June 16, 2017

Memorial Saturday for architect David Spiker

Retired Seattle architect David Spiker died Wednesday at age 70 of complications from cancer, according to landscape architect Karen Kiest.

Spiker moved to Seattle in 1998, and was an associate with Sierra Architecture Co., on staff at Hewitt and an associate principal at CollinsWoerman.

Spiker

He joined the Seattle Design Commission in 2003, and was the chair from 2004-2007. While Spiker was on the commission, he worked with Seattle's planning director John Rahaim on the early stages of the Central Waterfront Plan, design of the Central Library and Central Link Light Rail.

In a 2006 story in the DJC about replacing the viaduct with a revamped waterfront, Spiker said: “This thing has to go. Seattle is a world class city and needs a world class waterfront.”

Spiker was a regular at Arcade NW events, and was on the editorial board and a guest editor of Arcade magazine. He also was on AIA Seattle's executive board and co-curated the “New Edge|New Blood” show in 2008.

Spiker was born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and earned a bachelor of architecture degree in 1969 from Pratt Institute in New York. He taught architecture at Pennsylvania State University, and worked for architect David Franzen.

Spiker received a master's degree from Yale School of Architecture in 1978, and worked for architect Richard Meier, and was a principal of Goshow Architects.

Rico Quirindongo, a senior associate with DLR Group in Seattle, said he met Spiker more than a decade ago. He said they shared an interest in being part of conversations about civic change and large projects.

“David was a talented designer and good guy,” said Quirindongo. He said Spiker cared about design projects, though “there were times where I think his impatience with the Seattle process was evident.”

After he retired, Spiker made regular visits to his neighborhood haunts, including the Olympic Sculpture Park.

A remembrance for him will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday. People will meet at Romio's Pizza, 2801 Western Ave., and walk to the Elliott Bay shoreline.

Spiker is survived by his sister Barbara Pinho, niece Dawn Paruta, and aunt Joan Ragan.