Weber Thompson

Weber Thompson
Name	Weber Thompson
Type	Architecture firm
Founded	1987
Founder	Steven J. Weber; Rick Thompson
Headquarters	Seattle, Washington, United States
Significant projects	1200 Westlake, Cirrus, The Mosaic, Luma, M West

Weber Thompson Weber Thompson is a Seattle-based architecture and design firm known for its mixed-use, residential, and urban infill projects in the Pacific Northwest. The firm has contributed to the redevelopment of downtown Seattle, collaborated with developers and planners across Washington (state), and engaged with municipal review boards and community organizations on transit-oriented development. Its portfolio includes high-rise condominiums, multifamily housing, and sustainable design initiatives that intersect with regional growth and zoning programs.

History

Founded in 1987 by Steven J. Weber and Rick Thompson during a period of commercial expansion in Seattle, the firm emerged amid post-industrial redevelopment and the growth of the Puget Sound region. Early work involved residential renovations and small-scale commercial projects in neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Seattle and Ballard, Seattle, progressing to larger mixed-use commissions tied to downtown revitalization and the biotech and technology sector growth centered around South Lake Union. Over the 1990s and 2000s the practice expanded staff and expertise, responding to policy shifts from the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections and regional transit investments like the Link light rail. Collaboration with developers, planners, and preservation advocates shaped the firm’s approach during economic cycles including the dot-com era and the post-2008 recovery that spurred multifamily construction.

Notable Projects

Weber Thompson’s notable projects span residential towers, mid-rise apartments, and urban infill. Projects that attracted regional attention include 1200 Westlake, a waterfront condominium associated with redevelopment in Eastlake, Seattle; Cirrus, a high-rise condominium in the urban core; and The Mosaic, a mixed-use development in Seattle’s urban villages. Additional projects such as Luma in South Lake Union and M West contributed to dense infill near major employers like Amazon (company) and institutions including University of Washington. The firm has also designed projects in neighboring municipalities, engaging with development programs in Bellevue, Washington, Kirkland, Washington, and Tacoma, Washington.

Design Philosophy and Style

The firm’s design philosophy emphasizes contextual response to site, façade articulation, and urban activation along corridors and transit nodes. Influenced by Northwest modernism and regional materials, the practice references precedents from architects and firms such as Victor Steinbrueck, Pietro Belluschi, and mid-century work in Pacific Northwest architecture. Their stylistic approach often balances curtain wall glazing, masonry, and metal panel systems to mediate scale between street-level retail and upper-level residential units, responding to guidelines from entities like the Seattle Design Commission and neighborhood design review boards.

Awards and Recognition

Weber Thompson projects and teams have received honors from professional organizations and industry publications. Recognitions include awards from the American Institute of Architects Seattle Chapter, citations in regional design competitions, and coverage in outlets that track real estate and architecture such as The Seattle Times and design journals. Individual projects have been noted by municipal design awards and developer trade groups for contributions to urban infill and multifamily housing quality.

Organizational Structure and Key People

The firm operates with a leadership team including principals, project managers, and studio directors overseeing architecture, interior design, and technical delivery. Founders Steven J. Weber and Rick Thompson established the practice’s culture; subsequent principals and senior designers have included figures with experience working on large-scale development projects and collaborations with firms and consultants associated with multifamily housing and urban planning. The office interacts with contractors, structural engineers, and landscape architects, coordinating with permitting authorities such as the King County permitting offices and engaging legal counsel and financial partners for project delivery.

Sustainability and Innovation Practices

Sustainability has been integrated into project delivery through energy-efficient envelopes, daylighting strategies, and water-use reduction measures aligned with standards promulgated by organizations like LEED and regional green building programs. The firm has incorporated low-VOC materials, high-performance glazing, and mechanical system optimization to meet municipal performance targets and client sustainability goals. Innovation practices include use of parametric design tools, digital modeling workflows compatible with Building Information Modeling, and prefabrication strategies to improve schedule certainty on urban infill sites constrained by staging and access.

Category:Architecture firms in Seattle