Designers preserve a historic building and provide practical space
By Leah Martin
Within one of the most diverse ZIP codes in Seattle, Wash., Brighton Playfield sits between a public middle school and a residential neighborhood, serving as a hub for students, neighbors, and community groups. Allied8 was hired by Seattle Parks & Recreation to renovate the existing comfort station, a classic brick structure built in 1923, which included an office and storage. It had been remodeled by Gordon Walker in 1970, and otherwise hadn’t been touched apart from routine maintenance, but the building had strong bones and, though a small, humble structure, it had visual appeal. Working in tandem with Eric Gold from DA Hogan and Associates Landscape Architecture, who designed the park and playfields, the designers advocated for preserving the historic building while maximizing its capacity to serve as a park restroom, as well as a flexible storage space.