Project Profile: MCM Lakehouse

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Schemata Workshop recently visited the MCM Lakehouse on Lake Sammamish for a construction tour.  This 1960s vintage home renovation project is nearly complete and the owners will be moving in next month. [caption id="attachment_3502" align="alignnone" width="687" caption="We started the tour at the driveway surrounded by the wooded site."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_3501" align="alignnone" width="386" caption="From the driveway, the stairs lead to a courtyard surrounded by three glazed walls."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_3503" align="alignnone" width="386" caption="The first space we entered was the two-story living room. The louvered wall and shoji screens above are original to the house."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_3504" align="alignnone" width="687" caption="Around the corner from the living room is the kitchen. The steel moment frame provides support for the white quartz eating bar."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_3505" align="alignnone" width="386" caption="Next, we ascended the original stairway with new treads that match the new second floor hardwood floors. The wood handrail is being replaced and will match the stair treads."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_3506" align="alignnone" width="386" caption="The second floor bathroom is full of natural light. The red light fixtures are an unexpected color accent."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_3507" align="alignnone" width="386" caption="The original closet drawers and shelves were able to be reused in the bedroom closets."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_3508" align="alignnone" width="687" caption="Finally, we met outside near the lake. This vintage house now looks very modern!"][/caption]

 

Schemata Expands...Again

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2011 was a record year for Schemata Workshop.  Not only did we hit our all-time high for gross revenue, we also grew to our largest size and added our first administrative staff.  We ended the year with 9 people in Seattle and 1 in Portland.  And we were elated!

SONY DSC
SONY DSC

As we start 2012 we are surprised by our need for additional capacity so soon.  Fortunately, we learned that a former employee who had been working in Copenhagen for 13 months was moving home.  Her interest in affordable housing and transit along with her strong graphic design skills are just a small piece of what she brings to Schemata.  Her commitment to bicycle friendly urbanism is undoubtedly attributed to her recent stint in Copenhagen (she was there for a year previously in Architecture School) and will likely inform her contributions to our projects.  I'm confident that her shared values with Schemata Workshop and the clients we serve will translate to developing projects that are thoughtful, deliberate, and bring a sense of delight -characteristics of what the Danes would refer to "hygge".  We are excited to welcome back Emily Woods!

Emily moved to Seattle after graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2008 with a Bachelor of Architecture & Minor in Sustainable Environments. She is passionate about design and its effect on urban liveability, with particular interest in innovative housing concepts, bicycle-oriented planning, materiality, and detail. Emily has just returned from her second year living in Copenhagen where she worked in online marketing and graphic design, and has previously worked at firms in Seattle and Portland.

We are also excited by our growth in physical space.  For the past 6 months, we have joked that Schemata Workshop had the greatest density of architects in Seattle.  Meaning that the sf/capita was incredibly low.  Fortunately, our Sound Transit work had 2 staff out of the office at any given time so we had been able to desk share.

DSCN1535
DSCN1535

But in the spirit of previous expansions (I've said that we're waging a battle of inches...or in reality, a battle of 40-50sf at a time), we negotiated an additional 150sf from the neighboring tattoo parlor and now have room so that each person can have their very own desk (I know, sounds luxurious, doesn't it?)  So next time you are in the hood, look closely at the center bay, beyond the neon flames...and you will likely see happy architects working away.  Stop in, say hello, and get your nickel tour of the highest density architecture firm west of the Mississippi!  (Actually, if you know of any firm denser, please post and let us know!  This is not a title we wish to keep.)

Fun with Clients

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Here at Schemata, we are fortunate to have developed some long-term client relationships. One is with ET Environmental, who is the GC/CM for our Waste Management projects.

Copyright 2012 John M. Feit
Copyright 2012 John M. Feit

Troy, Sherri, and Jeff of ET Environmental

Last week, Emiko (my partner) and I were hosted by Jeff and Troy of ET, at their offices in Ketchum, Idaho. This being the Northwest, we haveadditional options to the typical golf or tennis business outing – ours was a back-country tour of the Titus Lake Basin, just south of the Sawtooth Mountains.

Copyright 2012 John M. Feit
Copyright 2012 John M. Feit

Jeff Picking a Line

Un-tracked powder and sunny skies kept the smiles on our face from mid-morning until late afternoon.

Copyright 2012 John M. Feit
Copyright 2012 John M. Feit

Our Tracks . . .

New to tree skiing and Rocky Mountain powder, the tour had me wondering if this was yet another test of the architect-client relationship?

Copyright 2012 John M. Feit
Copyright 2012 John M. Feit

Me and Emiko

Fortunately, the expert guiding by my client hosts quickly convinced me and I no longer worried if this was some sinister way of further breaking in a consultant.

Copyright 2012 John M. Feit
Copyright 2012 John M. Feit

What a Day!

Client Satisfaction

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This is Peggy... Client satisfaction is a hallmark of Schemata Workshop.  When Mike and I started the company over 7 years ago, we were truly committed to providing a high level of service to all of our clients – regardless of the project type or size.  We have no “bread and butter” projects – all of our clients are treated as a priority.  Yeah, I hear you…this might sound trite, cheesy, gratuitous, whatever.  But we really mean it, really.  And we try our best to practice with this intention.

Over the years we have been featured in a national article for our attention to customer service and commended time and time again by clients for our high quality services.  And this is an ethic that we have intentionally passed down to our employees.  So I was particularly proud to read a post today on a client’s blog – she blogged about Peggy Heim (our longest-standing employee) and her ability to quietly, calmly, and confidently walk them through a very challenging home remodel.  Not only was I proud of Peggy and the careful attention she gave the client, but also for the 8 other colleagues she has working with her.  We have a solid team that truly understands the importance of customer service and the dividends it returns in the form of client satisfaction, referrals and rewarding projects.  After all, we are not practicing architecture for our own enjoyment (but that’s a nice fringe benefit).

To read about Peggy’s ability to “walk on water”, click here.