Pryde + Johnson

Specialty: Sustainable projects in urban infill locations
Management: Curt Pryde and Fawn Johnson, principals
Founded: 2003
Headquarters: Seattle
Current projects: Hjärta in Ballard, Florera in Green Lake, Ashworth Cottages in Green Lake

Photo courtesy of Pryde + Johnson Pryde + Johnson’s Ashworth Cottages in Green Lake have been LEED platinum certified.

Pryde + Johnson has a philosophy behind the way it develops that is centered on sustainably creating spaces for people to interact with their communities. It’s that philosophy, said principal Fawn Johnson, that both inspires the company and will help it weather the current downturn in the market.

Pryde + Johnson, founded by husband and wife duo Curt Pryde and Johnson, seeks to renew urban environments by creating projects out of healthy and sustainable materials that strengthen community ties. They only develop in urban walkable areas and all projects are LEED certified.

One recent project is Ashworth Cottages in Green Lake. The LEED platinum cottages are examples of high-density, ultra green homes. Features include formaldehyde-free doors and millwork, an on-demand hot-water system that warms water at the push of a button, and a heat recovery ventilation system that constantly filters air through the house.

Building green

Though green projects are all the rage right now, Johnson said not many developers have really committed to building sustainably. She said that makes Pryde + Johnson’s projects stand out. “The sustainability aspect of our work, we feel, is a real selling point because not many builders have gone that way.”

As the market slows, she said, buyers will increasingly consider value.

“(Our projects) hold their value much more. We’re not about selling to people that are looking for that quick profit,” she said. “We’re looking for people that are looking to come and stay.”

Still, the danger in a slowing market is not so much a dip locally, Johnson said, but a perception that even though Seattle is still holding fairly strong, it will follow the market lead of the rest of the country. She said people in Seattle have been spoiled by a market that allows a house to be bought and turned at a quick profit.

Changing landscapes

Things have changed in sustainable projects, even since 2003 when the company was founded. There are more green choices in green, healthy materials, subcontractors have more experience in green systems and manufacturers have begun to move their product lines in a greener way.

“It’s not reinventing the wheel every time we do something,” Johnson said. “We see much more available in terms of products (and) expense. When we first started looking at materials and subcontractors, it was very, very limited.”

Not an easy path

Developing sustainably isn’t always an easy path. There is push back from some in the industry, while others view green projects as a trend. While the popularity of green is helping to get the word out about its benefits, Johnson insists green isn’t just a fad. Many of the new green systems Pryde + Johnson uses are already common in Europe and other parts of the world, she said.

Pryde + Johnson hopes to keep pushing the envelope in local green systems and buildings, she said. It is looking forward to tackling net-zero projects and creating more workforce housing next.