Weber + Thompson Adds 9 Principals Due to Growth
By Heidi Dietrich, Staff Writer
Puget Sound Business Journal
January 26, 2007
In its first major management change in two decades, Seattle architecture firm Weber + Thompson has named nine new principals from its staff to help lead the fast-growing company.
Founders Scott Thompson and Blaine Weber, and longtime principal Kristen Scott, will also continue as principals. The three decided more principals were needed because the 94-person firm has grown from just 25 people five years ago. "We need additional leadership," Weber said.
Weber + Thompson has become one of Seattle's largest architecture firms, ranking 16th for 2005 revenue in the Puget Sound Business Journal's annual Book of Lists.
The firm, which focuses on architecture, master planning and interior design, mostly in Seattle, had revenue of nearly $9 million last year, Weber said.
More growth lies ahead. Its new headquarters in the South Lake Union area, set to open in March 2008, can accommodate 130. The firm also is promoting six employees to senior associate and 13 to associate.
Some of the new principals will immediately own equity in the firm, Weber and Thompson said. How equity is later distributed will be decided by the new, larger group of principals. Decision making will take place among all 12 principals, and if consensus can't be reached the group will vote.
Though Thompson, Weber and Scott have no plans to retire soon, they also believe the new wave of principals will set the firm's future.
"We're really excited to bring bright young people into the decision making process," Weber said.
Among Weber + Thompson's recent prominent projects are the hotel and condominium tower Hotel 1000/Madison Tower in downtown Seattle; the upcoming residential building Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue near Pike Place Market; and a future office building, the Colman Center, near Colman Dock on the Seattle waterfront.
"Weber + Thompson has been enormously successful in their area of practice and has grown quite a bit," said Walter Schacht, president of the Seattle chapter of the American Institute of Architects and a principal at Seattle-based Schacht Aslani Architects.
The firm is also making a push to construct buildings that are certified to meet LEED standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Weber + Thompson will apply for the premier LEED Gold designation for the firm's future 40,000 square-foot South Lake Union headquarters.
So far, most of Weber + Thompson's projects have been in Seattle, but the firm wants to become more regional. Weber + Thompson hopes the new leadership will help it do more projects outside of the state.
Contact: hrdietrich@bizjournals.com 206 - 447 - 8505 x112