"Unico is unveiling the Smith Tower's refreshed lobby and observatory today. The company purchased the tower from CBRE last year for $74 million. During a press tour, Unico reps said they have spent “multi-millions” on the property, resulting in a new bar and cafe called Temperance in the old Chinese Room on floor 35. Views from the outdoor Observatory deck that rings Temperance are familiar but still spectacular."

Source : Daily Journal of Commerce

Image : Brian Miller

"How do you put the crowning touch on one of Seattle's iconic buildings? If it's the Smith Tower, you start with a new general store on the ground floor and then renovate the 35th floor observatory into a Prohibition era-inspired cafe and bar...Graham Baba Architects of Seattle is in charge of design for the retail and observatory spaces. Gallagher & Associates, a San Francisco-based museum planning and design firm, is creating the interactive tours and historical exhibits."

Source : Daily Journal of Commerce

Image : Graham Baba Architects

"Cinque Terre Ristorante opens June 8 in Amazon’s Doppler building at 2oo1 Westlake Ave, and its menu aims to find the “marine connection” between the Riviera and the local seafood of the Pacific Northwest. Local oysters, grass fed beef, and crab will accompany Mediterranean staples like whole branzino and grilled octopus." 

Source : Seattle Met

Image : Graham Baba Architects

Click here to see the official press relesae

"Chophouse Row in Seattle is among 26 developments selected as finalists in the Urban Land Institute's 2016 Global Awards for Excellence competition.  The competition recognizes real estate projects that achieve excellence in design, construction, economics, planning and management. The finalists include two in Asia, six in Europe and 18 in North America, according to a press release from ULI."  

Source : Daily Journal of Commerce

Photo : Tim Bies

"The goal of the Washington State Convention Center is to bring more conventions to Seattle, but much of the ground floor will be designed to appeal to locals as much as convention goers...WSCC has brought in Jim Graham of Graham Baba Architects to work on that part of the project."

Source : Daily Journal of Commerce

Photo : Graham Baba Architects

"The Mercer Island location will mark a slight departure from Mioposto's usual aesthetic. The other restaurants, in Seattle's Admiral and Bryant neighborhoods, have similar styles: small, warm, romantic and often set in older buildings with a lot of brick details. The Hadley building will be brand new, and Mioposto will mirror that with a more sophisticated, mid-century modern style, Hardy said.  To aid in that endeavor, he hired architect Graham Baba, of Fremont Collective, Melrose Market and many restaurants including Revel and Westward."

Source : Mercer Island Reporter

Photo : Sarah Flotard

"Despite a chic, mod-ish interior with a colorful abstract painting on concrete, a turquoise- and yellow-tiled bar, clever cutouts in the wood walls, and beautiful hanging lights constructed from etched cardboard, the restaurant is actually quite family-friendly—not so surprising given that it’s co-owned by Gary Snyder of Geraldine’s Counter in Columbia City... If you live in the neighborhood, this will surely become one of your regular spots. If not, it’s well worth the trip."

Source : Seattle Weekly

Photo : Graham Baba Architects

"The remodeled Publix will contain 125 market-rate apartments, studios and one-bedrooms inside its original facade, and two- and three-bedroom apartments in a new wing. Opening this summer. Its more luxurious amenities include an off-leash dog area, a community party room, and bike repair stations. Restaurants will open on the ground floor. Uwajimaya board chair Tomio Moriguchi told theSeattle Times, "Like the 1930s, we have thousands of workers moving to Seattle, and we want them to have the opportunity not only to visit but live in the Chinatown/International District... I think the district needs more people with income."

Source : The Stranger

Image : Graham Baba Architects

 "Graham Baba Architects is the consulting architect on the ground-floor open space and retail and Swift Co. is the landscape architect...The package includes ground-floor cultural or arts space, wayfinding signs, seating, a public bike rack, an electric bike charging station, a bike fix-it repair stand, publicly accessible restrooms, lighting and electric outlets for community events, and 28,000 square feet of public open space that will include amenities for children."

Source : Daily Journal of Commerce

Photo : Studio 216 & Pickard Chilton

"There is 6,300 square feet of retail anchored by a Linda Derschang restaurant called Tallulah's, Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream and a grocery store called Cone & Steiner."

Source : Daily Journal of Commerce

Photo : Weinstein A+U

"Cowiche Canyon Kitchen and Ice House in downtown Yakima received a 2015 Honor Award from Central Washington AIA...The restaurant was designed to be open and accessible, with an open dining room and display kitchen. "

Source : Daily Journal of Commerce

Photo : Laura Swimmer

"The restaurant doesn't have a name yet, but it does have a theme: the vibe is being described as "Pacific Northwest farmhouse, from design to menu." Expect it to be produce-focused, with local, seasonal sourcing. There will also be a craft cocktail bar a "cocktail-driven food menu." Graham Baba Architects will create a Pacific Northwest farmhouse design."

Source : Seattle Eater

Photo : Graham Baba Architects

"The Central Washington chapter of the American Institute of Architects recently honored five projects with 2015 Design Awards.  Cowiche Canyon Kitchen + Ice House in Yakima won an honor award for design and a craftsman award for construction. It was designed by Graham Baba Architects and built by VK Powell Construction."

"Yakima Central Plaza won a citation award. The as-yet-unbuilt project was designed by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol in collaboration with Graham Baba Architects."

Source : Daily Journal of Commerce

Photo : Graham Baba Architects

"Cowiche Canyon Kitchen + Ice House in downtown Yakima, designed by Graham Baba Architects and built by VK Powell Construction, received top honors at the American Institute of Architects/Central Washington 2015 Design Awards and Gala.  The restaurant won an AIA Honor Award for design and a Craftsman Award for its finely skilled construction during the Oct. 16 event in Prosser."

Source : Yakima Herald

Photo : Laura Swimmer

The Carlile Room - "Seattle's most prolific restaurateur, Tom Douglas, has said that his 19th restaurant, the Carlile Room, is most similar to the Palace Kitchen, his best eatery."

Chop Shop Cafe & Bar - "The food is very Pacific Northwest: small plates of well-sourced, local, seasonal food, including a rotating meat chop (pork, lamb, etc.). The in-house juice bar offers fresh juices, house-made pastries, and grab-and-go lunches."

Heyday - "This is the casual neighborhood restaurant Mount Baker needed, and the crowds are already lining up."

Naka - "Kaiseki is the Japanese tradition of coursed meals comprising artfully plated, seasonal dishes...If you want to experience Nakajima's most elaborate—and no doubt gorgeous—meal, you'll need to order it at least seven days in advance."

Source : The Stranger

Photo : Paul Gjording

"The century-old brick building that formerly housed the Palladian Apartments reopened earlier this year as a hotel after it was gutted during an extensive 18-month remodel..."

Source : Daily Journal of Commerce

Photo : Tim Rice

"Our closing argument is Cowiche Canyon Kitchen and Icehouse. The restaurant turned a dilapidated downtown city park into a Graham Baba–designed eatery that looks dreamt up for a South Lake Union corner."

Source : Seattle Met

Photo : Lara Swimmer

"...the interior, developed by Graham Baba, has a wow factor with its floor-to-ceiling windows, light wood, blue patterning, and chic lights. In particular, the slotted wood ceilings and concrete floors give off a vibe both sleek and Zen, while the custom-made art wall makes the whole place cozy and approachable."

Source : Seattle Eater

Photo : Graham Baba Architects