by ArchitectureWeek

Set in an idyllic, rehabilitated setting in Tacoma, Washington, overlooking a lake, meadow, and woodland, is the corporate headquarters for Weyerhaeuser, one of the world's largest wood products manufacturing companies.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently announced that its 2001 "Twenty-five-Year Award" will be given to the Weyerhaeuser Headquarters. The AIA gives this award annually to a building that exemplifies design of enduring significance.

The Weyerhaeuser Headquarters building was completed in 1971 by the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) and the landscape architect Peter Walker.

Said AIA jury chair John Belle, FAIA, "The original design concept, which emphasized the total integration of architecture and landscape, has withstood the test of time beautifully."

Enduring Significance

Writing about the building in 1983, Oswald W. Grebe, author of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill: Architecture and Urbanism 1973-1983, described the building as having three distinct but connected parts:

"First, a two-story glazed pavilion, the second story of which is free of exterior walls. This contains laboratory and office space. Second, a parallel link on two levels containing entry lobbies, cafeteria, meeting rooms, and library. Third, a two-story space containing large-scale development equipment which is totally without exterior glazing."

The terraces are planted with ivy which sweeps from the natural land form at either end. Photo: Ezra Stoller/Esto The building was completed in 1971 by the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Photo: Ezra Stoller/Esto   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.