April 10, 2023

LMN unveils The Shop — a space for designers to build and share ideas

Photo by Emma Hinchliffe [enlarge]

Scott Crawford of LMN demonstrates the Avid CNC router, which is used to cut sheet goods and site models.

Last Thursday marked the official opening of LMN Architects' new fabrication shop at 723 First Ave., in 6,000 square feet of space last occupied by a US Bank branch.

Called The Shop, LMN describes its latest venture as a space where the firm's designers can collaborate and create in a place “dedicated for innovation, design, and fabrication.” Equally important, The Shop is also envisioned as a new community space for LMN to interact with the broader design community and where people can engage and get inspired by the new projects, prototypes, and design ideas produced in the workshop.

The idea for The Shop was conceived in 2018 when it became clear that the architect's existing fabrication space, which was in the basement of the Norton Building where LMN has its Seattle office, was no longer sufficient to support the kind of fabrication and hands-on work the firm was engaged in.

Photo by Hank Butitta/LMN Architects [enlarge]

The Shop is described as a dedicated space for innovation, design and fabrication.

LMN has transformed the former bank into a space that combines and encourages creativity and pragmatism. The Shop is organized around a central open flexible area, which can be rearranged to host special events and educational trainings or to showcase models and fabricated objects. Encircling the flexible area are four separate zones for woodworking, model-making, rapid prototyping and metalworking. These zones feature different tools such as CNC machines and 3D printers in addition to other conventional tools. There is also a small area towards the back of the space where employees can unwind and play a game of pool.

In addition, The Shop has 16 workstations for full-time shop employees and hoteling LMN team members to integrate the space into the larger firm by allowing teams to gather for collaboration and creative development. The Shop is kitty-corner to the Norton Building. Scott Crawford, a partner at LMN who spearheaded The Shop project, said securing this location was important because the firm wanted to create a space that would have a symbiotic relationship with the main office. The Shop will also soon be home to office space for nonprofit Sawhorse Revolution, which partners high school students with professional carpenters, architects and engineers, to work side-by-side on community-centered projects.

The Shop building's interior architecture has been renovated according to adaptive reuse principles, improving upon existing features of the space. The central area takes advantage of existing 21-foot ceilings for the greatest flexibility in mockups and installations. Low drop-ceilings and partitions were removed to expose the building's concrete structure and create enough clearance for a wide array of equipment and processes. Existing flooring was removed down to the concrete slab, which was then refinished to provide a durable and contemporary look.

The revitalized space allows LMN to create complex and innovative fabricated objects and prototypes.

Photo by Emma Hinchliffe [enlarge]

LMN held an opening event at The Shop last week.

“We wanted to create an inspiring environment that reminds us of the value of physically creating,” Crawford said.

The Shop's walls are lined with large images of the firm's creative fabrications, such as the unique wooden ceiling art installation that debuted at the Seattle Convention Center Summit Addition earlier this year. LMN's designers will soon begin fabrication of another unique artistic ceiling installation for its forthcoming Ocean Pavilion project in the space. The Shop's metal sign was also fabricated in-house.

LMN plans to host both company and community events at The Shop. For example, the UW College of Built Environments will be holding an event there later this month. Events will also be scheduled to coincide with the Pioneer Square First Thursday Art Walk program.

“It's pretty unique for an architecture firm to have a public-facing space like this,” Crawford added. “Building community feels more important than ever since the pandemic and we hope The Shop becomes a place for the design community to come together and be inspired,” he concluded.

Construction began on The Shop last September. GLY was the general contractor.

(Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect GLY's role in the project.)