November 14, 2022

Washington projects win big at 19th Annual INawards

Photo by Kevin Scott [enlarge]

The Shop by Porter designed by Porter and Graham Baba Architects was a big winner of the night, taking home two awards.

The 19th Annual INawards were held earlier this month at the Embassy Suites in Pioneer Square.

The awards are presented by the Northern Pacific Chapter of the International Interior Design Association and honor design excellence in interior design and interior architecture projects representing achievement in creativity and innovation across IIDA's Northern Pacific Chapter. The Northern Pacific chapter covers Alaska, Idaho, Washington, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Awards were given across 12 categories ranging from education to life-sciences. A people's choice and best overall project award were also announced, both of which went to Seattle-based companies. Six Washington projects took home top prizes. They are as follows:

Wing Luke Elementary designed by NAC Architecture, Best in Category. This new public school building, which opened in April 2021, is located in Seattle's South Beacon Hill neighborhood. It replaced an aging facility built in 1971. The school is 82,000-square-feet and designed for up to 500 students in grades K-5. It includes spaces for special education, early learning, art, and music. Classrooms are arranged in clusters around an open, flexible learning commons and an enclosed small group collaboration space. This gives teachers the ability to customize their learning environments to meet a variety of student needs, from project-based group work to one-on-one instruction. Additional informal collaboration spaces are distributed throughout the building in the hallway, under the stairs, and in alcoves. Jody Miller Construction was the general contractor.

Holden of Bellevue Senior Community Center designed by Ankrom Moisan, Best in Category. Holden of Bellevue is mid-rise senior community at 121 112th Ave. N.E. Completed last year, the building is 132,000 square feet and has 136-units for seniors who need memory care or assisted living. The design is described as contemporary and the complex has hospitality-influenced amenities that include restaurants, lounges and a fitness area. The architect said the “community was designed with the idea that luxury is the ultimate pinnacle of design.” Luxury features include a water feature at the main entry of the kind you might expect to see at a high-end hotel. The concierge desk is also richly appointed, with a full-height chevron backdrop of limestone tile, gold decorative pendants, and a walnut ceiling. Alliance Residential was the general contractor.

Seattle Children's Odessa Brown Clinic – Othello designed by NBBJ, Best in Category. The Odessa Brown Children's Clinic opened this March at 3939 S. Othello St., within the seven-story, mixed-use Orenda building, which opened last fall. The 41,679-square-foot clinic offers outpatient pediatric services, pediatric medical care, behavioral health, dental services, nutrition, sports medicine, physical therapy and occupational therapy and has been designed to cultivate a sense of community and calm for patients and their families. Absher was the general contractor. The DJC profiled the project in August (https://tinyurl.com/DJCOdBC).

Seattle University Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation designed by Mithun, Best in Category. Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, this new 170,000-square-foot, five-story building, opened last year. It is nestled at the entry of Seattle U's primary campus. The facility showcases STEM research and learning to students and the greater community. It has state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms and collaboration spaces that augment Seallte U's other College of Science and Engineering facilities. Skanska was the general contractor.

The Kärsti designed by Neiman Taber Architects, Distinction Accolade for Relevancy. The Kärsti is a co-living development at 1503 N.W. 59th St. in Ballard. Renters have their own private studio apartment and access to over 3,000 square feet of shared spaces and amenities. Kärsti is designed to foster community without compromising privacy. Each floor has a large, pre-stocked chef's kitchen with stainless appliances and quartz counters, seating, and laundry. The main floor boasts a generous lounge and kitchen for resident events and social gatherings. Aesthetically Kärsti is inspired by 80s punk rock, with a high contrast neutral interior interspersed by intense pops of color. Pacific Continental Construction was the general contractor. The DJC profiled the project in February (https://tinyurl.com/DJCKarsti)

The Shop by Porter designed by Porter and Graham Baba Architects, Best in Category. This unique hybrid office/shopping/hospitality experience is located at 1201 Second Ave., Suite 100, in the ground level of the 2+U building in Seattle's Central Business District. Part office, part co-working space, part coffee shop, part bar and part retail experience, The Shop was created for Porter's workforce, designers, architects and clients but also for members of the public who are invited to come in and enjoy the bar and cafe. The shop features custom designed art pieces by Electric Coffin. MRJ Constructors was the general contractor. The DJC profiled the project in June (https://tinyurl.com/DJCTheShop.)

The Shop by Porter also took home the prestigious People's Choice award.

Photo by Ari Burling Photography [enlarge]

Seattle-based Design Well Spent Co. won the INshow Best of the Best Award for Treat at JFK Airport.

Taking home the top prize of the night was Seattle-based Design Well Spent Co. which won the INshow Best of the Best Award for Treat, a new health and wellness retail center located at JFK Airport, Terminal Four. Treat is a new concept and brand created by XpresSpa that offers wellness services at airports. These include COVID-19 testing, vitamin IV drips and anxiety care. Design Well Spent was tasked with converting an existing XpresSpa location into the new Treat concept. Scope of services included concept development, custom fixtures, mill-work, and signage design. Treat has soothing pink tones and incorporates biophilic design elements like wood and greenery.

The full list of INaward winners is at https://www.iida-northernpacific.org/inawards