Photo: Andrew Pogue

Olson Kundig Seattle

Seattle, Washington

Located in the Washington Shoe Building in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood, Olson Kundig’s office is an expression of our design practice and office culture. A series of renovations to the 19th‑century building has allowed the space to function as a laboratory for design experimentation, reflecting our shared values of experimentation, collaboration, and connection.

Design Principal (2003‑2016)
Tom Kundig
Design Principal (2018)
Kirsten Ring Murray
Principal
Dan Wilson

Washington Shoe Building

The Washington Shoe Building, also known as the J.M. Frink Building, was originally built in 1892 for the Washington Iron Works, and became the manufacturing and retail base for the Washington Shoe Manufacturing Company around 1895. Two additional floors were added to the top of the building in 1912, as well as additional Art Deco cladding in the 1920s or 1930s. In additional to industrial and retail, the building was used for artists lofts before being adapted for offices. Olson Kundig's first renovation in 2003 revealed a feature skylight that had been covered during World War II; later, when the firm expanded, a steel staircase was added below the skylight, linking three floors and bringing natural daylight into the office core.

Kinetic Skylight

The 14‑by‑25‑foot counterweighted, hydro‑powered skylight that caps the central atrium stair is a central feature of the office, and connects the top three floors. The skylight uses only city water pressure as an energy source to move building parts, allowing visitors to interact with and alter the space. The skylight provides natural ventilation and access to daylight, and serves as a focal point “art machine” and systems R&D investigation.

The Commons

The main Commons area is the heart of the office and serves as a flexible gathering space for special events, Thursday Crits, lunchtime presentations, and daily breakout meetings. Here, kinetic walls and adaptable seating transform to accommodate a range of uses.

Shop & Maker Space

A 1,000‑square‑foot shop and maker space adjacent to the Commons allows designers to quickly test ideas and materials, or create proof‑of‑concept models and architectural assembly prototypes.

No one who constructed this building could have predicted that it would take on so many uses over the years. That prototype of inevitable change is important to us and influences our work. Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA

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