King County Civic Ground: 2018-2024
Image Credit: Northwest Studio
PROJECT OVERVIEW
King County, Washington is home to more than 2.2 million people including Seattle, the county seat. The core county facilities are spread over eight acres of land in downtown Seattle, with a total of 2.3 million existing square feet of space in buildings that range in age from 17 years old to 112 years old. Most of its facilities are now functionally obsolete, or are facing rapidly escalating, costly maintenance and repairs that may be financially unsustainable.
Starting in 2018, Northwest Studio led the planning initiative to provide the public and King County leaders with viable strategies for campus investments, including county facilities and public spaces. Key focus areas include planning new environments that are designed for equity and fairness, that build respectful civic experiences, that create resilient working places, create beautifully restorative environments, and deliver financially sound projects.
Northwest Studio partnered with Stepherson & Associates Communications to create a comprehensive community engagement plan, including a community advisory board, government partners group and other focused strategies.
As project manager and engagement lead, I facilitated and staffed critical planning meetings with county leadership, community groups, project partners, and congressional representatives, providing detailed engagement reports and recommendations over five years. Published in 2024, the King County Civic Ground Report, thoughtfully outlines a path forward for county facilities anchored in equity, climate resiliency, and a larger vision of placemaking and urban vibrancy.