Gary Swenson

Life Member 2012

Gary Swenson (d. 4/2022) received the BSCE from the University of Washington in 1961. He briefly worked the night shift at Boeing while attending architecture classes during the day, and decided to direct his career to working with architects.

He joined Peter Hostmark & Associates before opening his own office in Pioneer Square in 1968. Over the course of his 50-year career he worked in several partnerships: Ratti Swenson Perbix, RSP EQE, Swenson Engineers, Swenson-Arup, Swenson Buro Happold, and Swenson Say Faget. He retired from Swenson Say Faget in November 2011.

His work focused on historic preservation and restoration. Beginning in 1970, he took part in Seattle's major grassroots campaign to designate Pioneer Square as a national historic district and the city's first preservation district. Gary worked with local architects and the Seattle Building Department to establish guidelines and standards for preserving historic structures. His dedication to preservation and restoration of historic buildings continued with his mayoral appointments to the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board 1977-81, to the Seattle Design Commission 1986-91, and the Pioneer Square Preservation Board 1992-2002.

His early projects in Pioneer Square include the Colman Building, 123 S Jackson, 110 Cherry St., the Triangle Building, and the Merchant's Café Building. In the late 1980's Gary performed the structural and seismic study of seven historic Carnegie libraries in the City of Seattle, which led to the funding and eventual rehabilitation of the buildings.

Other historic projects include the renovation of the historic Eagles Auditorium Building for Seattle's ACT Theater, the restoration and seismic retrofit of St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, and the Issaquah Pickering Barn. He also worked extensively at the University of Washington including the rehabilitation of Parrington Hall and Suzzallo Library, and the adaptive reuse of Building 25 at Magnuson Park into a new center for pediatric dentistry. Other prominent projects: the UW Olympic Natural Resources Center, the UW School of Social Work addition, Broadway Market, and the REI Flagship Store.

Gary undertook several projects for global non-profits offering rural development services to poor communities around the world. This work included a trip to Tibet in 2010 to design a community clinic and a trip to Peru to design an orphanage.

Recognition of his professional contributions include AIA Seattle Honorary Membership in 2006, which cited "his exceptional character and exemplary citizenship," commending his role as "a model for employees, family, friends and fellow professionals."

2011: "What We Remember: Drinks with Gary Swenson"

Posted June 2012, updated August 2021, April 2022