EHDD Awarded Two New Waterfront Commissions in Puget Sound 

EHDD has been commissioned to design a new commercial waterfront center at the Port of Olympia and a series of projects through an IDIQ with the Port of Seattle  

Located on Pier 91 on Elliott Bay, the Smith Cove Cruise Ship Terminal and Events Center supports the region’s role in the burgeoning cruise industry and exemplifies EHDD’s ongoing commitment to shaping the Puget Sound shoreline. Photo by Francis Zera

Seattle, WA – EHDD is proud to announce two new commissions that strengthen our role in shaping the future of Puget Sound’s shoreline. The first, a new waterfront center for the Port of Olympia, and the second, an IDIQ contract with the Port of Seattle, reflect EHDD’s ongoing commitment to delivering resilient, sustainable design solutions to the Pacific Northwest. 

 “These commissions mark another milestone in EHDD’s legacy of impactful waterfront design, helping to redefine the region’s coastline for future generations,” said Christopher Patano, EHDD Principal who leads EHDD’s Seattle office.  

A New Waterfront Center for the Port of Olympia

EHDD was selected to design a new waterfront Center for the Port of Olympia at their Swantown Marina site along Budd Inlet. EHDD and the Port of Olympia will work together to program a new facility while aligning the waterfront center with an overall port peninsula integrated master plan and 2050 vision for the Port of Olympia. The new waterfront center will be a catalyst for connecting the port’s facilities to community favorite amenities like the Farmers Market, Hands on Children’s Museum, and Percival Landing.   

A market analysis is expected to begin in late 2024 with the overall process leading to expected design work in 2025 and anticipated construction beginning in 2027. The waterfront center will have opportunities to highlight locally sourced wood products, enhancing the legacy of the timber industry in Olympia while providing a low-carbon structure that sets a new standard for sustainability and energy efficiency. EHDD’s waterfront team includes Groundswell, StructureCraft, Mazzetti, Moffatt & Nichol, Haley & Aldrich, Cushman & Wakefield, and Blanca lighting design. 

Five years of design for the Port of Seattle

We’ve been working with the Port of Seattle since 2007. EHDD has been selected by the Port of Seattle for a five-year IDIQ Buildings and Structures contract, and our Seattle office will be supporting the port’s efforts to increase value and utilization of the port’s properties. 

The waterfront work requires a complex team of architects and consultants, EHDD’s team includes Mazzetti, Moffatt & Nichol, Haley & Aldrich, KPFF, Integrated Design Engineers, Strata architects, and Blanca lighting design. 

Both projects leverage EHDD’s deep waterfront expertise, integrating locally sourced materials with carbon-positive strategies to create environmentally responsible, durable, and beautiful spaces. Our team draws on decades of experience collaborating with regulatory agencies to ensure that each project aligns with both community goals and environmental best practices.  

About EHDD

Founded in 1946, EHDD is a West Coast architecture firm with offices in San Francisco and Seattle. The firm is credited with pioneering the net zero energy building concept more than 20 years ago. Today, they are leading the way through built projects and applied research to collaboratively decarbonize our built environment. With a mission to create transformative places of belonging and impact, EHDD works with a range of clients with a focus on arts and education non-profits, visitor-serving institutions including aquariums and parks, and leading-edge corporations dedicated to leadership in sustainability and social impact.