by B.J. Novitski

One of the fastest-growing cities in the United States is Seattle, Washington. Home to Microsoft, Amazon.com, and other well-endowed companies, Seattle is experiencing a building boom in quality as well as quantity.

Amidst this renaissance of the built environment, AIA Seattle, the city's chapter of the American Institute of Architects, has set aside time again this autumn for their annual Architecture Week, actually a 10 day period, rich with events dedicated to public outreach and professional celebration.

Culminating the events is an Honor Awards program, honoring the best and the brightest of local architecture. This year's competition winners will be announced on November 13. They will include both built work and conceptual projects, investigating the relationship between architecture and environmental, human, and community conditions.

The 1998 AIA Honor Award went to the KCPQ Channel 13 Broadcast Studios, designed by Callison Architecture. A 1999 Award of Merit was given to The Miller|Hull Partnership for their Cabin on Maury Island.

One goal of the celebration is to share the profession's fascination with architecture with the general public. Design firms will offer an evening of open house; a seminar will teach homeowners how to select and work with an architect; tours, exhibits, and public lectures will explain local buildings of note; and a teach-in will give youngsters a chance to have their say. The public dialog about the state of design will be supported by an online posting of competition entries.

Another goal of the Seattle Architecture Week is professional education. Events will include workshops on sustainable design and lectures on design issues and economic forecasts.

The KCPQ Channel 13 Broadcast Studios, designed by Callison Architecture, hosted last month's "Meet the Press" event. The Fox affiliate's stylish new headquarters reflects the station's identity as a maverick independent. Photo: Chris Eden The adaptive reuse of an abandoned candy factory accommodates KCPQ's complex acoustical and technical needs for one of the nation's first all-digital broadcast television studios. Photo: Chris Eden   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.