Much more than design.

This is one of those projects that turns out to be much more than the design of a building. I can honestly say that this project has had, and continues to have, a major impact on my life. I feel as if the building has become a part of me, as I visit it on a regular basis for a wide variety of reasons, and have remained good friends with a large number of people I met through the design process. Our daughter was even married here, and it was her choice of venue, not mine!

To keep with the scale of the surrounding historic Point Hudson structures, the Center is made up of two buildings, joined by a plaza and an expansive deck, designed to accommodate huge crowds for the annual Wooden Boat Festival, the premier west coast celebration of the craft of wooden boat-building. The north building is a workhorse, providing a series of flexible teaching spaces that overlook the main boatshop below.

The south building contains the administration space, and a large conference room that is booked in advance year-round, along with a chandlery and coffee shop to anchor the urban street corner. The dimension of the structure is based on the length of a cedar Pockock 8 rowing shell, as a few of the last remaining are housed in a livery full of shells at the ground level nearest the beach. It is one of my favorite memories of the design process that it was unanimous (among what was a very large and vocal client group) that the best part of the entire site be given to the community with an open beachfront plaza, and a livery for active boats.

The building performs magically whether serving a small seminar on navigation, a 120-guest sit down wedding reception, or 30,000 attendees for the annual Wooden Boat Festival. It has become the anchor for Port Townsend, well loved by its community and visitors alike. And I never get tired visiting it myself.