Designers win award for Clinton Park

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Sometimes, though not often, everything comes together just right. So it was for Langley architect Matthew Swett and his wife Sarah Birger.

The Northwest Chapter of the American Institute of Architects recognized the Langley firm Taproot Design, architect Swett and the design team of Birger, Jason Henry and Judd Youell, for their “professional excellence manifested in the design of Clinton Beach park” on Dec. 8.

Their client, the Port of South Whidbey, was cited for “demanding the highest of architectural standards.”

Taproot won two prestigious awards — The Glen Hunt (named for a prominent Seattle landscape architect), was given to recognize seamless integration between architecture and landscape. Taproot also won the Honor Award, given for outstanding examples of architecture worthy of study by the entire profession.

Earlier this year, Taproot submitted a series of photos of the park to the AIA along with a short description.

They joined 22 other submissions from all over the Northwest, including the Lynnwood Convention Center, several residences, a Bellingham master planned community and golf course, a fancy book store and a bank in Lynden.

“Nobody has a clue until the awards ceremony in Mount Vernon,” Swett said. “They start by showing slides of special mention projects, highlighting design elements that worked. The tension built when we realized they weren’t going to show the park.”

In fact, the Honor Award was the very last given.

“It means the park is worthy of study by all architects,” Birger noted. “They’re telling people they should come from far and wide to check it out.”

She recited a few of the adjectives heaped on their design during the evening — fabulous, skillful, terrific participatory aspects, local artistic contributions and the importance and appreciation of craft.

Juror Richard Cardwell had this to say in presenting the award: “Every once in a while a project like this comes along in an architect’s career and you say to yourself, ‘Don’t screw it up.’

“In this case, they didn’t.”

In 2003, Swett and landscape architect Jason Henry of Berger Associates set up a team to bring the project to life based on the commission’s desire to create a community park. Taproot was the only firm that received two awards.

“Winning this was a big shock, especially on top of the Glen Hunt for the landscape,” Birger said. “It’s huge.”

Fellow juror Nils Finne described his reaction seeing the park for the first time. “Our immediate reaction to the project was to recognize that it was a wonderful new public space, located adjacent to the Clinton Ferry Landing, where locals and tourists could mingle and enjoy the beautiful beach areas,” he said.

“We appreciated the sensitive zoning of various uses, the contributions from local artists, the well-crafted, thoughtful detailing and the simple and unpretentious aesthetics. We also applauded the work by volunteers from the community who helped create the park,” Finne said.

Dedicated on May 27, Clinton Beach park consists of a landscaped half-acre space on Hunziker Lane north of the Washington State Ferry terminal. It was funded by a $576,177 grant awarded to the port by the state in 2005.

There are three major structures; a restroom, picnic shelter and trellis. The park also boasts natural landscaping and a wheelchair-accessible ramp on the adjoining dock.

The paving features embedded steel-form fish shapes and there is a wide swatch of grass in place; indigenous trees eventually will provide shade for weary Clinton visitors. Closer to the water’s edge is a sea otter sculpture by Georgia Gerber.

The former viewing deck was dismantled and replaced with a deck made of special recycled material. A small welcoming plaza and parking for five cars completes the new waterfront facility.

“We’ve integrated a number of ecology principles into the design, such as a ‘living roof’ over the picnic shelter,” said Swett. “Overall, it offers visitors a very special gateway to the island and fits perfectly into the county’s scenic corridor concept; at the same time it gives Clinton citizens quality beach access.”

Commissioner Rolf Seitle remembered the many design meetings that took place.

“As an entry to the island, the old building was a real eyesore and we had to do something,” he said. “There were trade-offs made between design and cost but in 10 years no one will recall the cost, only that there is a splendid park here that people use every day. Matthew and Jason did a great job.”

Commission president Lynae Slinden heard about the honor when Swett came to her Clinton shop to have the awards framed.

“I’m just really proud we have this kind of creativity in our community and that the commission had the opportunity to support it,” she said. “I think it’s awesome that our entry to the island is an award-winning design and at the same time benefits the public.”

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com.