Snoqualmie Tribe Outdoor Center
The Snoqualmie Tribe’s Harvest Kitchen and Greenhouse Classroom creates an intergenerational setting for cultural education, food sovereignty and community gathering. Completed in Snoqualmie, Washington, in 2025, the project expands the Tribe’s Child Development Center with indoor and outdoor spaces for learning through traditional practices.
Learning Through Culture and Landscape
Developed by Boulder Associates with landscape architect Fora, the project enables children and community members to grow and harvest plants, prepare traditional foods, practise weaving and gather for cultural meals and seasonal events. A nature trail, native planting, an orchard and a rain garden connect the learning environment directly with the surrounding landscape.
A Light-Touch Architectural Response
The facilities occupy a constrained site with previously undocumented underground utilities. An elevated deck supported by pilasters, grade beams and pin piles reduced below-ground construction while leaving much of the existing infrastructure undisturbed. Stepped seating transforms the deck into an outdoor classroom and gathering place between the Harvest Kitchen, greenhouse and garden.
Lunawood Spruce Decking for Outdoor Learning
Supplied by Greenhome Solutions, Lunawood ThermoWood® spruce decking brings a warm, natural surface to the project’s central outdoor areas. Thermal modification with heat and steam improves the wood’s dimensional stability and durability without added chemicals, making it well suited to an exposed educational environment. The decking strengthens the connection between architecture and landscape while supporting everyday learning, shared meals and community events. The project received an Award of Honor in the 2025 AIA Seattle Honor Awards for Washington Architecture.
