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Community Tours

As part of our fall orientation activities, College of Built Environments students had the opportunity to visit a number of Seattle’s most iconic and innovative landmarks, led by the project architects, designers, and developers, many of whom are friends and alumni of the College.

Chihuly Garden + Space Needle

Sponsored by Jeff and Korynne Wright, Led by Space Needle Building Experts
Korynne Halverson Wright is the immediate former chair of the University of Washington Foundation Board and a co-recipient of the Legion of Honor award along with her husband, Jeff Wright, chairman of the Space Needle Corporation. Jeff’s father, Howard S. Wright, founded the company that built the Space Needle for the 1962 World’s Fair. The Legion of Honor award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly of their time and talent to develop and sustain Seattle Center as one of the region’s leading cultural institutions and destinations.

2+U

Led by Barbara Swift and Murphy McCullough
Barbara Swift is the founder of Swift Company LLC. Her practice is founded on the belief that the development and use of the environment involves all aspects of culture, ecology and life and that a generous public environment is central to civic life. The Swift Company team was charged with creating the wildland restoration project in Seattle’s Discovery Park.

Murphy McCullough is executive vice president and regional manager of commercial development at Skanska USA Commercial Development, Inc. and brings with him 26 years of experience in real estate development. Both sit on the board of the Runstad Real Estate Center. Together they worked on the development of U+2, a Class-A office tower located in one of the most strategic locations in downtown Seattle. Its compelling connection and access to the waterfront, and creates a new and welcoming, communal destination representative of the region’s unique character.

Rainier Square

Led by Jon and Judy Runstad
Jon and Judy Runstad are graduates of the University of Washington, and the Runstad Department of Real Estate is named in their honor. Judy has been a force in Seattle real estate law and development for nearly 40 years and Jon is a successful and highly respected real estate developer. As directors of Wright Runstad, Jon and Judy have influenced the Seattle skyline and beyond with such recent notable projects as Rainier Square in Seattle and the Spring District in Bellevue.

Discovery Park

Led by Barbara Swift
Barbara Swift is the founder of Swift Company LLC. Her practice is founded on the belief that the development and use of the environment involves all aspects of culture, ecology and life and that a generous public environment is central to civic life. The Swift Company team was charged with creating the wildland restoration project in Seattle’s Discovery Park.

Burke Museum

Led by Tom Kundig
Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA is an owner and design principal of Olson Kundig, a world-renowned design firm founded on the idea that buildings can serve as a bridge between nature, culture and people. He served as the Design Principal for the UW’s Burke Museum project and is a CBE and UW Alumnus- receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design from the University of Washington in 1977 graduating magna cum laude, and his Master of Architecture from the University of Washington in 1981.