Schemata Workshop principals and cofounders Mike Mariano and Grace Kim will give a general overview of cohousing and its benefits, followed by a discussion about their community, Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing (CHUC), located above their architecture practice. Topics will include how the community residents came together and went through the design and development process. After the discussion, Mike and Grace will lead a tour of the building, followed by refreshments on the building’s rooftop deck.

SDA members – this event is free (another benefit for you!). Non-members are welcome as well (at an affordable price). Light munchies and beverages will be provided. No-shows and cancellations after July 16 will not be refunded. Note: Street parking for this event is scarce, but the Capitol Hill Light Rail Station is only three blocks away.

Presenters:

Grace Kim is a founding principal of Schemata Workshop. She began her architectural career in Chicago before returning home to Seattle. Grace is a consensus builder, helping her clients and project stakeholders envision how a completed project will be experienced. She is a compassionate listener and sensitive designer, paying attention to both the present and future needs of her clients. Grace is the author of The Survival Guide to Architectural Internship and Career Development, and in 2008, she was recipient of the National AIA Young Architect Award. Grace spoke in Vancouver at TED 2017 on the topic of cohousing.

For four years, Grace served on the board of the Cohousing Association of the US. She is also a founding member of Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing. Grace is currently a commissioner of the Seattle Planning Commission and serves on the board for the Housing Development Consortium. Grace is frequently presenting at national conferences on the topics of mentorship, cohousing, and alternative housing models for seniors and those with disabilities.

Mike Mariano is a founding principal of the practice; an architect with a critical eye and the ability of knowing when to bring a fresh-approach or time-tested one to a problem. He has considerable construction administration experience, an understanding of the complexity of the development process, and in the studio provides thoughtful design leadership for high-performance buildings and communities. Mike left for Chicago in 1993 after graduating from the Washington State University School of Architecture. Returning home to Seattle in 1999, Mike worked with a local firm while also acquiring a Certificate in Commercial Real Estate Development from the University of Washington prior to founding Schemata Workshop with Grace.