To Facilitate and House the Intelligence of Tomorrows Agents.

The center trains the elite, clandestine operation officers who the CIA describes as agents who are on the front-line recruiting and handling sources of foreign intelligence. It takes special skills and professional disciple to establish strong human relationships that result in high-value intelligence from clandestine sources. An Operation Officer must be able to deal with fast-moving, ambiguous and unstructured situations. This requires physical and psychological health, energy, intuition, “street sense” and the ability to cope with stress. The center conducts an 18-week course in “operational intelligence” or tradecraft for trainees who already posses extensive skills and education. (The residential components may be on- or off-site and thus may be or not be part of the design.) The programmatic spaces for the building and grounds will be developed by student teams. However, this will be a substantial structure of about 15,000 square feet. It will include one large and several medium size spaces for meeting and training.

Located in Western Washington State, the Hood Canal stems from a great landmark of the Northwest in the Puget Sound. The location is optimal with a moderate climate, optimal land and maritime training conditions, access to several military bases in the surrounding area, available land, and direct access to an internationally populated city in Seattle for field training. With a 400 foot topographical elevation change, and the faux peninsula pinched between the Hood Canal and Lynch Cove, the site lends to the idea of solitude and prestige. It also creates an illusion to the public and refers to the antinomian tool used during the design process in: Secure vs. Exposed. The entrance of the complex from the north assures security while the way the complex straddles contours on the ridge displays an exposed edge to the public on the water.