Bassetti Architects

Construction on River Ridge High School's modernization is well underway and looking great! The design features Dowel Laminated Timber (DLT), which utilizes timber dowels instead of traditional adhesives, reducing carbon footprint while offering strength and versatility.

The final design includes a striking new welcome to the school with a large, glazed entrance wall to act a beacon for the community to gather around. The upgraded entrance and adjacent new DLT commons structure links the modernized portions of the building with the new two-story wing of academic and research spaces to provide significantly expanded classroom capacity.

Thank you to PCS Structural Solutions for sharing photos from their recent tour!

Light and shadow play amidst the the towering halls under construction at Illahee Middle School in Federal Way.

The new school is being constructed on the site of the existing one, with an emphasis on preserving the campus's forested areas. The courtyard will be surrounded on three sides by new buildings and on the fourth side by the forest. The building layout is designed to be protective, resembling a castle. Tower elements flank the entrance and mark the corners of the buildings. A main canopy, reminiscent of a drawbridge, spans over a rain garden between the entrance towers.

Today, Bassetti honors Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates African-American freedom and achievements.

At Bassetti, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is not only respected but also celebrated. We believe in the power of design to create spaces that promote equity, inclusivity, and community.

On this Juneteenth, we reflect on the progress we've made and acknowledge the work that still lies ahead. We stand in solidarity with our Black colleagues, partners, and communities, and we pledge to continue advocating for justice and equality through our work.

Join us in celebrating this historic day and honoring the resilience, strength, and contributions of the African-American community. Together, let's build a future where everyone can thrive.

Bassetti is a proud sponsor of Seattle's first official AEC LGBTQIA+ Happy Hour! All are welcome as we celebrate community and diversity in our industry.

Attendance is free, please register here -
https://www.buildwithprideseattle.com/

📸: Alexander Grey, Pexels

Join Bassetti's Director of Sustainability, Kristian Kicinski, as he discusses the exciting world of Mass Timber in educational projects at the A4LE Washington Chapter 2024 Conference.

Learn more about the session. https://ow.ly/Kfim50SisV5

See you there!

I spy with my little eye!

You may remember our brick carving activity from last year. The bricks have found a home in the facade of Illahee Middle School, currently under construction. The customized bricks are an homage to others found throughout the existing facilities (see the last slide, MOXIE birck).

Students can search for carvings of native plants and creatures throughout their new school, as well as their mascot, Royal's paw prints, hiding throughout the terra cotta.

Meet Nathan Flowers | Designer

Joining Bassetti in early 2023, Nathan has quickly become an important part of the fabric of our Portland office.

What led you to this career?

I was born and raised for the first 8 years of my life in a little A-frame house that my father designed and built himself on a small parcel of rural land he purchased with my grandfather. The itch to design and build things imprinted itself on me from an early age. While I had doodled in the margins of my notebooks since early childhood, I knew I wanted to be an architect at 14, when I took my first CAD class in high school and designed and drafted my first house. Since then I have designed hundreds of houses.

What is your favorite place ever?

While I am a staunch non-believer, when I first visited Notre Dame de Paris, I wept. It was a space designed to inspire awe, and it was successful in its design intent. I value spaces that inspire, that foster thoughtful contemplation, creativity, or community. The spaces we occupy have the power to affect our moment-to-moment experience, and I largely became an architect to articulate spaces to a positive effect.

Tell us a fun fact!

I'm an adult who plays. I play video games, like The Forest & Sons of the Forest, where I can build & iterate on shelters and test them against the game's adversaries. I build with LEGO. I am currently building a model of my most recent house design, an earth-sheltered house, inspired by Skara Brae.

Project Spotlight: Vancouver School of Arts and Academics (VSAA) 🏫🎨

📅 Year: 2022
🏆 Award: AIA Southwest Washington, Merit Award, 2023
📐 Size: 19,000 sf (new)

In collaboration with Vancouver Public Schools, our design re-orients the school’s entrance and introduces vital new elements, including:
✨ New administrative block
🔬 Advanced science laboratories
🎭 Black-box theatre and commons
🌳 Secure courtyard area

Our approach emphasized understanding stakeholder needs, resulting in increased parking, improved site design, and more efficient entry and exit points. The two-story addition boasts a student commons and a versatile black-box theatre, enhancing the school's ability to showcase student work. 🌟

We are proud to see student artwork at the heart of VSAA’s design, inspiring creativity and learning every day. Thank you to Vancouver Public Schools and everyone involved in bringing this vision to life!

Come see Mercer Middle School's towering CLT in person as we tour the new school with AIA Seattle.

Learn more about the project and register for the tour by following the link.

https://ow.ly/spfT50RZ1AM

Had an absolute blast at the 2nd Annual A4LE OR/SW WA Fundraiser Golf Tournament! 🌟🏌️‍♀️ It's always a pleasure hitting the greens, especially when it's for a great cause like supporting ELSO.

It was an amazing time joining our friends John Howorth and Kelly Johnson from 3J Consulting, as well as Adam Cormack from R&C Management. Cheers to good swings, great company, and a fantastic cause!⛳️

ELSO (Experience Life Science Outdoors) is a fantastic organization dedicated to engaging Black and Brown youth in transformative experiences that foster environmental and climate justice. Through hands-on science education, outdoor exploration, and cultural history, ELSO empowers the next generation of environmental leaders. They offer programs like "STEAM Onward," which focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education, and "Green Jobs & Careers," which introduces youth to sustainable career paths. Their mission is to inspire a love for the natural world and promote sustainable living practices among youth, creating a more just and equitable future.

New experiential graphics at Lindbergh High School are giving us motivation to take flight this week 🦅🌠

We had an incredible time at the recent networking event focused on building relationships with DMWESB-Certified, Self-Certified, and BIPOC-led firms! 🌟

This event was all about fostering connections within the AEC industry, sharing opportunities, and creating genuine partnerships. We're proud to support the mission of helping underutilized organizations market their services and access new business opportunities. It's through events like these that we can collectively work towards a more inclusive industry.

By bringing together diverse project partners, we aim to deliver projects that truly reflect our communities. We're excited to see clients increasingly seek out teams that embody diversity, inclusion, and equity to achieve outstanding results.

We love Walla Walla Steak Co.'s moody interior located within the historic Woodinville School House.

A Studio Bassetti project, the structure's old school charm is preserved throughout with exposed beams, original brick on the interior and exterior, and reclaimed barn doors and radiators.

🚧 New Mercer Middle School CLT install photos! 🚧

Shout out to the entire team working hard to bring this beautiful school to life for an incredible community.

Cornerstone General Contractors, Inc.
Kalesnikoff
Coughlin Porter Lundeen

🦺🏗️🚧

Bassetti's mass timber projects continue to progress, with one completed and four more others construction.

Using mass timber and CLT products in forward-thinking school design serves environmental objectives and contributes to the technical aspects of classroom design. The inherent characteristics of these materials, including their structural integrity and aesthetic appeal, play a pivotal role in illuminating classrooms with natural light and optimizing thermal performance.

This integration fosters an ergonomic and sustainable educational setting conducive to enhanced student well-being and academic success.

Meet Theresa | Associate, IIDA, NCIDQ

Joining Bassetti in Spring of 2019, Theresa she has become an indespensible part of the interiors team.

What is your favorite place?

Get me on a white sand beach with an ice-cold drink and I will be happy as a clam. The sound of the ocean and having sand between my toes brings me so much joy.

It’s a perfect day in Seattle, what’s your ideal day?

An ideal day would consist of having a slow morning at home…sitting on our patio, sipping coffee and watching our cats play in the garden. Then heading to T-dock on Lake Washington to swim and hang with friends. After watching the sunset, I would grab some sushi for dinner and end the night watching a movie on the couch with my husband, Connor.

Who inspires you?

I would say my mom and mother-in-law. She instilled kindness and a hardworking mentality in me which I appreciate daily. My mother-in-law for her work ethic, her professional achievements and always being the most authentic version of herself even in the toughest times. I’m lucky to have these two to lean on.

Celebrating CTE in Education! 🛠️📸

At Bassetti, we are dedicated to designing spaces that empower students and educators alike. Career and Technical Education (CTE) is at the heart of our mission to create innovative and impactful learning environments.

CTE programs play a crucial role in today’s educational landscape, offering students hands-on experiences and practical skills that prepare them for the future. Our CTE projects are designed to inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and equip students with the tools they need to succeed in diverse careers.

Swipe through to see some of our favorite CTE spaces! From state-of-the-art labs to collaborative workspaces, each project embodies our commitment to educational excellence and forward-thinking design.

👷‍♀️📈 Join us in celebrating the importance of CTE and the bright futures it helps to build.

Reflecting on a remarkable project from our portfolio: Seattle Public School's Franklin High School restoration and addition!

This award-winning project involved the careful restoration and expansion of a historic landmark spanning 230,000 square feet. Built in 1911, the challenge of preserving the masonry facade while addressing seismic concerns required a thoughtful, community-driven design approach.

Our solution involved structurally tying the existing building to a new addition, ensuring the preservation of this iconic structure for future generations. Despite the complexities, we prioritized community involvement and consensus development, navigating school year schedules and diverse constituency needs throughout the design process.

The scope of work encompassed transformative additions including a new auditorium and stage, media center, art classrooms, and state-of-the-art science and vocational-technology labs, enhancing the school's resources and facilities.

We are honored to have received professional recognition for this project:

AIA Seattle, Award of Commendation
Association of King County Historical Organizations, Preservation Award
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, Award of Merit

👏 We are so proud of our team's dedication to preserving history while innovating for the future. Here's to celebrating the enduring impact of Franklin High School's revitalization! 🎉

We are thrilled to announce that Bassetti is a proud sponsor of the upcoming SMPS Inclusive Partnership Mixer event! 🌟 Join us on May 21 at 4pm on the 3rd floor of the US Bancorp Tower (Big Pink!) for an evening dedicated to fostering meaningful connections and partnerships within the AEC industry.

🤝 This networking event is designed to strengthen relationships between XBE (Minority- or Women-Owned Business Enterprises, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, and more) and prime firms like ours. Together, we aim to share opportunities, create genuine relationships, and foster diversity, inclusion, and equity in our projects.

🏢 The goal is to help underutilized organizations market their services and access new business opportunities, ensuring our industry better reflects the communities we serve.

🍸 Join the event for drinks, light fare, and engaging conversations with industry partners. Attendees will receive a curated XBE directory, connecting you with potential project partners.

Let's build a more diverse and inclusive future for the AEC industry. We look forward to connecting with you at this inspiring event!

Joining Bassetti at the beginning of 2023, Kai has worked on a handful of projects as a Project Architect, Project Manager, and sometimes both from our Portland office.

What led you to this career?

"My interest in architecture started pretty young building elaborate sandcastles and structures. I really liked to sculpt and draw. Before sixth grade, I did a summer architecture camp at WSU and was hooked."

Who inspires you?

"Shigeru Ban is someone in our industry who is not only a talented designer who creates flashy projects but is also heavily dedicated on the pro bono side of his firm to help others in need. He is innovative in his use of materials, like paper, to build beautiful structures and inspiring in building both temporary and permanent shelters and housing for those seeking relief at natural disaster sites around the world."

Tell us a fun fact!

"I really like cooking and learning about food science and different cooking methods and techniques. I like to cook over a fire (and embers) whenever possible because of how primal it is trying to read a flame and controlling the heat to produce the desired result."

The McDonald-Smith Building at the University of Washington, Tacoma campus was successfully transformed as the university faced a critical need for more classroom and office spaces due to rapid growth. Utilizing advanced BIM technology and laser scans, we meticulously coordinated the renovation process, ensuring efficient ductwork installation and minimizing disruption to occupants and budget.

In just twelve months, phase one of our master plan was completed, including a 30,000 sq ft renovation of the McDonald-Smith Building. Our close collaboration with Mortenson on this design-build project was key to delivering this project swiftly and effectively, meeting the university's urgent space needs.

We value any opportunity to connect with the students and communities we design for. Shoutout to Kim Young, James Moehring, Francisco Perez, and Sofia Veniard for attending the Career Showcase last week. Students from multiple districts in the south seattle area attended to chat with industry professionals and learn more about careers in the architecture, engineering, and construction fields.

📸: Shanna Crutchfield

West Sound Technical Skills Center is a Design-Build collaboration between Bassetti Architects and Andersen Construction.

This partnership allows for delivery of a state of the art career and technical education facility serving ten area schools on an expedited timeline. With Phase 1 already under construction, join our journey as we see West Sound Tech take shape.

Andersen Construction
West Sound Technical Skills Center

Once again, we had an incredible experience at the 101st Annual Benson Tech Show! BTS 2024 marks a special milestone as this was the show's final year at the Marshall High School Swing Site. We are thrilled to be the architectural designer of the current renovation and addition to Benson Polytechnic High School, where next year's 102nd Annual BTS will proudly be held!🛠️🏗️ We're excited to continue our support and look forward to next year's show at the revamped Benson campus.

Join us today to hear the story of Van Asselt School during the A4LE Washington Chapter Spring Bus Tour. If you weren't able to snag a seat on the bus, you can still join us at 3pm on site!

The marriage of the previously abandoned historic school and the new mass timber addition creates a collage of sustainable materials, methodologies, and a model for the future of historic structures.

In 2000, Bassetti was engaged to update Mary Gates Hall. The historic building houses the University of Washington’s innovative teaching faculty that fosters interactive student learning. The project consisted of a 55,000-square-foot addition to the 1928 and 1948 Collegiate Gothic building, organized around a central commons.

The original building had multiple additions, damaging much of the original historic fabric. Historic wings were preserved, and the more recent additions were removed. To create a holistic architectural gesture in the center of the historic campus, new construction was designed as a seamless addition to the original collegiate Gothic structure. The original building windows were replaced, the masonry was cleaned and re-pointed, and roof renovations were implemented where needed.

Join Deepa on the Better Learning Podcast as she discusses Bassetti's Trauma-Informed Design initiative and what this means for our students today.

Better Learning Podcast: https://ow.ly/KO1u50RgKxi

Bassetti's TID Workbook:
https://ow.ly/f0An50RgKxj

Rendering vs. Construction

Mercer's grand Cross-Laminated Timber entrance is in sight! The entrance will be encased in glass and it's bright illumination will welcome visitors to the school, becoming a focal point atop Beacon Hill. 🦺🚧🏗️

"Better than I could have imagined!"

Check out the construction update, provided by Highline Public Schools, as the school board took their inagural tour of the developing building. See quotes from board members and photos from the tour.

Evergreen High School is one of four Mass Timber schools recently designed by Bassetti. Mass Timber is a beautiful, sustainable option offering easier installation and a lower carbon footprint than other traditional building materials.

https://www.highlineschools.org/departments/school-construction/news/news-details/~board/district-news/post/first-tour-of-evergreen-high-school-construction-project