Photo: Andrew Pogue
Olson Kundig Seattle
Seattle, Washington
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Design Principal (2003-2014)
Tom Kundig
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Design Principal (2018)
Kirsten Ring Murray
Located in the Washington Shoe Building in the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood of downtown Seattle, Olson Kundig’s Office is an expression of our design practice and office culture. Since 2003, we have undertaken a series of renovations to the 19th-century building, using our office as a laboratory for design experimentation. Each renovation brings greater legibility to Olson Kundig’s identity and design culture, reflecting our key values of experimentation, collaboration and connection.
A central feature of the design is a 14-by-25-foot counterweighted, hydro-powered skylight that caps the central atrium stair connecting all three floors. The skylight uses only city water pressure as an energy source to move building parts, allowing visitors to interact with and alter the space. The skylight provides natural ventilation and access to daylight, and serves as a focal point “art machine” and systems R&D investigation.
The main Commons area is the heart of the office and serves as a flexible gathering space for weekly staff meetings, Thursday Crits, lunchtime presentations and daily breakout meetings. Here, kinetic walls and adaptable seating transform to accommodate a range of uses. The adjacent 1,000-square-foot shop and maker space allows designers to quickly test ideas and materials, or create proof-of-concept models and architectural assembly prototypes.
No one who constructed this building could have predicted that it would take on so many uses over the years. That prototype of inevitable change is important to us and influences our work.Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA
Team
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Design Principal (2003-2016)
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Design Principal (2018)
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Principal
Dan Wilson
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Project Manager
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Project Architects
William Kemper
Martha Rogers -
Interior Design
Naomi Mason
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Custom Kinetic Benches
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Architectural Staff
Marlene Chen
Angus MacGregor
Olivier Landa
Steven Rainville
Laura Sinn
Jordan Leppert
Laura Bartunek -
Gizmologist
Publications
2020
“26 Return-to-Workplace Solutions for the Post-Covid Office.” Office SnapShots, 8 Sep. 2020. Web.
2019
Cogley, Bridget. “Room to Manoeuver.” OnOffice, May 2019, 52, 53, 55, 56, 59, 60. Print.
Langner, Erin. “Tinker, Tailor.” Metropolis, June 2019, 6, 96-101. Print.
2015
2008
Gamache, Shawna. “AIA gives OSKA top national award.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 8 Dec. 2008. Print.
Riordan, John, and Kristen Becker. The Good Office: Green Design on the Cutting Edge. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Oct. 2008. Book.
Sackett, Peter. “The I.D. 40: Creative Workspaces.” I.D. Magazine, Jan. 2008, 75. Print.
2007
Van Ert, Theresa and Marina Cescon. “Acciaio In Movimento/Steel in Movement.” Acciaio Arte Architettura, June 2007, 64-71. Print.
Walker, Alissa. “Space Shot: You Wish You Worked Here.” Fast Company, April 2007, 102-107. Print.
2004
Enlow, Clair. “Machine Language.” Metropolis Magazine, July 2004, 54. Print.
Webb, Michael. “An Open and Shut Case.” Frame, Nov. 2004, 102-109. Print.
