Swift & Co.

Principal: Barbara Swift
Size of firm: 6
Year founded: 1982
Annual revenues: $500,000
Specialties: Urban design, cultural and community facilities, government and institutional projects, religious facilities

"Urban design is really expanding for landscape architects with the roll out of the all the major institutions from the 60’s and 70s. They’re maturing and growing," said Barbara Swift of Swift & Co. Although staff size has remained the same, revenues have grown for her firm.

Along with that comes what Swift calls "an increased degree of positive engagement" with communities.

"We, and the profession, are benefiting from this extraordinary period in Seattle’s history," she said. "Economics, comprehensive planning and growth all represent great opportunities for landscape architecture now. . . What’s important is thoughtful, generous community-based design. It is a time for landscape architects to look at the big picture and consider the future in terms of longevity, sustainability, and enduring design."

The firm’s current and recent projects include several cultural and community faculties: the Tacoma Art Museum, Squaxin Tribal Library and Museum, Seattle libraries in Ballard, Beacon Hill, and Holly Park; and King County libraries in Issaquah, Auburn, Maple Valley. Swift is on the consultant team for the Seattle Civic Center open space, now being designed for the Public Safety Building site in front of the new City Hall, with Gustafson Partners. The firm has also been at work on academic institutional projects, including the University of Washington Fisheries and Oceanography buildings, Whatcom Community College Student Center and a laboratory building, University Preparatory Academy, and Holly Park Campus of Learners. Religious facilities projects include Temple Beth Am, Temple de Hirsch Sinai and Temple Avavath Beth Israel. Swift & Co. is also doing continued work at the Woodland Park Zoo.

"Our housing projects usually have an interesting slant to them, be it whole new neighborhoods (New Holly), cohousing (Hiawatha Co-housing), or transitional housing for the menTalley ill (Avalon Mutual Housing Project)," said Swift.

"We are thrilled to continue working with artists-Beliz Brother for the Seattle City Hall, Pam Bayette for Seattle Justice Center and Ellen Sollod for the Harborview Garage-as it adds so much to a project," said Swift.

Among Swift & Co.’s private clients, Swift is seeing an interesting trend toward land reclamation and restoration.