This project, a brick-clad bathhouse in Golden Gardens Park, was rehabilitated to serve the community’s changing recreation and education needs. BOLA’s interdisciplinary team worked with the Seattle Parks Department, Seattle Landmarks Commission, and a Public Advisory Team on the building and site design. The project was completed in 2004.
Built in 1929, the Bathhouse has a layered history with over 70 years of varied use, beginning in the Depression era when it provided locker and changing rooms for swimmers and beach-goers. The 5,750 sq. ft. building is situated on Puget Sound between natural wetlands and low-tide areas, the beach and treed upland slopes. Plans included new spaces for flexible uses including a multi-purpose room with new ridge skylight, a “wet” classroom for marine ecology and art classes, an office, and storage and service spaces. A 1956-era concession addition was replaced by a wood-frame café with adjacent catering kitchen. BOLA’s contributions included development of the building program and a landmark nomination, kitchen and café planning, daylighting study models, and leadership in the project’s sustainability design.