BJSS Duarte Bryant

Practice: Architecture and urban design

Founded: 1961

Leadership: Glenn R. “Dutch” Duarte, president (Seattle) and Larry G. Smith, CEO (Olympia)

Central Washington University Student Union and Recreation Center

“Not all states are in a recession like we are,” said Dutch Duarte, president of BJSS Duarte Bryant Architects. “There is a tremendous amount of work due to the demographics in education and senior living, and it is beginning to show signs of taking off.”

BJSS Duarte Bryant, which has offices in Seattle and Olympia, focuses on higher education, schools, law and justice, senior living, commercial and custom residential. The current staff size is 50, scaled back from 60 a year ago, and current billings stand at $7.5 million.

“Work is beginning to pick up and we have some promising projects getting underway,” he said. “We are strategically positioning ourselves to continue to do work outside of Washington state.”

Current projects this year include a student union and recreation center at Central Washington University, and the Seattle University student center.