University of Washington: A Resilient Future Starts Here. Online Master of Infrastructure Management and Planning. Apply Now.

Architecture

Smith Tower at sunset

Harrell Rolls Out Incentive Proposal for Converting Offices to Housing

Seattle is considering legislation to support conversion of existing commercial buildings to residential. Mayor Harrell is seeking to incentivize and facilitate reuse of vacant commercial properties and fulfill a plank of his Downtown Activation Plan.

Housing Leaders Call Out Seattle’s Bare Minimum Growth Proposal

Builders, lawmakers, and housing advocates warn the 'One Seattle' growth strategy is "nothingburger" that will come up short on affordability, livability, and complying with state law. Fourplexes would be too constrained to deliver sufficient housing.

Op-Ed: Seattle Public Utilities Continues to Gouge Builders for Water System Upgrades

SPU’s practice to target developers with unsubstantiated fees to upgrade public assets for the water system continues unchecked. For the year 2023 more than 100 building permit seekers received such requirements as a condition of approval for new water service.

State Improves Model Code to Promote Middle Housing

The state responded to feedback from urbanists and homebuilders by finetuning its draft model code for missing middle housing to be more generous around lot coverage, floor area ratio, setbacks, and design standards.

The Numbers That Make Your City

Misunderstanding the size of an acre, floor area ratio, and the area of a circle ruins many conversations about the basic shape of where you live.

Saint Petersburg Metro Offers Architectural Lessons for American Transit

Transit conveys culture as its conveys passengers. The former Russian capital provides some lessons on how the Seattle region could do better. Seattle has begun...

Urbanism 101: Hostile Architecture

All urban design and architecture is implemented with a particular goal in mind — often to shape people’s behavior in a particular direction. Hostile...

Op-Ed: State Model Code Could Give Middle Housing a Shot

In House Bill 1110, the Washington State Legislature read the will of the people and demanded that we tackle the housing crisis more proactively...