August 10, 2020

Alaska Airlines Lounge

Photos by Andrew Pogue, Graham Baba Architects [enlarge]

The 15,800-square-foot flagship Alaska Airlines Lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is part of the first phase of the modernization of the airport’s North Satellite.

The design borrows from the Pacific Northwest’s rivers and water while maximizing views and daylight.

A large central fireplace, bistro area, bar and barista station are separated with oak and metal screens. Each space has its own furnishings, floor and ceiling materials, and light quality. The concierge area has a sculptural wood desk and an illuminated topographical screen.

A 50-foot-wide window adjacent to the lounge entry looks over the concourse. A wall of 20-foot-tall windows wrap the perimeter of the lounge, with views of the runways, downtown Seattle, the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier.

High-backed, tufted fabric banquettes create semi-private nooks with custom designed recliners.

The walnut-topped bar is a focal point of the lounge, with illuminated “airplane bottles” as a bar back display.

Local fabricators created custom elements, such as light fixtures that recall jet engines and recycled cardboard screens.

Client:Alaska Airlines

Design architect: Graham Baba Architects

Executive architect: SRG Partnership

Contractor: Hensel Phelps

Interior design: Charlie Hellstern in collaboration with Graham Baba Architects

Lighting design: Niteo

Entry desk fabrication: Spearhead

Entry art wall: Graypants

Lighting fabricator: Resolute Lighting

Do you have photos of recent projects? Share them with DJC readers. Send high-resolution images and information to lisa.lannigan@djc.com.

Previous columns:

• Seattle Children’s Research Institute — Building Cure, 08-03-2020
• Cactus Southwest Kitchen + Bar, 07-27-2020
• The Main Apartments + Lofts, 07-20-2020
• Solis, 07-13-2020
• Amtrak train service facility, 07-06-2020
• Sehome High School, 06-29-2020
• Cypress, 06-22-2020
• Watershed Building, 06-15-2020