Graham Baba is a 30-person firm based in Seattle. Image courtesy of Graham Baba Architects.

Seattle-based Graham Baba Architects started in 2006 by Jim Graham and Brett Baba, two architects who met while working at what is now Olson Kundig (back then, the firm was named Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen). The pair embarked on their own to found a practice that "creates places that tell a story, places that people are drawn to, and spaces that encourage social interaction and community," according to the architects. More than a decade later, the firm has grown to 30 employees and is now engaged in projects across over a dozen states. 

For Graham Baba, each project represents an opportunity to tie together particular considerations for site, materials, and program that convey a sense of authenticity. As the architects explain, "authenticity can—and should—be found in every building by use of honest materials such as metals, wood, and glass celebrated in their natural state."

For this week's Studio Snapshot, Archinect connected with Graham and Baba to discuss, among other topics, creating a balanced office culture that draws dedicated employees to the firm. 

Where and when did your studio start?

We were longtime friends and colleagues at Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen before deciding to start a firm together. The seeds of Graham Baba Architects were first planted at a pizza joint in Seattle (Stellar Pizza) after they played together on a soccer team in late October 2005. Graham Baba Architects opened almost exactly one year later in a small office in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle on October 1, 2006.

How did you come up with your name and company ethos?

The name is straightforward, a combination of our two surnames. We tried Baba Graham, but it didn’t sound right. The company ethos came naturally from a set of shared values rooted in deep respect and appreciation for design and craft.

Wood can be used as the structure, for finishes, furnishings, and even just for texture. It does all those things incredibly well. We use wood in the same way we do all natural materials, by celebrating its inherent honesty and clearly expressing its qualities. Authenticity is one of our core values and is intimately tied to the way we use and view materials.

How many people work at the company? 

We are currently at 30 total staff (26 architects/designers and 4 support staff).

What made you decide to start an office? 

Graham: The ability to manifest my own destiny by taking on projects that most interested me was the initial driver to start my own office.

Baba: For me, there were two major attractions to starting an office: the first was the opportunity to team up with Jim, who I always felt would be a great match. We are a natural yin and yang to one another. The second was the opportunity to follow my passion for design, to explore and develop my own design ethos and aesthetic.

What are other offices that you look at for guidance and why?

Since we have a shared history there, we of course take a lot of cues from Olson Sundberg. Lake|Flato has been a big influence in terms of design and approach and business practice; we often say that we want to be like them when we grow up. We admire Steven Holl’s office, in particular their ability to work on bigger projects through collaboration and association with other firms. We also enjoy the sophistication that comes through in Aidlin Darling’s consistent elegance and refinement…it’s beautiful work.

What were the first 365 days like?  

We had so many projects that first year; they just kept pouring in. They were a mixture of large and small residences and commercial spaces—and not just in Seattle. We immediately grew to five to handle the project load. Those days were a bit crazy!

How did the Great Recession impact your fledgeling practice? 

I think we weathered the recession as well as could be expected. We had started to grow, but we weren’t too big and had no debt. Our size allowed us to be scrappy and nimble; we got creative about keeping everyone busy and billable. At one point the whole office spent a week assembling furniture for one of our projects. In the end, we didn’t have to lay off anyone. We’re extremely proud of that. 

What are you currently working on?

We’ve always had an eclectic mix of projects. We are currently working on projects that range from lumber yards and distilling facilities to upscale hospitality projects and houses. We even recently consulted on the cabin lighting for a major airline. The scale of projects is also incredibly diverse, from pop-up kiosks to urban planning. While we began our existence as very much a Pacific Northwest firm, we are now working across the country in New York, California, Wyoming, Texas, Nevada, and Massachusetts. Collaborations with larger firms have helped to open a world of big-scale projects that we’ve found incredibly interesting. 

How would you define your firm’s perspective on work-life balance?  

We heavily value a healthy work-life balance; it’s a core belief. We believe in the “work hard, play hard” motto. Travel and enjoying the outdoors are inspirational to many of our staff and our office culture supports time spent in those inspirational pursuits.

While we began our existence as very much a Pacific Northwest firm, we are now working across the country in New York, California, Wyoming, Texas, Nevada, and Massachusetts. Collaborations with larger firms has helped to open a world of big-scale projects that we’ve found incredibly interesting. 

What other avenues of creative exploration does your office pursue?  

We are an office full of makers and creators who have a myriad of creative interests. We are able to tap into those talents/interests for office group projects, such as a mural we recently painted at a preschool project that we designed, or through office-fabricated fixture mock-ups. We would love to expand this activity and do more things as an office; building things together and getting our hands dirty. It’s fun and a great way to share what each of us knows and learn about materials and craft.  

What are the benefits of having your own practice? And staying small?

Having our own practice means that we’re in control of the projects we take on. We have the opportunity to pursue projects that lean outside the bounds of traditional architecture, like branding, planning, or environmental design. Staying small has allowed us to preserve our family-like office culture. That said, we are exploring how to balance firm growth while preserving those cultural attributes.  

Where do you see the office in 5 years? In 10 Years?

Definitely in Seattle! Our evolution is providing us with the opportunity for bigger and more high-profile projects. Regardless, maintaining our core passion for design at any scale is paramount.

Staying small has allowed us to preserve our family-like office culture. That said, we are exploring how to balance firm growth while preserving those cultural attributes.

How do you look for talent for your office?  

We’ve had the good fortune of having great talent come to us. Once we began to assemble a group of people with common values, the culture evolved and took on a spirit of its own. The reputation for this culture has helped attract other like-minded architects and designers.

How is practicing urban design in Seattle (and Washington State) different than in other cities? What opportunities are present there that are not available in other places?

Seattle has an almost magical setting with its proximity to mountains, water, and natural beauty, in general. Historically, it is a place of innovation. It has always been a crossroads of eastern and western influences with strong connections to Japanese design traditions. The wealth of passionate craftspeople has had a strong influence on the regional built environment.

Many of your projects feature a thoughtful use of wooden elements—be it structural systems, finishes, or other applications—How does this regional significance of this material play out in your work? 

The Pacific Northwest has had a long and important relationship to timber, notably showcased in our regional architecture. This, in turn, has fostered a highly developed craft in woodworking. Wood can be used as the structure, for finishes, furnishings, and even just for texture. It does all those things incredibly well. We use wood in the same way we do all natural materials, by celebrating its inherent honesty and clearly expressing its qualities. Authenticity is one of our core values and is intimately tied to the way we use and view materials.