March 20, 2026

Gold Winner —Tile

Photo copyright Dale Lang [enlarge]

The masonry design merges cultural storytelling with the building’s contemporary urban context, incorporating approximately 2,200 square feet of porcelain enamel tile.

citizenM hotel tile mosaic, Seattle

Mason contractor: Fairweather Masonry

Architect: Gensler

General contractor: Mortenson

Masonry supplier: Winsor Fireform

Spanning the façade of the citizenM hotel in Pioneer Square, Schema is a monumental art memorial executed in 6-by-6 glazed ceramic tiles. The project incorporates approximately 2,200 square feet of porcelain enamel tile, representing 100% of the masonry-clad exterior surface and transforming the building envelope into a large-scale narrative canvas.

This one-of-a-kind installation is both picturesque and representative of early Puget Sound civilization. Through layered symbolism and bold geometry, the masonry design merges cultural storytelling with contemporary urban context, creating a lasting visual dialogue between past and present.

Designed by Tacoma-based artist RYAN! Feddersen, the mural spans a dramatic vertical plane, with portions rising nearly 120 feet above grade. Access and layout were the greatest challenges, requiring detailed coordination, specialized lifts, and exacting alignment of thousands of individual tiles to maintain the integrity of the artwork at significant height.

The mural’s mosaic of symbols references Pioneer Square’s historic street grid and the ladders once used to access storefronts after the neighborhood’s 1890s regrade elevated the streets. Inspired by the aesthetic structure and vibrant color palette of traditional Native beadwork, the design reflects on the lasting impacts of colonization, industry, politics, city planning, and nature on present-day Pioneer Square.

The result is a technically demanding and culturally significant masonry installation that elevates ceramic tile into a powerful medium for storytelling and place-making.

Other Stories:

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