Schemata News

Joining JUST

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A few weeks back, Schemata Workshop obtained its JUST label through the International Living Future Institute. The JUST Program acts as a “nutritional label” for companies that are interested in a transparent workplace that places high value on social equity. It’s a voluntary program that allows an outsider to view the ways in which a company treats its employees, where it invest profits, and how it gives back to the community.

While the program itself has been on our radar for the last few years, it wasn’t until about 6 months ago that we made the final push to add Schemata to JUST's database. Sustainability, social equity, and community service have been the cornerstones of Schemata Workshop since its inception, so, in many ways, taking part in the JUST program is a logical move toward our goal of greater transparency and disclosure.

We view the label as a benchmark: a screenshot of the current state of Schemata Workshop. There’s room to grow. The application and review process have been incredibly helpful in evaluating our policies and laying out a framework for refining areas we see as needing improvement. There are also results of which we’re incredibly proud. Here is proof positive that our dedicated staff is living and carrying out our collective values in, what we hope, are important and meaningful ways.

 

You can learn more about the JUST program and how to get involved here.

Cheers!

-The Froggers

Schemata Workshop Welcomes Kurt Wong

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  In July, Kurt Wong joined the SW team as our new office manager. He's a veteran of the profession, and has extensive experience in the multi-family housing realm. Kurt has a Masters in Architecture from UC Berkeley, and  is returning to the field after five years running his own retail business. He's brought a fresh energy to the office, and will no doubt keep the rest of us in line. WELCOME, KURT!

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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!

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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.

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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.)