James Cary, Architect pc
Leads residential, commercial, and public building projects. Specialties include library design, historic preservation, and green buildings. The downtown Seattle office combines personal service with innovative and solid design.
Seattle University Admissions & Alumni Building
The Admissions & Alumni Building is Seattle University’s new campus entry building and the University’s symbolic and actual front door. Within 11,360 square feet, the building houses undergraduate and graduate admissions offices, alumni relations offices, two art galleries, several small meeting rooms, and a large meeting space designed to be the University’s living room. The project creates a forward-looking professional environment that supports workplace productivity and effectiveness, creates a genuine University connection to the neighborhood, and strengthens the Seattle University campus experience. An addition and full remodel to a 1970s warehouse structure, this sustainable building incorporates extensive daylighting, raised floor mechanical and technology distribution, low VOC finishes, rainwater collection and irrigation, verdant low-impact landscaping, and rooftop gardens and photovoltaic panels. The project achieved a LEED Gold rating from the United States Green Building Council.
Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce - 19 November 2008
Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce - 1 September 2009
SU A&A Sustainability Features
Public Library Design
Public libraries are important civic centers and meeting places, and great facility design reinforces the vital role that libraries play in each community. Public library design is an exciting, collaborative and rewarding process, and a specialty at James Cary, Architect pc. Prior projects include new libraries, library additions, library reorganizations, and historic renovations of Carnegie Libraries. Our scope of services includes site selection, programming and feasibility studies, building design and construction documentation, interior design, furniture and shelving selection, and construction administration. Jim has worked with sixteen public libraries in Washington and Montana, and his work emphasizes sustainable and energy efficient design.
Residential Architecture
No two residential architecture projects are the same size, style, budget or personality. James Cary, Architect pc listens to our clients and creates the right project for you. Our design team is organized and prepared, proactive in problem-solving, and responsive to your questions and concerns. We provide clear project communication, are sensitive to project budgets and schedules, and offer solid design skills and integrity. The adjacent projects represent a small sample of our residential design work, and we look forward to hearing about your project.
Historic Preservation
James Cary, Architect pc specializes in preserving historic buildings. We develop projects with careful on-site research and observation, and direct repair and construction on the principal of first doing no harm to the historic structure. We then use time-tested as well as innovative approaches to meet the building and occupants’ needs. We are also very familiar with the process of historic design review, and are capable of leading the project design team through state and local design review. In addition to surveying this Washington barn, we have restored Carnegie libraries, Washington State Capitol Campus structures, and several historic residences.
Seattle University Logan Field Press Box and Field House
Seattle University transformed a 30-year-old natural turf student recreation field into a NCAA Women’s Softball Field complete with new synthetic turf and television-ready field lighting. The new Logan Field is a vibrant campus center for student athletes, and James Cary, Architect pc designed supporting structures that capture the spirit of University Athletics and the tradition of the University Campus. The Press Box is perched above home plate, and anchors the southwest field entry. The Field House backs up to the Redhawks’ dugout and provides field maintenance storage, concessions and restrooms for the new playing field.
Unique Expertise
James Cary, Architect pc is a full-service architecture firm that provides thoughtful predesign, design and construction administration services. Our clients include Northwest homeowners, businesses, municipalities, and institutions;
and our projects typically address unique and challenging conditions. We are nimble and can work efficiently and effectively on a tight schedule. Our architectural experience includes:
Historic Building Research, Analysis & Landmark Review Support
Roofing and Exterior Wall Repair & Restoration Design
Historic Masonry Investigation
Art Installation Design
Project Feasibility Studies
Space Planning & Office Design
ADA & Accessibility Analysis and Design
Quick and Challenging Renovation Design
Architectural Photography
Building Code & Land Use Code Property Analysis
Remarkable Projects
The expertise of James Cary, Architect pc extends beyond standard architecture projects and into singular, extraordinary design. One such project was the design of a 400-foot long pedestrian and bicycle bridge spanning the Clark Fork River in Missoula, Montana. Carter Burgess was the project’s engineer of record, and Jim designed the steel, cable-stay bridge as an architect at Missoula’s O’Neill & Zimet Architects. The bridge design won awards from both the American Institute of Steel Construction and the Montana Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Jim also designed a new steel and glass sculpture pedestal and building entry for a monumental glass sculpture installation at Seattle University’s business school atrium. Jim designed this project as an architect at Seattle’s Cardwell Architects.
Jim Cary was born and raised in Hannibal, Missouri, and gained his architectural experience with subsequent stops in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Florida, New Zealand, Oregon, Missouri, Montana, and Washington. Jim is versatile and adaptable, and he solves problems. He will be the champion for your project, and his efforts will help you realize your vision. Jim enjoys an active project leadership role, as well as the rewards from great team communication and collaboration.
Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Yale University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, is a LEED Accredited Professional, and holds architecture licenses in Washington, Montana, Idaho and Oregon.