Derek Santo, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, first joined Olson Kundig through the firm’s International Internship Program in 2002, returning a year later as full-time team member, and was elevated to Associate in 2022.

Derek Santo
Senior Associate | AIA, LEED AP BD+C
He has experience working on a range of single-family residential projects, spanning large volumes to very constrained footprints, as well as commercial and public projects, including the Center for Wooden Boats and a new Visitor Center at Washington State University, his alma mater. An athlete and devoted Seattle sports fan, Derek has especially enjoyed projects—such as the LeBron James Innovation Center at Nike World Headquarters—that allow him to bring that passion to his architectural work.
Early in his career, Derek often joined projects late in their lifecycle, as construction documents were being developed and finalized. As a result, he has cultivated a keen eye for detailing and is a knowledge leader within the office for enclosure and envelope detailing, known for his skill at identifying efficient solutions to technical challenges that integrate with a project’s design vision. Derek enjoys collaborating closely with clients, internal teammates and external partners to anticipate and proactively resolve detailing issues. As a member of Olson Kundig’s internal Quality Control review team and dedicated mentor, he shares this knowledge and experience with project teams and colleagues across the firm.
Projects
Education
Washington State University, Bachelor of Arts in Architecture
Awards
2024
Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award, Cyrus Restaurant
AIA National Honor Award – Architecture, Wagner Education Center at The Center for Wooden Boats
2023
Architizer A+ Awards Finalist, Low Rise Office CategoryChicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, The Lebron James Innovation Center at Nike World Headquarters
2022
AIA Northwest & Pacific Region Design Awards, Merit Award, The Lebron James Innovation Center at Nike World Headquarters
Interior Design Best of Year Awards Finalist, Sports/Fitness Office Category, The Lebron James Innovation Center at Nike World Headquarters
2020
AIA Seattle Honor Awards for Washington Architecture, Award of Honor, Wagner Education Center at the Center for Wooden Boats
2019
AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Design Awards, Merit Award, Wagner Education Center at the Center for Wooden Boats
AIA Washington Council Civic Design Awards, Honor Award, Wagner Education Center at the Center for Wooden Boats
Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, Building of the Year Finalist, Wagner Education Center at the Center for Wooden Boats