Interview: Kate Weiland

Meet our Associate Principal - Kate Weiland !

With over a decade of public library design experience, Kate designs spaces that are uniquely appropriate to the communities they serve. As project manager and project architect, Kate led the renovation of Boulevard Park Library, the Library Connection at Southcenter, Shoreline Library, and the Bainbridge Public Library, and the award-winning, new Skyway Library building and is currently serving as the Senior Project Manager for the Seattle Public Library Green Lake Branch.

In this new #InterviewSeries, we sat down with Kate for a Q&A to discuss the role communities play in her projects, her greatest challenges as an #architect, and some of her favorite #architecture and #sustainable projects in #Seattle.

What is one of the most exciting parts of being in your field??

I love that I’m always learning both from personal experience and the evolution of the field. ? Seeing something you knew so intimately on paper for so many years come to life is a thrill that never leaves.

What is one of the greatest challenges in your area of expertise? Library design is very competitive (at least in Seattle firms) so what can we bring to the table that no one else offers? And how do we tell that story? In the adaptive reuse of existing buildings, the challenge is always the unknown. The best-laid plans just take one removal of a wall to find an unforeseen condition, then all the problem-solving skills come into play.

How does the community contribute to your projects??

It contributes in major ways and minor ways. The context of a project always contributes to the building exterior; at the Skyway Library the community desired an icon or a landmark for their community and we went bold in both form and color. In the town of La Conner Washington, the community and historic district overlay required a contemporary approach influenced by historic buildings in the community.

Inside the library, the influence is both visible and built into the infrastructure. In some communities, folks have their own electronic devices they bring to a library, so extensive wifi, seating with power, and a mix of seating is preferred. In some communities, we install a high number of computer workstations, as the library may be the only place in the community with high-speed internet. Communities that lack services and resources for teens often have libraries that host programming for tutoring, video games, and after-school social time and snacks. That can influence the size and co-location of spaces within the library, or influence infrastructure and material selections if food will be a common occurrence. It’s a mix of direct feedback and reading between the lines that result in a space that is everything a community wants, and more than they expect.

Do you have a favorite project during your time at BuildingWork???

As the first major public commission BuildingWork we “won” on our own, the La Conner Swinomish Library will hold a special spot for me. Completing Town Hall Seattle and seeing the way the newly-envisioned building has been accessible to so many community groups, events, and lectures has been amazing. The Metropole is going to be a game changer for our firm, for Pioneer Square, and for the greater community it serves. But, I think our best work is yet to come; with our amazing team and so many projects in construction, I can’t wait to revise my favorite again and again!??

How do you see your work continuing to evolve over the next ten years??

From a design perspective, I think my work gains maturity with each completed project and respects past lessons learned. More importantly, we will continue to do more to minimize our environmental impact in built work, through a mix of building reuse, historically proven strategies, and new technologies in building design. I think we are in a unique space with our adaptive reuse projects to make a huge (hugely minimal?) impact by infusing new technology within the embodied carbon of an existing structure to make big strides in sustainable design.

What is your favorite building in Seattle??

The Olympic Sculpture Park and Pavilion. I love how the built forms enhance the gorgeous views of the sound and mountains. Did that bias my selection for where BuildingWork would locate our office? Office selection? Maybe.

Looking to see some of Kate’s work at BuildingWork? Click on the link below to check out some of her previous projects.?

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