Firm： Olson Kundig

Type： Commercial › Office

STATUS： Built

YEAR： 2019

SIZE： 10,000 sqft - 25,000 sqft

BUDGET： Undisclosed

“At Knack Collective, the space celebrates the various ways people come together for work, from formal to casual, individual to collective, and business to social.” –Kirsten R. Murray, FAIA, Design Principal

Knack Collective is an unconventional, collaborative marketing agency seeking to disrupt the traditional divide between creative agency and strategic consultancy. For the design of their new headquarters and coworking space in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood, Knack sought to build on their core values of inclusivity, transparency, agility and impactful design. Throughout the 10,000-square-foot space, a bold color palette and a range of individual and collaborative workspaces creates opportunities for Knack’s community members to focus and engage at turns throughout the work day.

“For Knack Collective, we wanted to reflect on the layered history of the building, as well as the unique mission and vision that Knack brings today. Our hope is that the new space will be full of stories, both past and present.” –Kirsten R. Murray, FAIA, Design Principal

Located in a 1919 building that was originally an automotive shop before becoming law offices and, eventually, the Mexican Consulate, the design of Knack’s shared workspace draws on this layered history. Bright tones of blue, pink and yellow uplift the sensibility of the space, reflecting Knack’s vibrant, optimistic vision. Juxtaposed against the grit and patina of the heavy timber, concrete and brick structure, the high-impact space reflects Knack’s collaborative brand, which is devoted to supporting underrepresented communities and offers memberships geared toward women, members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.

The space includes offices for Knack Collective, Knack’s shared co-workspace, private leasable workspaces, and event and demonstration lounge space that includes a product showroom in collaboration with Portland-based Fully. This open lounge area faces the street, offering a high degree of transparency that invites passersby to enter and engage. The entrance opens into flexible, general purpose space that can be reconfigured as individual or collective workspaces, or used as an open gathering area for events. Stairs lead to a second level with community conference rooms, private offices and fixed-desk coworking spaces. Every space is situated to harvest light and urban views from the large street-facing windows and central skylight, continuing the emphasis on a bright, uplifting design.

“The Knack Collective space is designed for flexibility and evolution. We are excited to see how the Knack community will shape and transform the space over time, just as they are working to transform the coworking industry by fostering an explicitly inclusive space focused on female and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.” –Kirsten R. Murray, FAIA, Design Principal

Project Team: Kirsten R. Murray, FAIA, Design Principal; John Riordan, AIA, LEED® AP, Project Manager; Mike Lee, Interior Design Staff

Key Consultants: GMD Custom, General Contractor

Photos: Rafael Soldi