Pavilion in the Park
David Miller—Miller|Hull
COMMITMENT TO DESIGN
Since Miller|Hull’s inception, the firm has pursued
a logic in its design process aimed at exploration of regional influences
on modernist forms. The success of this exploration can be seen in the influence
that Miller|Hull has had, and continues to have, on architectural
design throughout the United States. Our design philosophy centers on two
essential architectural ideas. One is to use a building’s structure
and program to create a significant place within a site, and the other is
to be sensitive to climate and to respond to environmental demands with the
form of the building. These ideas have allowed Miller|Hull’s projects
to convey a harmonious balance between form and nature.
FIRM HISTORY
The Miller|Hull Partnership has its roots in
the powerful landscape of the Pacific Northwest. David Miller
and Robert Hull met as undergraduate architecture students at
Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Each served
in the U.S. Peace Corps and both apprenticed for internationally recognized
architects before returning to Washington and establishing their office in
1977. In 1985 Norm Strong was made a partner and took over the role of managing
both the firm and the firm’s largest
projects. With Norm’s added managerial skills, the firm grew to a staff
of twenty and in 1994, Craig Curtis became the fourth partner.
Both Norm and Craig are graduates of the Washington State University Architecture
program. Currently the design leadership is shared equally among Miller,
Hull and Curtis, with Strong as the managing partner. Our office - which
currently consists of 55 staff - is located in the Pioneer Square area of
Seattle. We recognize the importance of a workspace that encourages energy
and interaction on a daily basis and therefore follow an open studio format
where the exchange of creative ideas and sharing of knowledge has an uninterrupted
flow.
BREADTH
OF WORK
Miller|Hull’s primary goal is to inspire our diverse communities
through creative, inventive and enriching architecture. We are
proud of our designs in the public realm because of the wide range of people
who interact with our work. Our client base ranges from colleges and universities,
national and local governmental agencies, to private developers, corporations
and residential owners. Our public work consists of classrooms and laboratories
for higher education, administration buildings, libraries, community
centers, interpretive centers, and city halls. Projects can be as complex
as a $58 million university science building, or as simple as a $70,000 artist’s
studio. This diversity in size and program keeps the Partnership
healthy and energized.
WIDESPREAD RECOGNITION
The Miller|Hull Partnership is widely
recognized as a design leader in the Pacific Northwest and our
reputation continues to grow. The firm has received over 150
design awards in 30 years, including the 2003 Firm Award from
the National American Institute of Architects. Our work has appeared widely
in national architectural journals and books and has been published in Italy,
France, Spain, Germany and Japan. The “10
Houses - The Miller|Hull Partnership” book by Rockport Press was published
in 1999 and a firm monograph, “The Miller|Hull Partnership - Architects
of the Pacific Northwest”, by Princeton Architectural Press was published
in 2001. A second monograph by Princeton Architectural Press
is under way with an anticipated publication in 2008.
