Weinstein A+U

Weinstein A+U is pleased to announce the start of an ownership transition. Principals Robert Kiker, Dávila Parker-Garcia, Kirsten Wild, and Matthew Zinski join Ed Weinstein as partners. The firm, founded in 1977 by Ed Weinstein, is recognized by clients and fellow architects for its thoughtful approach to architecture and urban design, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2019 Northwest & Pacific Region Firm of the Year Award. Ed’s steadfast commitment to a disciplined design approach and rationally conceived buildings has been instrumental in defining the firm’s identity. As Weinstein A+U embarks on this new chapter, the firm’s mission of shaping places, one thoughtful building at a time, will continue to guide its work under the leadership of the new partners. Daniel Goddard remains an integral part of the leadership team in his role as Principal, committed to the future of Weinstein A+U, but has opted not to participate in ownership. Photos: @anam.media

Last week, WAU visited Vancouver to tour two recently completed projects and take a walking tour of the city to appreciate its architecture and urbanism. Thank you to @hcma.ca for the tour of Vancouver Fire Hall 17, North America’s first Passive House certified fire station, and the təməsew ̓ txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre, Canada’s first completed Zero Carbon Building-Design certified aquatic centre. Both buildings are doing things worth seeing in person. #ZeroCarbonBuilding #SustainableDesign #CivicArchitecture #Vancouver

“Our goal was to create a timeless, rational architecture that reflects the values of a science-based organization.” - Rob Kiker, Partner @robertlkiker Photography: @anam.media

The West Entry achieved LEED Gold certification. One contributing strategy: managing stormwater on site. Working with civil engineers @sitewise_llc , WAU designed an underground infiltration system beneath the plaza. A linear trench drain connects the entry path to the gates, directing runoff while organizing the plaza geometry. Required infrastructure becomes a design element. Image 1: Aerial view of the West Entry plaza showing the linear trench drain connecting the entry path to the gates. Photography: @laraswimmer #SustainableDesign #CivicInfrastructure #DesignProcess #SeattleArchitecture

Woodland Park Zoo welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. The grade change between the parking and plaza presented an opportunity to make this commitment visible. Rather than a grand staircase, WAU worked with landscape architects, @siteworkshop , to design a serpentine landscaped path that accommodates strollers, wheelchairs, and visitors with mobility challenges. The sloping site inspired the project’s defining architectural element: a concrete wall that emerges from the earth and becomes the spine of the south building. Image 1: Site plan showing the serpentine landscaped path connecting the parking area to the plaza, navigating the grade change without stairs. Image 2: The plaza welcomes visitors of all abilities, with strollers and wheelchairs moving freely though the accessible entry sequence. Image: @laraswimmer #AccessibleDesign #DesignProcess #SeattleArchitecture #CivicDesign

The IPE wood cladding was designed on a 6” module: 5.5” boards with 1/2” gaps, calculated to within 1/16th of an inch. Natural hardwood varies. The team designed for this, identifying which elements were fixed and which could absorb variation. The gaps were meant to provide flex, allowing the building dimensions to hold. This approach maintains conceptual fidelity while working with the material rather than against it. Image 1-2: Building elevation showing the coordinated material assembly: exposed concrete base, IPE cladding module over the clerestory windows. Image 3: The unified design language across buildings: concrete base, wood cladding, steel framing, and deep overhangs create a consistent material rhythm throughout the entry. Photography: @laraswimmer #DesignProcess #Craftmanship #DetailDesign #SeattleArchitecture

How do you design a plaza that welcomes thousands of concertgoers on a summer evening and feels equally inviting to a single family on a rainy afternoon? WAU developed transformative elements that adapt to visitor volume while maintaining a welcoming presence. At the ticketing booths, bifold wood screens adjust to demand. When closed, they create a cohesive wall. When open, they form barriers providing privacy between transactions. At the entry gate, a sliding panel with zoo signage obscures the exit turnstiles during operating hours, creating a welcoming threshold. When the zoo closes, the panel slides to reveal the exit gate for clear wayfinding. Image 1: Bifold IPE screens in closed position. Image 2: Screens open to form V-shaped barriers between ticket windows. Image 3: The entry panel during the day: a welcoming threshold while obscuring the exit gates. Image 4: The entry panel during closing: revealing the closing turnstile. Photography: @laraswimmer #DesignProcess #CivicDesign #SeattleArchitecture #problemsolvingjogja

Zoo entrances typically rely on themed environments that become dated as exhibits change. Zoo projects also involve many stakeholders with competing priorities: management, animal keepers, retail operations, grounds staff, and the owner. The West Entry needed to include ticketing, membership services, a zoo store, guest services, and restrooms. WAU proposed a unified design language across four buildings: ticketing, membership services, zoo store, and guest services, as well as restrooms. WAU’s design was organized around a simple principle: to provide a monumental overhang to shield waiting visitors from the elements. The result reads as a single coherent place rather than a collection of disconnected buildings. Image 1: The zoo store maintains a prominent presence on the plaza. Image 2: Deep roof overhangs shelter visitors at the ticketing building. Image 3: The guest services building demonstrates how the unified design language accommodates changing exhibit promotions. Photography: @laraswimmer #CivicDesign #TimelessDesign #SeattleArchitecture #DesignPhilosophy

This month, we’re featuring the West Entry @woodlandparkzoo . Completed in 2010, this project consolidated two aging entries into a unified gateway that has welcomed millions of visitors over the last 15 years. We’re proud that Woodland Park Zoo trusted us with this opportunity. Follow along as we explore the design decisions that shaped this civic space. Image 1: Visitors approach the West Entry through the main ticketing building, sheltered by deep overhangs. Image 2: The unified design language extends across multiple buildings, with IPE wood cladding and clerestory windows creating a consistent architectural vocabulary. Photography: @laraswimmer #WoodlandParkZoo #SeattleArchitecture #CivicDesign #ZooDesign #DesignProcess

The @acementorseattle pairs high school students with architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to provide direct experience working on projects alongside practicing professionals. WAU has been one of the many companies volunteering to host students, mentoring a team of high school students in designing a real City of Seattle RFP for a neighborhood market near Northgate Station. Will and Christine have been leading the architecture students in designing a 25,000 SF mass-timber grocery store and community market. This year’s program kicked off last October, and the group has just a few weeks left before their final presentation! #ACEMentor #ArchitectureEducation #SeattleArchitecture Images 1-2: Will (@will_shares_pics ) and Christine working through interior layouts with the ACE team at Union Stables. Images 3-5: Early sketches done by the students that helped inform the overall design.

We are pleased to announce that Lauren Rock @lrock629 has been promoted to Senior Associate at Weinstein A+U. During her 13 years with the firm, Lauren has built a reputation for the kind of technical rigor that keeps complex projects on track, managing intricate coordination among programs, municipal requirements, and construction realities that define successful fire station, commercial interior, office, adaptive reuse, and multifamily projects. “What I appreciate most about Lauren is her attention to detail, her tenacity in resolving issues, and her strong sense of responsibility towards her team and her clients.” - Kirsten Wild, Partner Her promotion reflects both the quality of her design work and the steady leadership that strengthens WAU from the inside out. Congratulations, Lauren. Image 1: Lauren Rock, Senior Associate, Weinstein A+U. Image: @anam.media Image 2: Seattle Fire Station 22, where Lauren served as Project Architect. Image: @laraswimmer Image 3: Tukwila Fire Station 51, one of two concurrent Tukwila fire stations Lauren led as Project Architect. Image: @laraswimmer Image 4: Tukwila Fire Station 52, where Lauren served as Project Architect. Image: @laraswimmer #SeattleArchitecture #Promotions #WeinsteinAU #WAU

We are pleased to announce that Emma Nowinski @heybionda has been promoted to Senior Associate at Weinstein A+U. Emma’s structural engineering background and construction management experience give her a distinctive ability to anticipate and resolve technical challenges before they impact a project, a quality that has defined her work on complex multifamily projects like Beacon Crossing and Eastlake, as well as on fire stations for Seattle and Tukwila. “Emma brings a collaborative project management with a focus on achieving the best possible outcome. She actively pursues leadership training to develop tools to address the varied needs of different project types and remains open to integrating new processes.” - Kirsten Wild, Partner Within the office, Emma has become a mentor for project managers navigating complex deliverables. Congratulations, Emma. Image 1: Emma Nowinski, Senior Associate, Weinstein A+U. Image: @anam.media Image 2: Tukwila Fire Station 51, one of two concurrent Tukwila fire stations Emma led as Project Manager. Image 3: Eastlake Apartments, where Emma served as Project Manager. Image 4: Beacon Crossing Apartments, where Emma served as Project Manager. #SeattleArchitecture #Promotions #WeinsteinAU #WAU