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"Each one of us learns from the other," says Sundberg. "It's not a singular, standalone thing. Jim does most of the houses, but I certainly learned from [his work] doing the Frye, and vice versa."

The firm prides itself on teaching through practice-based mentoring, which includes an international six-month internship program and participation in a high school mentorship program.

Among the many collaborative activities the firm engages in are weekly Thursday-evening critique sessions, where even the most junior employee is invited to offer ideas and criticisms of projects. This is no place for the stereotypical architect's ego.

"I'm actually even doing a kitchen remodel now, for a friend of the family," Sundberg laughs. "I thought, 'When's the last time I did this?' But it's actually good to keep all those wacky old muscles loose."

"The thing I enjoy about the firm's culture is that, in spite of an industry trend toward specialization, we've maintained a value system that celebrates generalism," says Kirsten Murray. "Nurturing that is what allows us to maintain and grow the quality of work."

Looking Ahead

By fostering a collaborative, enriching culture, the principals of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen seem well poised to ensure the firm's success long beyond the tenure of any one architect. They continue to add to an already dense portfolio, particularly with arts-oriented and urban mixed-use projects.

One project on the boards is the Sun Valley Center for the Arts in Ketchum, Idaho. A LEED-registered project that plans to harvest energy and resources from sun, rain, and snow, the center will include 42,000 square feet (3,900 square meters) of exhibit space, classrooms, and art project areas.

Inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy — whose work is also part of the collection on display in the firm's 1998 Garden House in Atherton, California — the architects' design for Sun Valley allows artists and curators to morph the space over time, blurring the line between architecture and art.

Also about to break ground is the Art Stable, a seven-story residential building in Seattle's burgeoning South Lake Union district. Within warehouse-like live-work spaces, a gallery can become part of your home here, or an artist can live in a space attached to his or her studio.

"If you're actively engaged in developing a lifetime of work, whether as an individual or a firm, it's always evolving and changing," Kundig says. "And I think that's the exciting part. I just love the whole process of making buildings, doing the conceptual sketches, the refinement of the drawings, and getting involved in the construction of the building."

Sundberg agrees: "I still can't wait to get to work in the morning because it's still new."

As the AIA award reflects, the commitment of these architects to wholistic architecture — rich with materiality and craft, enhancing neighborhood and society, embodying artful pragmatism, and expressing enduring sculptural beauty — comes through in beautiful, effortlessly functional works that are sure to endure.

Brian Libby is a Portland, Oregon-based freelance writer who has also published in Metropolis, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and Architectural Record.   More by Brian Libby

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