Fulton Gale FAIA

Fulton G. (Tony) Gale FAIA (BArch UW 1970), a second-generation architect, began his career in Seattle and then continued in many locations within the US, Asia and the Middle East.  Following an early apprenticeship under Ralph Anderson, Gale practiced in Seattle as a principal owner of three architectural firms.  He remains (2003) chairman and principal designer of FultonGaleArchitects, Inc.   His projects include 8 in Seattle, 23 in the Pacific NW, and the balance in Asia, the Mid-East and other locations in the US.  15 of these projects have received 21 awards locally, regionally and nationally for multi-discipline design excellence.  These projects include fish hatcheries, water/sewage treatment plans, a world-class aquatic center for the Goodwill Games, and major public viewing aquariums such as the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon.  Due to the aquatic focus of his work, the majority of these projects embrace sustainable semi-closed, self-contained bio-systems. 

In presenting the recommendations of the Honors Nominating Committee, chair John Nesholm FAIA noted:

"For over thirty years Tony Gale has served as a prime motivator in the development of environmentally sensitive design at the building and city scale.  His reputation in this pursuit promoted him to City Architect for Seattle, Washington.  Under Mr. Gale’s direction, Seattle has become arguably the Greenest City in the United States. Unique in his abilities, Mr. Gale has worked tirelessly with communities and agencies to develop not only green building criteria but also entire green agendas for the City of Seattle during the largest building boom in the City’s history.

"Since his appointment by Seattle Mayor Paul Schell Hon. AIA as the City's Director of Architecture, Engineering and Space Planning in 1999, Tony Gale led the team effort for planning, programming, design and construction processes for existing and new City-owned buildings, directing an annual investment of approximately $50 million in improvements:  53 projects at 42 separate sites.  As the City Architect, Tony has provided sustainable design review on the 1999-2003 $billion City building construction program, the largest in the City's history.  He also assisted in a leadership role during and after the Nisqually earthquake and the most recent energy/water crisis. His recent years as Seattle's City Architect have focused Tony Gale's environmentalist ethic and his extensive experience in practice, combining commitment and credibility to his master-minding of the Emerald City's burgeoning national prominence as a sustainable design showplace.  His leadership has helped craft the City of Seattle’s design of major public projects including Koolhaas/LMN’s Seattle Public Library and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson/Bassetti Architects’ Seattle City Hall as models of environmental sensitivity.

"In extensive speaking engagements in cities around the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia, he has shared the Seattle experience with colleagues in the public and private sectors.  Tony will leave his position with the City in June 2004 to continue creating sustainable architecture as Director of Design for Starbucks."

The AIA Jury of Fellows in 2003 recognized his achievements in working with a government organization "to ensure the advancement of the living standards of people through their improved environment."   Daniel Williams FAIA, a member of both the AIA national Committee on the Environment (COTE) and the AIA Seattle COTE, which Tony cochaired, sponsored the nomination.

Reference:  1999 Starbucks article