about
Our name, BuildingWork, reflects our intentionally straightforward approach to architecture: we work on buildings. As designers, we focus on craft, context, and detail. BuildingWork is a verb; it signifies action, teamwork, and group ownership.
We are a nimble and creative small firm, and yet we have a depth of established expertise that enables us to address complex architectural challenges with elegance and pragmatism. Our team brings enthusiasm and passion to every project, regardless of scale. Our clients value the built environment, and we respect their investment by delivering exceptionally thoughtful architecture in response.
Matt founded BuildingWork in 2016 to focus directly on work that supports the health of cities, the environment, and culture. With over two decades of professional experience, Matt specializes in the design of civic and community facilities, public libraries, creative workplaces, adaptive reuse projects, and historic preservation.
Matt has a collaborative and honest leadership style that consistently delivers exceptional architecture. BuildingWork’s projects reveal Matt’s commitment to designing innovative, well-detailed, beautiful buildings that make significant contributions to the communities and clients they serve.
Matt received his Bachelor of Arts in Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington. Matt has been a guest lecturer and design studio instructor at the UW Department of Architecture in Seattle and in Rome, Italy. Matt is an alumni of the Urban Land Institute Center for Leadership, and has served on AIA Seattle Board of Directors, the ACT Theater Board of Directors, and on the King County Library System Foundation Board.
Matt currently serves on the Seattle Design Commission as Architect Commissioner. The Seattle Design Commission advises the Mayor, City Council, and the public on design excellence in City facilities, infrastructure, and the public realm.
A Partner at BuildingWork, Kate Weiland oversees the firm’s quality control, production standards, and project management systems. Her active leadership shepherds our most complex projects through clear communication, organized execution, and a collaborative approach to design. She has a strong interest in exploring how a community adopts and adapts to its environment and is passionate about creating vibrant spaces for communities. Kate’s recent work includes the creation of libraries, the renovation of landmarked buildings, and adapting spaces to meet the changing needs of active community organizations
A sought-after speaker in and around Seattle, Kate regularly shares her expertise on everything from library design to retrofits and has served as guest critic at the University of Washington Architecture Department since 2014. She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with a minor in Architecture History from Miami University. She studied the intersection of architecture and life in Rome, Italy, and Chandigarh, India, and is an alum of the Urban Land Institute’s Center for Leadership.
With 18 years of experience, Project Architect RJ Van Liere brings to BuildingWork specific expertise in design for K-12 and higher education buildings. Previously, he has designed facility renovations at several universities and has designed renovations, additions, and new facilities for numerous K-12 schools. RJ is particularly interested in merging his education design experience with adaptive reuse projects. Currently, RJ is leading renovation projects at two Seattle Public Schools, the seismic retrofit of a community center, and is overseeing the construction of the Metropole Building, an adaptive reuse of a historic building in Seattle’s Historic Pioneer Square District info office spaces for non-for-profit organizations.
A good listener and team player, RJ is adept at building consensus around straightforward solutions. RJ earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While at the University of Illinois, RJ studied abroad at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture à Versailles.
Project Manager Michele Hill is BuildingWork’s in-house code expert; she embraces any opportunity to solve complex code problems in creative ways, meeting the needs of clients while confronting the realities of our heavily regulated built environment. Michele brings over a decade of experience navigating Seattle codes with an emphasis on adaptations to existing buildings, including structural, energy, and accessibility improvements.
Michele is passionate about designing spaces that enhance and contribute to our community. Her goal as an architect is to realize functional and beautiful spaces that improve people’s daily lives.
Michele earned a Master of Urban Planning with a Specialization in Environmental Planning from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech, Michele studied abroad at McGill University and the Université Paris Sorbonne.
In addition to her role at BuildingWork, Michele is very involved with the American Institute of Architects Seattle chapter, currently serving on the board of directors, executive committee, Women in Design committee, and chairs the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JE:DI) Council.
Bio coming soon.
Bio coming soon.
Bio coming soon.
Bio coming soon.
Sarah Lippai facilitates day-to-day operations and administration with a keen and insightful eye. Her role at BuildingWork pairs her professional experience with her interest in architecture, archaeology, and preservation, which she has studied in Italy, Spain, and New Zealand. An obsessive organizer since childhood, Sarah has refined this skill through experience managing multiple small, creative businesses. Sarah holds a Master of Arts in Art History from the University of Washington where her research focused on the establishment of place and the integration of culture in urban environments. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classics and Art History from the University of Puget Sound.