BuildingWork

04/08/2026

Urban Land Magazine recently featured insights from Urban Land Institute Northwest’s Adaptive Reuse Symposium, where our Founding Partner Matt Aalfs shared perspectives on the value of preserving older buildings:

“Historic buildings contribute to cultural continuity and sense of place, and that’s really important to the health of our communities. We have to do a better job of reusing and revitalizing existing structures, because we can’t build our way out of the climate crisis.”

Using projects like the Metropole Building and Green Lake Branch Library, Matt highlighted how thoughtful preservation and targeted upgrades can extend the life of existing buildings, reduce carbon impact, and support resilient neighborhoods like Pioneer Square.

Read the article:

ULI Northwest adaptive reuse symposium addresses challenges of renewing the city’s core.

04/06/2026

The Metropole Seattle is a finalist for the 2026 Vision Awards, recognizing leadership in building sustainability across our region.

Hosted by the Seattle and Bellevue 2030 Districts Network, the Vision Awards bring together a community committed to advancing high-performance, climate-responsive buildings. It’s an honor to see Metropole included among this year’s finalists.

As part of the program, our Founding Partner Matt Aalfs will also be joining the Reframe Podcast during the awards event, sharing insights on the project and the role of adaptive reuse in addressing climate and community needs.

We look forward to celebrating with project partners and the broader community this Wednesday!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4vakjha

Owner: Satterberg Foundation
Architect & Interior Design: BuildingWork
Structural Engineer: Swenson Say Faget
Civil Engineer: LPD Engineering
Mechanical Engineer: Ecotope, Inc
Electrical Engineer: TFWB
Lighting Designer: DarkLight
Acoustic Consultant: SSA Acoustics, LLP
Historic Masonry Consultant: Speweik Preservation
Envelope Consultant: RDH
LEED Consultant: O’Brien360
Specifications: ABI
Landscape Architect: KKLA
General Contractor: W.G. Clark Construction
Mason Contractor: Finishing Touch Masonry
Photo: Doug Walker Photography

04/03/2026

We’re excited to share that The Metropole Seattle received the Gold Winner – Restoration award at the 2026 Northwest Masonry Institute Excellence in Masonry Awards.

This recognition reflects the care, craft, and collaboration behind restoring the long vacant Busy Bee and Metropole buildings, two connected 1892 structures in Pioneer Square—preserving historic sandstone and brick while supporting the project’s next chapter as a community-centered, high-performance space.

Congratulations to W.G. Clark Construction, Finishing Touch Masonry, and the rest of our project partners, and thank you to the Northwest Masonry Institute for the recognition!

Read more in the Daily Journal of Commerce: https://bit.ly/4c2QlTs

Owner: Satterberg Foundation
Architect & Interior Design: BuildingWork
Structural Engineer: Swenson Say Faget
Civil Engineer: LPD Engineering
Mechanical Engineer: Ecotope, Inc
Electrical Engineer: TFWB
Lighting Designer: DarkLight
Acoustic Consultant: SSA Acoustics, LLP
Historic Masonry Consultant: Speweik Preservation
Envelope Consultant: RDH
LEED Consultant: O’Brien360
Specifications: ABI
Landscape Architect: KKLA
General Contractor: W.G. Clark Construction
Mason Contractor: Finishing Touch Masonry
Photo: Doug Walker Photography

03/07/2026

On March 26th, The Metropole Seattle is opening its doors as part of Historic Seattle’s Preservation Award Series.

Join us for a tour and talk with the Satterberg Foundation and BuildingWork founding partner Matt Aalfs, AIA. Over the past six years, we’ve restored this 1892 flatiron landmark and brought it back to life as an energy-efficient community hub, providing affordable space for organizations led by and serving communities of color.

Click the link to learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4sp0znt

Owner: Satterberg Foundation
Architect & Interior Design: BuildingWork
Structural Engineer: Swenson Say Faget
Civil Engineer: LPD Engineering
Mechanical Engineer: Ecotope, Inc
Electrical Engineer: TFWB
Lighting Designer: DarkLight
Acoustic Consultant: SSA Acoustics, LLP
Historic Masonry Consultant: Speweik Preservation
Envelope Consultant: RDH
LEED Consultant: O’Brien360
Specifications: ABI
Landscape Architect: KKLA
General Contractor: W.G. Clark Construction
Photo: Doug Walker Photography

02/19/2026

We’re looking to grow our team!

Our Seattle waterfront studio is hiring an Architectural Staff member to help shape civic buildings, adaptive reuse projects, historic preservation work, and environmentally responsive design. We'd love to talk to candidates who share our belief that thoughtful architecture helps build stronger communities.

Click the link to learn more and apply: https://aiaseattle.org/job/buildingwork-seattle-20-architectural-staff/

02/12/2026

We’re honored to see The Metropole Seattle featured in The Seattle Times in this thoughtfully reported piece for the Now & Then column, tracing the building’s long arc from conflict to community.

“Instead of treating the Metropole as a conventional real estate investment, the Satterberg Foundation chose to make the building itself a tool of its mission, which centers on social justice, equity and community-based work. In 2018, it had architect Matt Aalfs and his firm, BuildingWork, transform the ruin into a hub for nonprofits with office, child care and community spaces while meeting the strictest possible environmental standards.”

Our sincere thanks to Jean Sherrard for telling this story with such care, to the Satterberg Foundation for its vision and trust, and to the nonprofit tenants and community members who bring purpose and life to the building every day.

Click the link to read the full piece: https://bit.ly/4rGwwaz

Owner: Satterberg Foundation
Architect & Interior Design: BuildingWork
Structural Engineer: Swenson Say Faget
Civil Engineer: LPD Engineering
Mechanical Engineer: Ecotope, Inc
Electrical Engineer: TFWB
Lighting Designer: DarkLight
Acoustic Consultant: SSA Acoustics, LLP
Historic Masonry Consultant: Speweik Preservation
Envelope Consultant: RDH
LEED Consultant: O’Brien360
Specifications: ABI
Landscape Architect: KKLA
General Contractor: W.G. Clark Construction
Photos: Jean Sherrard

01/28/2026

At The Metropole Seattle, childcare plays a vital role in the building’s program.

Located within the historic “Busy Bee” side of The Metropole—where we rebuilt the top two floors after their collapse in the 1949 earthquake—the Seed of Life Center for Early Learning provides infant, toddler, preschool, and Pre-K care in a safe, secure, and toxin-free environment. Designed with a dedicated rooftop terrace and free of Red List materials, the center supports healthy development through play while advancing the Metropole’s broader mission to serve communities of color through spaces that foster care, culture, and connection.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ps7Gd5

Owner: Satterberg Foundation
Architect & Interior Design: BuildingWork
Structural Engineer: Swenson Say Faget
Civil Engineer: LPD Engineering
Mechanical Engineer: Ecotope, Inc
Electrical Engineer: TFWB
Lighting Designer: DarkLight
Acoustic Consultant: Ssa Acoustics
Historic Masonry Consultant: Speweik Preservation
Envelope Consultant: RDH
LEED Consultant: O’Brien360
Specifications: ABI
Landscape Architect: KKLA
General Contractor: W.G. Clark Construction
Photos: Matt Aalfs and Doug Walker Photography

12/10/2025

Our client, the Satterberg Foundation, envisioned as a community resource for nonprofits advancing social justice and equity for communities of color, and as a way to strengthen livability in downtown Seattle for those at risk of displacement. 

Through a yearlong, intentional engagement process, our team met with advocates, nonprofits, and residents across 15+ events, gathering input from hundreds of community members. That feedback directly shaped the program: affordable child care, shared nonprofit office space, flexible conference and event areas, a commercial kitchen for meal programs, and space for arts and culture to thrive. 

Owner: Satterberg Foundation
Architect & Interior Design:
Structural Engineer:
LEED Consultant: O’Brien 360
Mechanical Engineer:
Electrical Engineer: TFWB
Civil Engineer: LPD
Landscape Architect:
Acoustic Consultant:
Masonry Consultant: Speweik Preservation Consultants
Envelope Consultant:
Lighting Designer:
Specifications: ABI. General
General Contractor: W.G. Clark

12/04/2025

BuildingWork partner Kate Weiland recently spoke with KEPR Action News about Walla Walla Public Library’s upcoming transformation—our renovation designed to bring more light, flexibility, and community space to this civic hub.

As Kate shared in the interview, “We don’t think the library needs more space. We think we need to use the space better.”

Our design reimagines the existing structure with a new double-height, glassy Great Hall; improved program rooms; and a more efficient, intuitive layout that makes better use of the library’s footprint while honoring the original building.

Click the link to read more: https://bit.ly/3Mi1h6h

11/18/2025

Two years ago, we toured through
while construction was underway. This fall, we had the chance to walk Keith through the completed building, restored, seismically reinforced, and now LEED Platinum certified.

Head over to to see his updated recap. Thanks, Keith, for joining us!

Owner: Satterberg Foundation
Architect & Interior Design:
Structural Engineer:
LEED Consultant: O’Brien 360
Mechanical Engineer:
Electrical Engineer: TFWB
Civil Engineer: LPD
Landscape Architect:
Acoustic Consultant:
Masonry Consultant: Speweik Preservation Consultants
Envelope Consultant:
Lighting Designer:
Specifications: ABI. General
General Contractor: W.G. Clark