Designbuild

The twin sister buildings, Maya and Olmeca Residence Halls at San Diego State University, are two of many legacy ‘red-brick’ 3-story buildings that were built throughout the CSU system. HED’s design team was challenged to restore and refresh the student spaces while maintaining much of the fundamental architecture, emphasizing the unique original features of the building. Creating openness and flow through the buildings with lots of collaborative areas designed for studying, playing, eating, and hanging out became the main goal of the project. HED led the full interior renovation of both buildings, including the design of the student common areas, lounges, dorms, and restrooms. Working through the challenges with the ori... More

The homeowners approached Collaborative after being inspired by projects on the website. Their goal was to introduce modern upgrades to their 1970’s split-level home to better prepare for changing family needs. Collaborative’s challenge was to utilize the existing geometry of the house and insert refreshing contemporary details. Challenging built conditions required the design and construction teams to find creative solutions that were sensitive to the client’s budget while maintaining the design intent.   A minimalist material and color composition helped improve the home’s curb appeal and entry sequence. Steel plate canopies at the main entry and garage door further define the contemporary aesthetic. The interior of the home was a collabo... More

A local developer approached Collaborative wanting to build two new homes on a challenging steep slope lot in West Seattle. The ECA designation required an elaborate foundation system to build the new structures on the site.Each home is 2,836 square feet plus a 550 square foot roof deck with territorial views of the Puget Sound. The homes feature single-car garages, elevators, 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and open light-filled living spaces. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the master bedroom face the water views as well as the deck off the living room. The sliding doors to the deck are partially covered by a cantilever, which is key in Seattle’s rainy climate. More

The homeowners approached Collaborative wanting to update their small 1,000 square-foot home in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. The design team’s challenge was to develop the steep slope site to take advantage of territorial views of the city and mountains while adhering to strict zoning requirements. The main design objectives included programming for a growing family and strong indoor/outdoor connections.All four floors of the home connect through an open central circulation tower. The main floor consists of a light-filled entry corridor, garage and entrance to the accessory dwelling unit (ADU); the second floor is home to key living spaces including the living room, kitchen, dining room, wet bar, patio, floor-to-ceiling windows and a cus... More