Steve Arai

Steven N. Arai AIA, AICP AIA Seattle President 2001-02, Community Service Award 2003

The active professionalism, passionate community service and philosophy of inclusiveness of Steve Arai (1946-2007)  (BArch UW 1969) drew many to join in his endeavors.

Steve Arai had deep roots in both Northwest architecture and Seattle's Asian American community.  Steve's uncle Kichio Allen Arai became the first Asian American to design buildings using his own name.

Steve led his practice to extraordinary achievement in civic architecture and historic preservation, and he drew others to join him in significant community and professional activism.

From the beginning of his career, working with the late Mel Streeter AIA, Steve (BArch UW 1969) committed himself to advancing the quality of community life.  Upon joining Arai/Jackson -- later known as Arai Jackson Ellison Murakami -- in 1977, Steve directed one of the Northwest's foremost civic design firms.  Through his leadership, the firm has helped guide communities throughout the Northwest to achieve well-designed public facilities across a range of building types, from city halls and county courthouses to Native American tribal centers.  Steve and his partners also directed some of the region's largest and most complex transportation projects, generating a remarkable degree of public trust and confidence.

Steve's professional commitment extended to his leadership at the AIA.  Particularly notable:  his campaign for the passage of legislation to increase contracting opportunities for women and minorities (WMBE), his service as Chair of the AIA Seattle Diversity Roundtable, his term as AIA Seattle 2001-02 President, his energetic encouragement of investment in diversity through the endowment of scholarship programs, and his commitment to public activism as a member of the AIA Washington Board.   In 2003, AIA Seattle presented Steve with the Community Service Award.

Steve never lost sight of his roots, and dedicated a major portion of his practice to the preservation of community heritage and projects within the Asian community.  His interest in historic preservation included an impressive list of projects by his own firm, as well as two decades of service on the Council of Historic Seattle.  As a Trustee of the Japanese American National Museum, he joined his personal hero and friend US Senator Daniel Inouye, US Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, and others in advancing the mission of a unique cultural facility.

In both his practice and his civic service, Steve Arai connected design with community, and through his personal example and caring relationships drew others to join him in expressing and supporting those professional commitments. 

Professional Service and Appointments
• AIA Seattle, President 2001-2002; Diversity Roundtable Chair
• Historic Seattle Preservation & Development Authority, Council Member
• Historic Seattle Preservation Foundation, Founding Board Member
• Japanese American National Museum, Board of Trustees
• Center for the Preservation of Democracy, Board of Trustees
• Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, Member
• National Trust for Historic Preservation, Member

AIA Seattle Community Service Award 2003:
As a complement to his leadership in practice (Arai/Jackson Architects + Planners) and profession (AIA Seattle President 2001-02) Steve Arai has devoted remarkable energy to civic service.  As a Board member for Historic Seattle, he helped mobilize that organization's missions in public information and advocacy for historic preservation.  On the Board of the Japanese American National Museum, he joined a personal hero, Senator Daniel Inouye, and others in advancing the mission of a unique cultural facility, with national programming impact.  On any given day, Steve manages to squeeze organizational work -- particularly persuading others to match his contributions of time, commitment, and money -- into a schedule packed with work and family commitments. Such exemplars help motivate all of us to do what we can to activate our community interests.

Seattle DJC January 2007: "Steven Arai remembered as a gracious, respectful warrior"