November 24, 1999

Peter Steinbrueck

By SAM BENNETT
Journal Staff reporter

Peter Steinbrueck

Q: What is your experience in architecture?

A: I had been a licensed architect for about 10 years prior to becoming a City Council member. I had been self-employed my entire working life, since about age 15. I started a construction company at age 18, which I continued through college. I had been doing quite a bit of design work as a contractor and of course had worked in partnership with my father, Victor Steinbrueck, who was an architect. My architectural work involved predominantly residential design... as well as some tenant improvement and some light manufacturing. So I had a very satisfying and rewarding small practice in architecture.

Steinbrueck

A: I gave up the hands-on practice of it but in office I'm able to continue my interests in many respects in the area of land use, in growth and change and in public works projects. I'm very much involved with the shape of the city on an ongoing basis.

Q: Why was 1997 the right time to enter public office?

A: I thought that at this stage in Seattle's history, with the tremendous growth that we're experiencing, this would be an opportune time for an architect to be in public office to help shape the future of a growing, thriving city that's changing rapidly. I very much wanted to get into office to transfer those skills and background into the future of our city.

And I've found I've been able to do that quite successfully. For example, I was very much involved with the siting for the downtown Central Library, as well as the selection process for the architect for both the Central Library and the City Hall. I am on the client committee working on developing plans for the new Civic Center.

Station-area development with Sound Transit is another area of keen interest of mine -- to follow and influence what I hope to be very successful results in station-area development in terms of mixed-use housing, neighborhood businesses and pedestrian-oriented development. In private works, I am on the land use committee that is involved with decisions ranging from the convention center expansion to smaller private developments. So I'm able to assess those projects and contribute very significantly I think to the goal of better design, better solutions.

I think I'm able to provide a bridge between the design community in Seattle and government that has never existed-or at least not at this level. I'm the first elected official, to my knowledge, in Seattle's history, with a very strong architecture, urban design background.

Q: How much do you influence public and private design review?

A: We are strengthening design review. That's controversial, especially with the architecture community, but the public is demanding it as well. It's not just a personal interest. I see the political barriers to affordable housing being lifted or eased through good design and through convincing neighborhoods we can have affordable housing and preserve the character of single-family neighborhoods.

We're trying to recover and undo years of built-up hostility and anger over insensitive development, the loss of historic buildings and tacky speculative apartment buildings that have really been damaging. We're trying to do a better job and increase acceptance.

Q: Is it difficult to persuade others that good design has value?

A: The challenge for me is to articulate good design, good urban form, contextualism and sensitivity to the neighborhood environment to my colleagues on the council... to find the most effective way to communicate what I know from a lifelong experience and professional work and education. Often people just don't get it and that can be very frustrating, or there are other forces at work-political forces, economic - that are more powerful and override the goals of good urban design and architecture.

Q: Many in the architecture and development community are critical of design review. What are your views?

A: The danger always is that it gets carried too far. It can become arbitrary, subjective, unfair and overreaching. Those are valid criticisms and point to the need for comprehensible, clear, objective design criteria that establish what the outcome of the design review process is going to produce. You need capable, skilled design professionals involved - not exclusively - but very much involved to ensure that objectivity. I think we're still working on that and improving that process.

Q: What design priorities do you have for the new City Hall and Civic Center?

A: If you look back in the history of the design of civic buildings and their expression, it's a clean page right now. We really don't and should not look to the past for what that symbolism and expression should be. We certainly don't want to borrow from the '60s blandness or neo-classical examples of the past, and turn-of-the-century styles are no longer appropriate. I think we have a whole new era and we can set an example of what a truly civic building should be as the seat of local government. I'm very excited about creating a new statement.

Q: Has your father been an influence on your career - as an architect and politician?

A: I certainly am cut from the same cloth. My father was a major influence in my life - his teachings, his values and concerns as well as his example of community involvement, putting human interests over material and economic. All of those are part of who I am. He died in 1985 and I would say I have carried on in the family tradition of speaking out, being independent at times and approaching the issues of concern we have in the city only with the best of interests. I think my dad would have been delighted in my being in this place at this time and having a voice in what's going on and what's shaping the city. I found that when I compare what I can accomplish as an elected official and what I was able to do as an activist both are enormously demanding activities. He saw enormous change in the city in his life here and I have too in my life. What I've gained from my father is an eye to the future, a vision of this city and how it's changing, concern for future generations, and protecting the character and integrity of this place.

Previous columns:

• Paul Masten, Reid Middleton, 11-17-1999
• Jeff Clark, Architectural Werks, 11-10-1999
• Jerry DeMuro, Parametrix, Inc., 11-03-1999
• John Zipper, Zipper Zeman Associates, Inc., 10-27-1999
• Robert Foley & Associates, 10-20-1999
• Jeffrey McManus, BRH Civil Engineers/Land Surveyors, 10-13-1999
• Lorne Balanko, HWA Geosciences, Inc., 10-06-1999
• Paul McCormick, AHBL, Inc., 09-29-1999