December 31, 2025

In Memoriam 2025 – Architects of influence

Photo by Dmitriy Burlakov via iStock [enlarge]

John Edward Mahlum (1939–2025) focused on institutional facility design, including the restoration of the University of Washington’s Suzzallo Library.

Each year we gain new talent in Seattle and we lose inimitable resources. As a tribute, and on behalf of the entire architectural community, DJC lists here a few of those shining stars who passed in 2025. It is not a comprehensive collection. If you know someone we could have included in this memoriam, please email nina.milligan@djc.com.

Grant Hildebrand (1934–2025): Grant Hildebrand taught architectural design, architectural history and other topics (such as his own custom course, “The Architecture of Utility and Architecture and Evolution”) at the University of Washington from 1964 to 2000. He received the University's Distinguished Teaching Award in 1975.

Hildebrand

Hildebrand earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Michigan in 1957, and a master's in 1964. From 1960 – 1964 he worked at Michigan-based Minoru Yamasaki and Associates. Hildebrand was their design team leader for Manhattan's World Trade Center.

Yamasaki was a native of Seattle and his firm designed Seattle's iconic Pacific Science Center while Hildebrand was on board (1962), and later the Rainier Tower (1972). Hildebrand had explained Yamasaki was his bridge to Seattle.

Hildebrand was Seattle's local expert on Frank Lloyd Wright, and on noted Seattle-based architects such as Wendell Lovett, Phillip Jacobson and George Suyama. Hildebrand was an award-winning author on these and other topics.

Mahlum

John Edward Mahlum (1939–2025): John E. Mahlum grew up in the Magnolia neighborhood, attending Queen Anne High School and then graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Washington in 1961. After earning a master's in architecture from Columbia University in New York, he joined his father's architecture firm Mahlum & Mahlum Architects, later Mahlum & Nordfors, currently Mahlum Architects. He focused on institutional facility design, including projects for many of the major educational and health services organizations in the Puget Sound region, such as the restoration of the University of Washington's Suzzallo Library. He was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1983.

Moudon

Anne Vernez Moudon (1945–2025): An internationally known urban designer, Anne Vernez Moudon taught architecture, landscape architecture and urban design & planning at the University of Washington from 1981 to 2015.

Moudon was born in Switzerland and studied at the School of Architecture at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale in Lausanne (EPFL) and at the University of California, Berkeley, receiving her bachelor's degree in architecture in 1969. After professional experience in Colombia and New York, she joined the faculty at MIT in 1975 focusing on housing. She completed her Doctor es Science degree (now Ph.D.) at EPFL in 1987. She was the UW Director of the Urban Design Certificate Program 1986 – 1993.

She authored several books and created notable convenings such as the “Urban Design Colloquium on Education” in Pilchuck, Washington, which attracted national leaders to gather with local experts such as Victor Steinbrueck, Phil Jacobson, Folke Nyberg, and others. Her final public lecture at the UW was called, “Thinking About Urbanization,” a title that exemplified her broad and deep career in design and planning.

Jacobson

Phillip Jacobson (1928–2025): Earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Washington State University in 1952 and then his master's in architecture while on a Fulbright Grant in Finland. Jacobson served on the faculty of the Department of Architecture and the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington from 1962 until 2000.

Jacobson's professional practice began in 1955 and retired in 1992. Projects credited to Jacobson while at Young Richard Carleton and Detlie (later TRA) include the Washington State Convention and Trade Center and the Aerospace & Engineering Research Building at the UW.

Brooks

Michael J. Brooks (1942–2025): Michael Brooks was a landscape architect in Seattle credited with many notable projects including Commodore Park and Carkeek's Pipers Creek natural area. He is credited with the master plan for the East Sammamish Plateau and Snoqualmie Ridge golf course. His final large master plan was the 4,700-acre planned community now called Tehaleh. Brooks earned his landscape architecture degree at University of California Berkley and his master's degree with honors from Harvard University. He finished his professional career in Seattle working with WA Holdings 1996-2010.

Though not Seattleites, also of importance to our architectural community who passed this year are Frank Gehry, designer of Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP), and Robert A. M. Stern. Though not credited with designs in Washington state, Stern's influence can be seen in projects planned with what he called Modern Traditionalist (AKA New Urbanism) designs, such as Issaquah Highlands.