SMR Architects

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
Yesterday, our team spent the day volunteering with Sound Foundations NW, and it was such a rewarding experience! A huge thank you to everyone on our crew who showed up and gave their all.

We headed to The Hope Factory in S**O to help construct a tiny home that could help up to 60 people transition off the streets. Sound Foundations NW builds tiny homes as a proven, life-changing bridge out of homelessness with over 55% of tiny home residents going on to permanent housing - one of the highest rates to permanent housing among all shelter options. We're so proud to support their work.

Check them out at soundfoundationsnw.org!

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
Yesterday, several of our team members spent an inspiring day at the AIA Seattle Housing Design Forum, hosted at the National Nordic Museum! This year’s theme, 𝙂𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙗𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚: 𝙐𝙣𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜, offered an incredible deep dive into how recent state and local housing reforms are unlocking new design possibilities. From opening remarks by Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson to engaging case studies on innovative, sustainable housing models, our team walked away with fresh tools and insights to help our sector get to abundant housing.

A huge thank you to AIA Seattle for putting together such a timely, thoughtful, and beautifully hosted event. We’re ready to put these insights into practice!

Pictured: Fiona Cahill, Kate Smith, Greta DuBois, and Claudia Rosa-López

𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿
Congratulations to SMR intern, Felipe Cruz, for graduating from the Housing Development Consortium (HDC) Internship Program last week!

Felipe spent the last nine months learning about the affordable housing sector. We were lucky enough to have him join our team to work on the Sunnyside Outlook Road development in Sunnyside, WA, before he wrapped up his program gaining even more valuable experience with our friends at Side x Side Architects.

Thanks so much to Housing Development Consortium for hosting this incredible, impactful internship program and for their continued dedication to empowering the next generation of housing leaders. Felipe, we are so proud of your hard work, dedication, and the bright future you have ahead of you in creating vibrant, inclusive communities. Congrats to Felipe and all the HDIP Graduates!

𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘀
We're proud to be working on this meaningful development, which will bring 42 affordable units to Burlington, including 12 reserved for veterans experiencing homelessness, when it opens later this year.

Thanks so much to Volunteers of America Western Washington, Beacon Development Group, Dawson Construction, and the entire team making this vision a reality.



https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B8YdzFR9Q/

Ballington Flats is an exciting VOAWW capital project in Skagit County that will provide an affordable, long-term housing solution for the community.

This year, the project is making major progress as construction continues moving forward, bringing us closer to welcoming future tenants. It has been incredible to see how much the site has transformed over the past few months.

Once completed in 2026, the development will include 42 units, with 12 reserved for veterans experiencing homelessness, along with a play area and a community building featuring a commons room and administrative offices.

We are excited to see this project take shape and look forward to the impact it will have for years to come.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻
Congratulations to SMR's own Jacqui Aiello on receiving the AIA Seattle Community Service Award during last night's Parti!

From designing community infrastructure in rural Honduras to co-chairing AIA Seattle's Committee on Homelessness, leading social housing design collaboratives, and serving on the Tacoma for All Steering Committee, Jacqui has spent her career putting her skills in service of housing justice. And she does it all because she believes it's simply the right thing to do.

We are so proud to have her on our team and inspired every day by her commitment to the communities she serves.

Congratulations to all the winners! Read more about this year's honorees by clicking the link below.

https://aiaseattle.org/2026-aia-seattle-parti-honorees/

𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
Housing Development Consortium's Affordable Housing Week is in full swing with tours, panels, community conversations, and more! Spots are filling up fast, so check the full calendar and register today: housingconsortium.org/events/affordable-housing-week .

Affordable Housing Week An incredible weeklong series events that works to highlight the role affordable housing plays in stabilizing our communities.

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿
Chuck Austin Place, a former Marine Corps armory site transformed into 41 affordable homes for veterans experiencing homelessness in Yakima, WA, was a true team effort, and SMR is grateful to have worked with the Yakima Housing Authority, Enterprise Community Partners, Beacon Development Group, and all of the project partners for bringing this vision to life together.

From community design charrettes with veterans to navigating a federal transfer process, every step of this project was guided by a shared commitment to the people it would serve.

Thanks to Enterprise Community Partners for sharing the story of Chuck Austin Place. Read the full profile at the link below.

A Home for Veterans | Enterprise Community Partners A former military facility in Yakima, Washington — declared surplus in 2014 — is now Chuck Austin Place: 41 affordable homes serving veterans who have experienced homelessness along with on-site health clinics and behavioral health services.

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻
Every Earth Day is a reminder of our responsibility. We integrate sustainable strategies into affordable housing, from energy-efficient systems to healthy materials, proving environmental stewardship and affordability go hand in hand.

𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴!
SMR is looking for an Architect 3 to help advance our mission of designing safe, affordable homes for everyone.

Learn more and apply at https://smrarchitects.com/architect-3/.