all open high horizontal surfaces to deter perching and help eliminate droppings. 

Another distinctive feature of this project is the thoughtful incorporation of landscaping berms along the south and west sides. These berms not only enhance the aesthetics of the pavilion but also serve a functional purpose by limiting wind across the courts. Fencing around the perimeter of the courts is raised to allow easy maintenance for blower removal of leaves and debris, but low enough to stop balls from escaping the court. By leaving the east side open, players are treated to stunning views of pastoral landscapes and mountain ranges, adding to the overall ambiance of the facility. 

Accessibility is prioritized with the inclusion of ADA-compliant restrooms which area seamlessly integrated into the adjacent building. Asphalt, instead of concrete, was used for the court surface helping minimize stress on players’ knees and joints, prioritizing player comfort and safety. 

The Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion and Courts exemplify excellence in design-build delivery, setting a new standard for pickleball facilities in the region. Through innovative features, meticulous planning and execution, this project exceeds the needs of players and the community, fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment for pickleball enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. 

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: Mike Penney

Location: Bellingham, WA 

Architect: RMC Architects 

The goals for Bellingham Public Schools (BPS) new administrative office building were to create a mobile, open-office work setting; promote sustainability, health, and well-being within the building; and ensure that the result was a welcoming environment for the community, demonstrating the District ’s stewardship of their assets.  

In addition to open workspaces, the threestory building includes professional learning and conference rooms, an early learning center, a wellness room, a bike storage area, and a central common space with a cafe. The building supports 11,000 BPS students, their families, and District employees. 

Honoring the District ’s robust Climate Action Plan, CLT was chosen as the primary building material. As a school district and community institution, the range of meaningful physiological and psychological benefits of wood, in addition to its low-carbon footprint, made it the obvious choice. 

BPS’s former offices, in a1908 historical elementary school, lacked sufficient daylight, had major structural deficiencies, and didn’t support the District ’s needs. Relocating to the new building provided an opportunity to rethink their operations and make all technology mobile. Using cell phones and laptops, employees are free to work anywhere in the building. The open office plan is arranged in pods of four workstations, each with a table in the center for collaboration. However, community spaces, private offices, and most of the meeting rooms are designed to be interchangeable for workspaces when employees need privacy. 

Honoring the District ’s desire to create an inviting, welcoming building, we designed the entries to feel like community spaces. The warmth of the CLT and light-filled interior animated by glass allows visitors to see the inner-workings of the building. The innovative addition of a café furthered the community vibe and people who shop and work in the area frequent it along with BPS employees. Comfortable furnishings and artwork from children throughout the District complete the space. Professional learning centers are on the main floor for BPS staff and the upper floors for community use, with direct rooftop deck access.  

Sustainability was key in the design of the admin offices. In addition to CLT, Fitwel standards were a District priority. Categories like walkscore, views, stairs as an option to elevators, and access to alternate transportation are all criteria that the new offices meet. Locating private offices away from the perimeter and using glass for office interior walls facilitates maximum and equitable use of daylight and views for all. The building mechanical system is all-electric, using heat pumps and dedicated outdoor air supply for occupant comfort. Other energy-saving measures include programmable LED lighting, droughttolerant native plants, drip irrigation, low-flow plumbing fixtures, electric vehicle charging stations, and capacity for a future photovoltaic panel array. 

The building respects its role as a community asset in its simplicity. Using enduring materials and natural resources like wood and daylight as primary design elements helped us honor the budget while creating something contextual to our city and of high quality as the District ’s home for the next century.

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: Benjamin Benschneider

Location: Skagit Valley, Washington 

Architect: Designs Northwest Architects 

The clients for the Rammed Earth House approached the architects with a desire to build an energy efficient, near net-zero home on a residential lot adjacent to 40 acres of farmland they own in the Skagit Valley. They wanted to build a new home to live in while the couple managed their farm property. The husband had a keen interest in rammed earth construction and wished to use that technology for this new home. The architects worked closely with a rammed earth consultant during the design process. 

The two-bedroom house features 2,600 square feet of living space, an attached 1,000 square foot garage and 930 square feet of covered patio facing to the southeast. The house was oriented with its main axis to the southwest to take advantage of territorial views and solar orientation for passive heating through the southern glazing. The large covered patio will shade the house during hotter summer months when the sun is at a higher angle and allow lower angle direct sunshine into the house in the winter when it is needed for heating. The house is efficiently heated and cooled by a heat pump. Solar PV panels generate most, if not all, of the electrical needs of the house on an annual basis. The rammed earth construction not only created a unique appearance for the walls but it also addressed the clients’ desire for longevity, low maintenance and energy efficiency. The form of the house with its lowpitch shed roof was designed to fit with the rural nature of the surrounding farmlands.  

Unlike traditional rammed earth walls that are uninsulated, the Rammed Earth House walls have a center core of 8 inches of continuous rigid insulation sandwiched between two layers of 8-inch rammed earth to create a 24-inch-thick wall. The appearance of layered sandstone is the result of successive lifts of 6 to 8 inches of material compacted in the formwork. The material used is composed of specific local subsoil materials (sand and gravel) mixed with cement, damp-proofing material, iron oxides and a small amount of water. Special formwork is used that can withstand pneumatic compaction. The rammed earth is reinforced with steel rebar per a structural engineer’s specification. The result is a continuously insulated, structural wall that uses less cement than typical concrete yet meets the strength requirements of the structural engineer. As the walls will last for many years, the embodied energy over the lifetime of the building will be very low. Combined with the other durable materials used (metal siding, metal roofing and carbonized wood siding), the house will be very low maintenance.  

The interior of the house is quiet and solid-feeling with the massive wall structure left exposed for its aesthetic beauty. The interior thermal mass of the walls moderates the temperature for a very comfortable, stable interior environment. In these days of resilient design, the insulated rammed earth method of construction is a good fit for a variety of climates and environments as it is energy efficient, fire resistant and long lasting. 

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: S. Brousseau Photography

Location: Bellingham, Washington

Architect: Zervas Architects

This transformative project replaced the aging and undersized previous Lighthouse Mission Ministries Building with a purpose-built, five-story facility designed for dignity, safety, and community integration.  Location in Bellingham’s Historic Old Town Neighborhood, the new building provides expanded capacity and enhanced services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.  

The five-story structure comprises approximately 15,000 square foot per floor, offering generous, light-filled interiors and clear sightlines to promote safety through visibility and passive supervision. The project responds to urgent program requirements: a low-barrier shelter serving up to 200 guests, 100 micro-shelter beds for families, medically fragile individuals, those with metal health needs, and working guests, plus overflow capacity for an additional 100 individuals during severe weather.  

Key programmatic elements include a medical clinic with three exam rooms – three times the previous capacity – and support facilities such as an expanded kitchen, increased laundry, multi-purpose meeting rooms for service providers, and both daylight and nighttime communal spaces.  The ground floor features entrepreneurial suites and a coffee (and mini-doughnut) shop staffed by shelter residents, blending social enterprise with skills development and community engagement. A large day room opens to outdoor decks via an indoor-outdoor fireplace, providing restorative access to fresh air, and helping reduce public sidewalk congestion.  The chapel space on the third floor, while adaptable for shelter use during extreme weather, also supports pastoral counseling and optional spiritual services, designed with inclusivity in mind.  

The design was specifically attentive to neighborhood integration and safety: employing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design strategies, best-practice lighting, clear sightlines, strategic entries (one for general guests, separate from family entrance), 24/7 staffing, surveillance, and staff walkabouts – all fostering a respectful, engaged relationship with the Old Town context.  

Financially, the project was delivered on an estimated $29 million budget, largely leveraged by the generosity of private, community donors. 

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: Benjamin Benschneidr 

Location: Mount Vernon, Washington 

Architect: HKP Architects 

It is a common misconception that only large cities and counties possess the vision and resources to create impactful, forward-thinking architecture. Mount Vernon, WA, a rural city of 36,000, challenges this notion with the new Mount Vernon Library Commons (MVLC), one of the first publicly bid projects in the U.S. to achieve passive building Phius Certification — a rigorous standard for energy efficiency and comfort.  

The new public library, parking garage, and community center are all electric, and house the largest public EV charging station in the country. While the project saw a modest overall increase in upfront construction costs to meet ambitious sustainability goals, its design strategies will deliver long-term operational cost savings and address the urgent demands of climate change. Situated along the I-5 corridor between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, MVLC is strategically located to drive economic development by attracting visitors (to charge and shop) and providing parking for housing development on the riverfront. 

The Library includes dedicated space for youth services, young adults reading, gaming and makerspace, quiet reading, technology, and stacks. The Commons consists of a large Community Room, Flex Room, overflow space, interpretive display, and a commercial kitchen for events, cooking demonstrations, entrepreneurs, and even potential future use by Meals on Wheels. The building is designed so that the Commons can be opened after library hours, with access to the restrooms. The Library also enjoys full access to the Commons for their programming of large events and summer storytime.  

Care was taken to screen the garage from the exterior and fit into the fabric of the downtown, while offering a feeling of safety and security for users inside the garage with openness, natural light, and views. The structure also features an outdoor roof terrace and a viewing deck overlooking the Skagit River. 

Social impact considerations guided the site planning and design. With 268 parking stalls, 10 of which are ADA accessible, along with six motorcycle stalls, nine e-bike charging lockers, and bike racks on every level, the design promotes equitable mobility options. By installing the largest public EV charging stations in the nation, (76 EV stalls, with infrastructure for up to 200), the project supports low-carbon transportation and addresses community sustainability goals. It can also serve as a temporary shelter in emergencies and severe weather events. 

The city took a forward-thinking approach to the project from the beginning, looking to push the envelope on what it meant to invest in their community and provide a facility that is built to last. Approximately 20 different funding sources were accessed to complete the project, without increasing local taxes. Sustainability features were key to drawing in $12.5M from the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant, $9M from Washington State, and $2M from the Governor’s Supplemental Budget.  

By integrating passive building standards, reducing carbon emissions, and incorporating forward-thinking energy solutions, The MVLC serves as a model for public sector projects nationwide, demonstrating that high-performance, low-carbon design is achievable even in small, rural cities.

Learn more about the project here.

Photo Credit: DPDrones