Riverside Winthrop Mixed-use
rendering, exterior

The Methow Valley’s Riverside Winthrop Mixed-use project – On the Boards

“This is an amazing gift to the community. I hope everyone will look for ways to make sure it happens.”     
 
-- public meeting attendee

This mixed-use project, at the east side of Winthrop in Washington’s Methow Valley, is positioned to become the upvalley entrance to “old downtown.” The site is a challenging set of narrow parcels overlooking the confluence of the Methow and Chewuch Rivers. The private development is driven by long-time Winthrop residents Peter Goldman and Martha Konsgaard and prioritizes doing right by the community on several fronts.  

Given the housing crisis affecting the area, CAST is working with the town on zoning changes to allow for long-term residential rentals, and to integrate workforce housing into the project's program. At both a pedestrian as well as a vehicular gateway to the city, we are linking the town’s boardwalk to the Susie Stephens trail and the town's civic center on the south side of the river. We are working with the community to create an entry point to a public riverwalk trail system. Additionally, the project is envisioned as a template for how buildings can work within Winthrop's westernization code while striving for very high levels of sustainability and designing to passive house standards for the residential and office suites. 

Riverside’s program will provide one 1-bedroom and two 2-bedroom residential units overlooking the river, with approximately 2,600 SF of pedestrian-level retail space which spills out into a public courtyard strengthening views and access to the river from town. The second floor incorporates 2,650 SF of office space, continuing the client’s tradition of renting below market rate to community non-profit businesses.

Team
Client: Peter Goldman and Martha Kongsgaard
Architect: CAST architecture
Builder: North Star Construction Company  www.Northstarbuilds.Com
Civil & Structural: DCG   www.dcgengr.com   
Electrical: TFWB   tf-wb.com
Environmental:  Grette  www.gretteassociates.com  
Geotech: Geoengineers  www.geoengineers.com/ 
Mechanical: Ecotope   www.ecotope.com 
Survey: Tackman   www.tackmansurveying.com

MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING on the boards
A small building can have a big impact: this design has a commercial suite, a live work unit, two subsidized one bedroom apartments and two 2 bedroom apartments (with bonus lofts).  Missing Middle  California Builder's remedy

A small building can have a big impact: this design has a commercial suite, a live work unit, two subsidized one bedroom apartments and two 2 bedroom apartments (with bonus lofts).

seattle architect has more missing middle housing on the boards

The housing crisis in California is so difficult in part because jurisdictions have opposed or slowly walked new housing through a mix of bad zoning and bureaucratic barriers. In response, the state has invoked a provision called the ‘builder’s remedy’ where towns and cities that have failed to show how they can meet their housing targets lose their ability to enforce their own zoning rules, provided that projects include some percentage of affordable housing.

a 5 plex designed to meet the builder's remedy for new affordable housing in california by CAST architecture

The design is pushed to the street, preserving more backyard for residents and mature trees. The commercial space can be thought of as a cafe, retail or daycare.

As part of this zoning holiday we’ve designed this speculative small infill project. It has a commercial suite, a live work unit, two affordable one bedroom apartments and two 2 bedroom apartments with lofts.

diagram of 5 plex apartment building by CAST architecture

Diagram of five unit apartment building.

This project is geared for using the Passive House green building standard to achieve very low operating expenses, and high indoor air quality. It is packed with amenities such as large porches and bike storage. If you are a developer interested in infill development or a property owner looking to make the most of this window of opportunity, please contact us at Matt@CASTarchitecture.com.

S N O W C O U N T R Y

The straightforward roof design of this home is designed for its rugged environment in Washington’s Methow Valley. We kept it simple and avoided complex shapes—a roof that holds snow reduces the chance of slough off and provides an energy-saving bonus.

Deep eaves and generous covered walkways and entries help keep outdoor circulation free of ice, reduce shoveling, and simplify living.

Roof Design in snow country

Plan a simple, generous roof that will hold snow and cover outdoor walkways, entries, and deck areas.

-  A blanket of snow on the roof provides a free, insulating, energy-saving bonus.

-  A roof that holds snow reduces the chance of avalanche, creep, or slough off and minimizes chance of injury or damage to the structure.

-  Plan for the roof to cover four-season outdoor living areas.

-  Keep the roof simple—avoid complex shapes, valleys, and roof-to-wall intersections.

-  Avoid gutters as meltwater can create ice dams at eaves and accumulate in gutters resulting in maintenance issues.

-  Avoid skylights, and roof penetrations when possible. Roof vents, chimneys. and plumbing vents should account for snowpack.

Photos: Built Work Photography

ON THE BOARDS – CAST designs Multi-family housing in Eastlake

Seattle Architect pursues passive house certification with missing-middle housing on Lake Union

Echo on Eastlake apartments is pursuing Passive House certification, with early design and feasibility studies complete on the new 10-unit apartment building in Seattle’s Lake Union neighborhood.

This building will replace an existing single-family structure in this residential urban village, adding missing-middle housing. It utilizes the stacked flats concept which pushes the bounds of the single-family envelope but maintains an urbanism-friendly street frontage. There is one central stair and no shared walls. And, the two homes on the ground floor are both fully accessible.

Six-to-twelve-plexes offer a superior urban experience, more housing units, more housing variety, and at least some fully accessible housing units. They also may preserve more tree canopy, increase open space, and optimize daylight compared to townhomes.

More to come in the months ahead.

TEAM
Developer: West Crescent Advisors, LLC
Owner’s Representative: Woodworth Construction Management LLC @woodworth_built
Architect: CAST architecture
Builder: Carrig Construction
Civil Engineer: Davido Consulting Group
Landscape Architect: Karen Keist Landscape Architects
Arborist:  Moss Studio
Geotechnical Engineer: Pangeo, Inc.
Surveyor: Terrane
Structural Engineer: Harriott Valentine Engineers
Envelope Consultant: B.E.E Consulting

CAST is Hiring - join our team

Seattle architect hiring

Current Opportunities:
Design Associate with 2+ years of experience
AND
Project Architect/Manager with 5+ years of experience

CAST Architecture is a Seattle-based firm with extensive experience designing contemporary spaces throughout the Northwest. Specializing in modern and sustainable projects, the firm is committed to improving the lives of individuals, families, and the community through vibrant and thoughtful design. We are inspired by collaboration, intend on crafting timeless, high-performance buildings, and are committed to positive social outcomes.

Our studio environment is friendly and low-key. We enjoy working collaboratively and actively foster a team approach in all of our endeavors. We pride ourselves in promoting a healthy work/life balance and passions and interests outside the office. While we’d love to have everyone in the office working together, we support flexible remote-work scheduling.  

DESIGN ASSOCIATE

Job Description
The candidate will work under the leadership of a licensed architect/project manager and will assist with all aspects of the design and production of residential, commercial, and public architectural works. Additional duties will include general administrative tasks and assisting with the production of marketing materials as needed.

Experience with documentation and delivery is a big plus. We’re always working on several tenant improvements, early learning centers, and custom residential work that require collaboration, creativity, and attention to detail.

Qualifications

• First and foremost you are an exceptional designer who excels working in a collaborative and creative environment

• A ‘can do’ work attitude on all tasks from the mundane to the extraordinary

• Solid verbal, written, and graphic communication skills

• A well-rounded understanding of the technical aspects of architectural design including materials use, construction techniques, and construction details

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in architecture or interior design from an accredited university is required

Technical skills

• Proficient with architectural BIM software, preferably ArchiCAD (Note – we do not use Revit/AutoCAD). We will train if you don’t have ArchiCAD experience but are ready to learn.

• Familiar with Affinity/Adobe design products, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Office.

• Capable of producing high-quality renderings with Lumion is a plus but not required.

Benefits

  • Flexible schedule, remote work

  • Competitive compensation

  • 401K+3% employer match

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance

  • Overtime pay

  • Annual bonus

  • Support for professional development and certifications

Submit a cover letter, resume, and samples of design work digitally to employment@castarchitecture.com. We will review and contact applicants on a rolling basis in January.


PROJECT ARCHITECT/MANAGER

Job Description
The immediate need is to work on a range of housing projects, including affordable multifamily, market-rate infill, custom houses, and institutional projects.  Our projects are staffed with small fluid teams, usually with a principal, project architect and one or more design associates. After a collaborative schematic design, the project architect leads design development, consultant coordination, construction documents, permitting, and construction administration, while managing additional staff as necessary to complete the project.

Qualifications

  • First and foremost you are an exceptional designer who excels working in a collaborative and creative environment

  • A ‘can do’ cooperative attitude

  • Highly organized project management

  • Solid verbal, written, and graphic communication skills

  • A well-rounded understanding of the technical aspects of materials, methods, energy use, and construction details

  • 5+ years experience

  • A Bachelor's or Master's degree in architecture from an accredited university is required

Technical skills

  • Proficient with architectural drafting software, preferably ArchiCAD (Note – we do not use AutoCAD).  We will train if you don’t have ArchiCAD experience but are ready to learn. 

  • Proficient with Bluebeam, and Microsoft Office suite. 

  • Capable of producing high-quality renderings with Lumion would be a huge plus but not required

  • Certification in Passive House or LEED, energy modeling, and experience with sustainable construction systems and methods.

Benefits

  • Flexible schedule, remote work

  • Competitive compensation

  • 401K+3% employer match

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance

  • Overtime pay

  • Annual bonus

  • Support for professional development and certifications

Submit a cover letter, resume, and samples of design work digitally to employment@castarchitecture.com. We will review and contact applicants on a rolling basis in January.

No phone calls or hand-delivered applications, please.

The BLOCK Project
Block Project

Seattle Architect CAST partners with The BLOCK Project

CAST has partnered with The BLOCK Project which builds fully equipped, healthy homes for people experiencing homelessness.  

We are excited to have just permitted our second BLOCK Project home!

BLOCK Homes are permitted and placed in homeowners' backyards throughout Seattle. This model gives residents a place to call home and our communities an opportunity to make a real difference in supporting our unhoused neighbors and addressing the issue of homelessness together.

Their mission: To inspire deliberate relationship building and community engagement as a pathway to ending homelessness.

www.the-block-project.org
@facinghomelessness

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS at the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s Hatchery
construction, hatchery, beach shelter

Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s Hatchery & Beach Shelter Construction Progress

Kingston, Washington

The new building will house office and utility space for the @portgamblesklallams salmon hatchery program and a separate open-air structure used by the Tribe’s commercial fishing operations.

Salmon hatchery operations require a constant flow of clean streamwater. The project includes a new earthen dam and water intake structure in the adjacent ravine that provides reliable flow at a constant pressure. Downstream, equipment housed within the building filters the water and regulates its oxygen content before supplying it to the indoor incubation tanks and outdoor fish runs.

Salmon fishing is central to the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s traditional identity and its contemporary outlook. This project seeks to recognize the cultural importance of both the place—a focal point of their history—and the program, while providing solutions to allow these activities to flourish in the 21st century. 

Learn more about the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe.

TEAM
Architect: CAST architecture
Contractor: www.paccivil.com
Geo-tech: Robinson Noble
Structural: SSF
MEP: Glumac
Civil: Cannon
Landscape Architect: Pacific Landscape Architecture
Archeologist: Willamette Cultural Resources
Survey: AES Consultants
Intake System Engineer: Kleinschmidt Group
Specifications: Applied Building Information
Windows: @jeldwenusa  www.dahlglass.com

See more about the Hatchery project here.

on the boards — CAST designs affordable housing in the Methow Valley
rendering, affordable housing, methow valley apartments

Seattle Architect CAST designs affordable housing in the Methow Valley

Winthrop, Washington

ON THE BOARDS — The Housing Authority of Okanogan County’s new Wildrose Apartments will provide 22 new affordable housing units targeted at families earning 30% of Area Median Income. Homes will be a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, accommodating families, seniors, and young adults. A major design goal of the project is to achieve a high-level of integration between the apartments and the surrounding neighborhood of affordable single-family homes being simultaneously developed by the Methow Housing Trust.

The apartments are distributed into three 2-story structures surrounding two sides of a large commons that serves both communities. Both upper and lower units provide outdoor space facing the park, energizing the open space with many sources of activity around its perimeter. The footprint and envelope of each building is kept simple to reduce cost; secondary porches and balconies add visual interest while providing solar shading and weather protection.

rendering, affordable housing, methow valley apartments

Housing Authority of Okanogan County’s mission:
Assisting residents of Okanogan County to acquire and retain affordable housing while strengthening our communities by removing barriers, empowering dignity, and building trust.
www.okanoganhousing.org

See more: www.castarchitecture.com/wildrose-apartments

Making “Plexible” Projects Possible
Jansen Court, missing middle housing, Seattle Housing

Courtney W. Banker’s report Making “Plexible” Projects Possible includes research and examples from Seattle architect Matt Hutchins

Missing Middle Housing — Why Stacked Flats?

Stacked Flats push the bounds of the single-family envelope but maintain an urbanism-friendly street frontage. 6-/12-plexes offer a superior urban experience, more housing units, more housing variety, and at least some fully accessible housing units. In Matt Hutchins’s design approach, 6-/12-plexes also preserve more tree canopy, increase open space, and optimize daylight compared to townhomes.

Stacked flats can feature one or even four fully accessible units on the ground floor—without the need for an elevator (a significant cost too burdensome for most small-scale projects). They are a powerful incremental development strategy that can be replicated to result in substantial change, helping neighborhoods grow with more sustainable land uses, urban-supportive density, and accessible housing units.

This report builds on prior efforts to promote missing middle housing in Austin, Texas, leverages interviews with 23 local and national experts, and employs financial modeling of for-rent projects to identify the key barriers facing stacked flats.

The report is at the University of Texas Scholar Works: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/115590

@Courtney Banker
@Matt Hutchins AIA CPHD

cast's community design in the methow valley
mazama public house, methow valley, community design

Mazama Public House at the north end of Washington’s Methow Valley

mazama public house in the Methow valley community

The Mazama Public House is set to become the gathering spot for the community of Mazama, at the north end of Washington’s Methow Valley. Oriented toward Goat Peak mountain views, the 1,868 square foot public house is designed to seat 56 and another 50 outside with built-in benches on the four-season covered patio.

An expansive three-door door system opens in the summer months for a seamless connection to the outdoor decks. The indoor area incorporates performance space, and the large garage doors allow for flexibility and increased seating capacity. The height of the shed roof and the expansive windows on two sides are sited to take advantage of natural light and views. The interior features wood beams punctuated by blackened steel and concrete floors. Custom tables and bar slabs were crafted from locally sourced Douglas-fir. Outside, blackened steel will accent the wood structure. The siding is a dark-stained, rough-sawn vertical channel shiplap.

See more on our website.

Photos by: Benjamin Drummond Photography www.benjandsara.com