Spotlight: Local Organization That Are Advocating for Their Communities

For Black History Month, we spotlight and celebrate some of the local Black-owned organizations we have the privilege of collaborating with. 

At Schemata Workshop, we believe in the power of diversity and inclusion and are committed to supporting and amplifying the voices of other organizations with the same mission. The organizations we work with are not only making a positive impact on their communities but are also dedicated to the growth and development of the next generation.

Black Home Initiative website

The Black Home Initiative is a network of nonprofits, private companies, philanthropy, government, and associations focused on addressing the housing disparities faced by Black communities. Its goal is to create more equitable access to homeownership, support Black families in building generational wealth, and increase the availability of affordable, high-quality housing in the Puget Sound region. By uplifting Black homeowners and renters, the Black Home Initiative strives to make opportunities to own a home, and the potential benefits of that asset, available to 1,500 new low- and moderate-income Black homeowners within the next five years. 

1Drop Development Instagram (@1drophomes)

1DROP Development is a nonprofit organization that focuses on empowering developers of color to design affordable and sustainable housing. Through its efforts, 1DROP helps build affordable homes for people of all incomes and stages of life, with an emphasis on equity and inclusion. Recently, 1DROP was awarded a grant by the Washington State Department of Commerce to further its mission of advancing economic development in underserved communities. This funding supports 1DROP’s work to empower local developers, strengthen community ties, and ensure that historically marginalized groups have access to vital resources and opportunities. The organization is playing a key role in creating more inclusive housing options and contributing to the broader goal of equitable growth across the state. 

Nehemiah Initiative Seattle website

The Nehemiah Initiative Seattle is a community-driven, faith-based organization focused on preserving and empowering Black communities in Seattle. Established in 2020, the Initiative works to combat displacement and gentrification by repurposing underutilized Black church properties into affordable housing, business spaces, and community hubs. By partnering with local faith organizations, architects, and community leaders, the Nehemiah Initiative strives to ensure that Black communities remain rooted in Seattle while fostering economic and cultural growth. Their efforts aim to balance development with the preservation of heritage, creating spaces that serve both current and future generations. 

By showcasing these partnerships, we aim to foster greater awareness and appreciation for their incredible work and to encourage continued collaboration and growth. Together, we can build more inclusive and vibrant spaces, and help to create a stronger, more equitable future. We would encourage you to connect with one of these organizations whether it is a one-time donation or advocacy or directly volunteering. Your support will help amplify their efforts.

Schemata’s Commitment: MLK Day of Service at Everest Park

At Schemata, our volunteer efforts at Everest Park are a reflection of our core values and our commitment to our communities. These initiatives demonstrate our ongoing investment in the communities we serve, as we seek to create a positive, lasting impact in the places where we live and work. Participating in events like MLK Jr. Day of Service strengthens our connection to the community and reaffirms our dedication to meaningful, hands-on service.

Everest Park Restroom Facility: Enhancing Community Spaces

Schemata is proud to partner with the City of Kirkland to design a new restroom facility at Everest Park. This project will replace the outdated, inaccessible restrooms, which have struggled to accommodate the park’s growing number of visitors, particularly during the busy summer months.

The new restroom shelter will be a visually striking addition to the park, thoughtfully located for optimal accessibility. Drawing inspiration from the shapes and elements of the adjacent ball field, the design ensures that the facility will complement the park's environment while offering functional, welcoming spaces for all parkgoers.

The upgraded restroom facility will feature:

-          Men’s and women’s restrooms

-          Two single-stalled all-gender restrooms

-          Seating areas for visitors to relax and enjoy the surroundings

-          An overhang to provide shelter from rain in the winter and sun in the summer

MLK Jr. Day of Service 2025: Stewardship with Green Kirkland

On MLK Jr. Day of Service 2025, Schemata volunteers joined the Green Kirkland Partnership to contribute to park restoration and environmental stewardship efforts. Our team made meaningful contributions, including:

-          Removing invasive species to ensure a thriving, balanced ecosystem

-          Mulching to improve soil conditions and promote sustainable growth

Why Volunteering Matters: Making a Lasting Impact Beyond the Project

Volunteering is deeply embedded in Schemata’s values. It is not only an opportunity to give back to the communities we serve but also a way to foster growth, collaboration, and a lasting positive impact. Through volunteering, we empower our team members to create meaningful change—not just in the projects we directly work on but in the broader community.

Our commitment to volunteerism extends far beyond the confines of individual projects. As part of our JUST certification, we encourage each team member to volunteer at least once per quarter, ensuring that we engage with and contribute to the broader needs of the communities where our clients operate. By supporting these communities in ways that go beyond the scope of our architectural and design work, we strengthen relationships, promote shared responsibility, and build a deeper connection with the people we serve.

This approach fosters collaboration, supports sustainability, and reinforces our commitment to the well-being of every community we touch, allowing us to make a tangible difference not just through our work, but through our ongoing presence and dedication to service.

Schemata Workshop's Vision for the Next 20 Years

As Schemata Workshop celebrates two decades of growth and innovation, the firm looks to the future with optimism and ambition. Over the next 20 years, we aim to:

• Champion Sustainability: Lead the way in regenerative design processes that create a positive environmental impact, while also taking into account the social and economic resiliency of our design solutions.

• Innovate with Technology: Embrace emerging technologies like AI (artificial intelligence) and MMC (modern means of construction) to revolutionize the design process and deliver smarter, more economic solutions.

• Foster Talent and Diversity: Nurture a diverse, inclusive workforce while inspiring and empowering the next generation of leaders and creatives.

• Uplift Marginalized Voices: Advocate for and amplify underrepresented communities through our projects, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs prioritized.

• Leave a Lasting Legacy: Shape communities with mission-driven projects that elevate quality of life, blending functionality with beauty.

At Schemata Workshop, we are committed to continuously evolving, ensuring our next 20 years are marked by creativity, collaboration, and positive change.

The Origin Story of Schemata Workshop

Mike and Grace founded Schemata Workshop twenty years ago with a clear idea of the kind of firm they wanted: one focused on community, direct client engagement and inspiring design. 

Empowering all members of the firm to feel ownership, they eschewed putting their own names on the door, instead opting for a name that would state their intentions – one that could carry on long past their own tenure. Collaboration and inclusivity are central to the studio culture. The pair had worked for too many firms where the design was constantly being reinvented with competing ideas. They chose “schema” the Latin word for “framework,” meaning the intentional design idea from which a project evolves. “workshop” evokes collegiality, craft and teamwork in a way that is more approachable than “studio” or “atelier”.   

Shortly after a trip to Copenhagen where Grace was taking a sabbatical to research cohousing in 2004, Mike and Grace had a chance to re-think their professional situations. While neither had actually aspired to taking on the responsibility or risk of owning their own firm, they realized it was the only way to practice architecture in a truly collaborative and inclusive environment. 

Northwest Work Lofts, view out to Elliott Bay from the first office space.

Within one month of their decision, they had a tax ID and bank account and a lease for an office space that still needed to be built out. For that first month, Schemata Workshop operated with a total of four employees out of their Belltown condo. They soon set up shop in the Northwest Work Lofts at Denny and Western Avenues with a water view – but no acoustic or thermal insulation to speak of.

After hopscotching around several office locations, they ended up in a 12-foot-wide, 50-foot-deep “shoebox” with a skylight and 14-foot ceilings on Capitol Hill - at the site of what would become their permanent home. A former garage, their new space in the one-story brick structure was originally the building’s loading bay with the rest of the building occupied by a tattoo parlor.  

1919 Franklin Auto Repair Building. Entrance to Schemata Workshop was past the espresso cart on the left.

The former Hot Rod Pinstriping Garage adjacent to the Lucky Devil Tattoo Parlor, and behind the Peoples Republic of Coffee.

Lucky Devil Tattoo Parlor artists move two blocks south to found Dark Age Tattoo Parlor, and Schemata Workshop takes over the entire 2,400 sf building.

A major milestone in 2016 was the construction of CHUC (Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing) on the same site. Reflecting their interest in creating intentional communities, the five-story building has residential homes for nine families (including Mike, Grace and their 17-year child), a “common house” kitchen and gathering space, an internal courtyard and rooftop garden that follow the cohousing principles of community. The courtyard is a bright yellow, echoing similar courtyards they saw in Copenhagen multifamily homes. The ground-floor storefront office is also painted the same bright shade on the exterior, making it a landmark on the busy streetscape. Reflecting their desire to be part of the community they serve, the glass storefront allows passersby to see the firm’s daily activities.   

Employees of the firm have happily nicknamed themselves “froggers” in light of Schemata Workshop’s iconic red and white logo designed by artist and graphic designer friends Nino Yuniardi and Tania Liminardja. The simplistic icon, originally meant to represent two people sitting at a table,  also evokes  a frog’s face. In Coast Salish* culture, frogs are communicators, travelling between land and water - a  fitting mascot for a NW-based practice committed to engaging with and creating community. 

From its inception, Mike and Grace’ s mission for Schemata Workshop’s was “empowering communities through architecture,” with a focus on direct community engagement in the design process. Twenty years later, we continue to be mission-driven, holding community central to our work, along with racial equity and sustainability.

We are proud of our contributions to the community throughout the past twenty years – represented in the way we conduct our practice, engage with our clients and partners, and approach our design work.

Schemata Workshop office at the ground floor of Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing

Celebrating 20 Years of Schemata Workshop: Building Communities Through Design

This year, Schemata Workshop proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of innovation, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to community-focused design. Since our founding, we have dedicated ourselves to creating spaces that not only fulfill functional needs but also foster connection and enrich the lives of the communities we serve. Our vision has always been rooted in the belief that thoughtful design can inspire change, promote sustainability, and empower individuals.

As we reflect on upon the past two decades, we take pride in the transformative projects we’ve undertaken, which also highlight our evolution as a firm. From early consulting efforts to our current multidisciplinary collaborations, we remain focused on creating inclusive, resilient, and vibrant environments for people to live and thrive. As we reflect on this milestone, we’re reviewing some of our past projects with our current endeavors, showcasing how our approach has evolved, while still prioritizing our commitment to strengthening a sense of community.

Rainier View Senior Apartments (2007) & Multicultural Village (In-Progress)

Rainier View Senior Apartments (2007)

The Rainier View project, initiated by a Korean Catholic Church, was designed to provide affordable housing for low-income seniors. With 50 one- and two-bedroom residences, this three-story development caters to residents earning between 30% and 60% of the Pierce County median income. Common spaces, including a double-height lobby and other amenities foster community engagement, while sustainable features support environmental responsibility.

Capitol Hill Transit Oriented Development

Capitol Hill is a diverse community with the nation’s second-largest LGBTQ population, featuring restaurants, parks, and a highly used light rail system. This Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) leverages public investments for community benefit.

Schemata designed two of the four campus buildings: Station House offers 110 affordable homes for households earning under 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), while The Park has 76 luxury rentals, with 20% reserved for those earning under 80% AMI. Community priorities include a Farmers’ Market, a central plaza, sustainability, local retail, and arts integration.

Seattle Public Schools Renovations (2005) & Pacific Science Center Technical Feasibility Study (In-Progress)

Seattle Public Schools Renovations (2005)

Since its inception, Schemata Workshop has been engaged in various renovation projects across elementary and high schools within the Seattle School District, including McGilvra Elementary, John Hay Elementary, and NOVA at Mann School. These renovations prioritize safety and functionality while adhering to budget constraints and work taking place during summer breaks. Key upgrades have included science lab enhancements, seismic improvements, and infrastructure updates.

Pacific Science Center Technical Feasibility Study (2024 In-Progress)

Schemata Workshop led a multidisciplinary team to evaluate the feasibility of proposed renovations to the courtyard and pools at the historic Pacific Science Center. This study aimed to assess the current condition of the courtyard’s structures and systems, establishing a comprehensive scope of work and cost projections for maintaining and updating the facilities over the next 20 years.

Alliance Center Renovation (2005) & Rainier Valley Food Bank (In-Progress)

Alliance Center Renovation (2005)

The Alliance Center renovation focused on transforming a two-story building into a hub for vital social services, including employment assistance, energy and housing support, and a food bank. Working under a very tight budget, Schemata Workshop optimized resources to create a functional and welcoming environment for the community.

Rainier Valley Food Bank (2024 In-Progress)

The Rainier Valley Food Bank is transitioning to a newly acquired former mortuary building to better serve the community. The project addresses urgent needs due to lease expiration and aims to create a more accessible and efficient space for food distribution. Schemata Workshop is facilitating this transition through strategic planning and innovative concepts, including a temporary "Food Village" to ensure continuity of services during renovations.

Kent Senior Activity Center & FAST Resource & Outreach Center

Kent Senior Activity Center (2005)

Schemata Workshop designed a two-classroom addition to an existing 1985 structure for the City of Kent Parks Department. The classrooms accommodate group exercise, fly-fish tying, art classes, and various community meetings.  The addition will allow for a visual and physical connection to the adjacent lawn as well as preserving the quality of openness and daylighting of the existing structure.

fast Resource & Outreach Center (2023)

Initially approached to enhance office space within a mixed-use development, Schemata Workshop recognized the need for a larger facility. Collaborating closely with FAST, the project evolved into a comprehensive design for a 15,000 sq. ft. Resource & Outreach Center. This facility serves BIPOC families by providing essential services and community support.

As we mark 20 years of Schemata Workshop, we reflect on the significant impact our projects have made in the communities we serve. From our early consulting efforts to our current innovative developments, our commitment to creating spaces that foster connection, inclusivity, and sustainability remains unwavering. We look forward to the next chapters of transformative design and meaningful community engagement, as we continue to evolve and respond to the needs of those we serve. Here’s to a future filled with collaboration and positive change!