Our History
From Olson Kundig’s earliest days to our most recent news, explore the foundational moments, key milestones, and signature projects that have guided more than six decades of practice.
1959
Origins & Foundations
Jim Olson’s dad gives him $500 to build a bunkhouse on the family’s cottage property at Longbranch.
Jim Olson travels to Egypt, India, Africa, and Iran. He is especially inspired by the rhythmic colonnades and vertical proportions of Egyptian temples.
After graduating from the University of Washington and gaining some experience, Jim Olson starts his own firm, Jim Olson Architect.
Jim Olson completes the Conry Residence (Longbranch, WA), his first architectural commission.
Jim Olson and fellow Seattle architect Gordon Walker start a tradition of critiquing and discussing one another’s’ projects—the beginning of Crit.
Olson/Walker is formed.
Earth House (completed in 1970) is featured on the cover of Sunset Magazine’s October issue.
The Pike & Virginia Building (Seattle, WA) receives the firm’s first AIA Seattle Honor Award.
Jim Olson assists with drawings and installation for artist James Turrell’s first major exhibit in Seattle at the Center for Contemporary Art (CoCA).
Olson Sundberg Architects is formed.
Tom Kundig joins the firm; he will become an owner in 1994.
The firm’s first spiritual project, Overlake Park Presbyterian Church (Bellevue, WA), is completed.
Gallery House (Seattle, WA), Jim Olson’s first residence for a major art collector, is completed.
Urban Sanctuary (Seattle, WA), Jim Olson’s apartment, is completed. Urban Sanctuary will be renovated in 2008, and expanded in 2021.
Kirsten Ring Murray joins the firm; she becomes an owner in 2008.
1990
Defining a Culture
Jim Olson is elevated to the AIA College of Fellows.
The firm is named to Architectural Digest’s AD100 list for the first time. To date, the firm has been named to the list 17 times.
Alan Maskin joins the firm; he will become an owner in 2008.
The firm’s weekly all-office Monday Meeting and monthly Speaker Series begin.
Crit, is established as a weekly tradition, where the entire office gathers every Thursday to discuss a project or design challenge.
First Hill Exhibit (Seattle, WA), the firm’s first exhibit design project, is completed.
The firm’s International Internship Program is established by Kirsten Ring Murray and Alan Maskin.
Kevin M. Kudo-King joins the firm as an intern; he becomes an owner in 2015.
The expansion and renovation of St. Mark’s Cathedral (Seattle, WA) is completed.
Studio House (Seattle, WA) receives an AIA Seattle Honor Award.
House of Light (Bellevue, WA), featuring a custom installation by James Turrell, is completed.
2000
Making Waves
Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen is formed.
The firm’s in-house Interior Design studio is formed.
Ocean House (The Big Island, Hawaii), the firm’s first project in Hawaii, is completed.
An American Place (Seattle, WA) is completed.
The Monacelli Press publishes Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects: Architecture, Art, and Craft.
The firm moves into the Washington Shoe Building.
Chicken Point Cabin (Northern Idaho), which includes the firm’s first major kinetic element, wins an AIA National Architecture Award.
The Brain (Seattle, WA) wins an AIA National Architecture Award.
Tom Kundig is elevated to the AIA College of Fellows.
William K. Stout publishes Art + Architect: The Ebsworth Collection + Residence, featuring An American Place.
The Ledge, a micro-gallery hosted between workstations, is founded.
Princeton Architectural Press publishes Tom Kundig: Houses.
Tom Kundig wins an Academy Award in Architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Jim Olson receives an AIA Seattle Medal of Honor.
Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center (Los Angeles, CA) is completed.
Hong Kong Villa (Shek-O, China), the firm’s first project in Asia, is completed.
Tom Kundig wins a National Design Award in Architecture from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
Delta Shelter (Mazama, WA) wins an AIA National Architecture Award.
Monacelli Press publishes Jim Olson: Houses.
Lightcatcher at the Whatcom Museum (Bellingham, WA), the first LEED®️ Silver certified museum in the state of Washington, is completed.
The firm receives the AIA National Architecture Firm Award.
Olson Kundig Architects is formed.
Outpost (Bellevue, ID) wins an AIA National Architecture Award.
The firm is named one of the Most Innovative Companies in Architecture by Fast Company for the first time.
1111 E. Pike (Seattle, WA) wins an AIA National Housing Award.
Princeton Architectural Press publishes Tom Kundig: Houses 2.
Art Stable (Seattle, WA) wins an AIA National Housing Award. Art Stable will go on to win an AIA National Architecture Award in 2013.
[storefront], an experimental space for collaborations and community projects, launches; monthly installations will be hosted there for the next two years.
Jim Olson and Tom Kundig are inducted into Interior Design’s Hall of Fame.
Gizmologist Phil Turner joins the firm, bringing his kinetic design expertise in-house.
The Pierre (San Juan Islands, WA) wins an AIA National Housing Award. The Pierre will go on to win an AIA National Architecture Award and AIA National Interior Architecture Award in 2014.
Whatcom Museum publishes Jim Olson: Art in Architecture.
House of Smith Tasting Room & World Headquarters (Walla Walla, WA) wins an AIA National Architecture Award.
2014
Reaching New Heights
Sol Duc Cabin (Olympic Peninsula, WA) wins an AIA National Housing Award.
Shinsegae International (Seoul, South Korea) is completed.
JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa (San Jose del Cabo, Mexico), the firm’s first hospitality project, is completed.
Olson Kundig publishes Kirsten Ring Murray: Every day.
Studhorse (Winthrop, WA) wins an AIA National Housing Award.
Outpost Basel, the firm’s first pavilion for Design Miami/Basel Switzerland, is created.
Princeton Architectural Press publishes Tom Kundig: Works.
The firm launches two new cultural initiatives: Travel Fellowships and Creative Exchange Residencies.
The firm designs Thundercloud, the Windermere VIP lounge at the second annual Seattle Art Fair.
Tofino Beach House (Tofino, BC) is completed.
Kirsten Ring Murray is elevated to the AIA College of Fellows.
Sawmill (Tehachapi, CA) wins an AIA National Housing Award. Sawmill will go on to win AIA National Committee on the Environment Top Ten and AIA National Small Project Awards in 2018.
ICE CUBE, a temporary installation, debuts at the Seattle Design Festival.
KLOK, the firm’s internal radio station, is created.
Bilgola Beach House (Sydney, Australia), the firm’s first project in Australia, is completed.
Tom Kundig receives the AIA Seattle Gold Medal.
Thames & Hudson publishes Jim Olson: Building • Nature • Art.
Hemanshu Parwani (HP) joins the firm as COO/CFO; he will become an owner and CEO in 2021.
2020
Designing the Future
Princeton Architectural Press publishes Tom Kundig: Working Title.
Martin’s Lane Winery (Kelowna, Canada) wins an AIA National Architecture Award.
ANOHA—The Children’s World of the Jewish Museum Berlin (Berlin, Germany), the firm’s first cultural project in Europe, is completed.
The firm’s ownership group expands.
The Century Project at the Space Needle wins an AIA National Honor Award.
Costa Rica Treehouse (Santa Teresa, Costa Rica) wins an AIA National Housing Award. Costa Rica Treehouse will go on to win an AIA National Small Project Award in 2023.
Rio House (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil), the firm’s first project in South America, wins an AIA National Housing Award.
Maxon Studio (Carnation, WA), a movable home office on railroad tracks, is completed.
The firm expands to New York City.
The firm is named Best Large Firm by the Architizer A+Awards.
The first Aro Home (Mountain View, CA), one of the firm’s most environmentally positive houses ever designed, is completed.
Jim Olson and Tom Kundig are honored with the Federación de Colegios de Arquitectos de la República Mexicana (FCARM) Medal.
Images Publishing published New Heights: Transforming Seattle’s Iconic Space Needle.
Leach Botanical Garden (Portland, OR) wins an AIA National Small Project Award.
The Wagner Education Center at the Center for Wooden Boats (Seattle, WA) wins AIA National Honor Award.
Today
Olson Kundig continues to innovate on behalf of our clients, informed by the perspectives and experience of our teammates and collaborators. Building on our foundation in residential design and deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, we work to expand the context of built and natural landscapes and create inspiring spaces that positively impact every aspect of users’ daily lives.
