June 5, 2025

Mahlum Architects welcomes new partners/owners

Photo courtesy of Mahlum [enlarge]

At Mahlum, Abby Dacey (left) and PJ Bauser have been elevated to partner and now join the firm’s ownership group. Photo courtesy of Mahlum

Seattle architecture firm Mahlum has elevated Abby Dacey and PJ Bauser to the role of partner. Both now join the firm's ownership group and will help guide Mahlum's strategic direction and uphold its core values and vision.

Since joining Mahlum in 2016, Dacey has expanded the firm's PK-12 work based in Oregon and Southwest Washington, drawing on 24 years of experience in early learning and PK-12 educational facilities.

As partner, Dacey will continue her leadership role in the firm's PK-12 educational work and will expand her influence across broader community engagement efforts.

Dacey leads Mahlum's Commitment to Community program, which guides the firm's pro bono design work. She also oversees Mahlum's Charitable Giving program, directing resources to mission-aligned, community-based nonprofits and forging partnerships with organizations that share the firm's values.

Photo by Art Ross [enlarge]

Dacey’s projects include Lakeridge Middle School in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Committed to inspiring the next generation of architects, Dacey helped establish Mahlum's Internship Program, which brings students into the firm's offices (in Seattle and Portland) each summer, and she mentors emerging talent through partnerships with local universities. She also serves on the board of the Architecture Foundation of Oregon, connecting local middle and high school students with opportunities in the AEC industry.

Dacey's notable work includes the new Lakeridge Middle School in Lake Oswego, Oregon, which received a 2024 AIA Committee on Architecture for Education Facility Design Award. Recently, she guided the design of a new Cornelius Elementary School in Forest Grove, Oregon, and is currently leading the modernization of Cleveland High School in Portland.

She holds a Masters of Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin, is a registered architect in Oregon and Washington, and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

PJ Bauser has 20 years of experience in healthcare design. Since joining Mahlum in 2007, he has played a key role in advancing the firm's award-winning healthcare practice. In 2014, Bauser led a strategic re-evaluation of Mahlum's healthcare practice, shifting the focus from large institutions onto community-based organizations that provide personalized, meaningful care.

Photo by Benjamin Benschneider [enlarge]

Bauser led the design of the Rainier Beach Clinic for Northwest Kidney Centers, which opened in 2019.

As a newly named partner, Bauser will continue to lead Mahlum's healthcare work while also deepening his focus on helping shape and support the well-being of the employee experience.

Bauser leads the firm's partnership with Future Workplace Design, which includes staff training, employee listening sessions, and identifying strategies to better support employees.

Notable work includes the 2021 AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Award winning Rainier Beach Clinic for Northwest Kidney Centers in Seattle and Snoqualmie Valley Health's new Medical Office Building.

Bauser holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Art and Architecture. He is a registered architect in Washington state, a board-certified healthcare architect with the American College of Healthcare Architects, and a LEED Accredited Professional.