Architects Without Borders Seattle

Architects Without Borders Seattle volunteers collaborate with underserved communities to deliver ecologically sensitive, culturally appropriate, life-changing design. Architects Without Borders Seattle was founded in 2005 by a group of Seattle architects and designers in response to the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami. In 2006, Architects Without Borders Seattle became a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, and has continued to expand its services to serve communities who would otherwise lack access to design services internationally as well as here in the Puget Sound area.

AWBS volunteers believe that thoughtfully designed infrastructure can lead to stronger, healthier communities. The projects at AWBS include outcomes for underserved communities here in Seattle and around the world, such as:

• empowerment through education for girls in rural Honduras (Educate 2 Envision, Esquias)
• healthy outcomes for women and children in Sierra Leone (Wai Community Clinic, Pujehun Province)
• safe and dignified housing for people experiencing homelessness in Seattle (The BLOCK Project)

AWBS is a diverse and inclusive space where we believe in access to design. AWBS volunteers are motivated by a set of core values:

• Appropriate design solutions are vital to communities and the environment
• Collaborative long-term relationships with communities are essential to providing effective design assistance
• Exchange of knowledge and skills can empower both communities and designers
• Interdisciplinary teams create innovative and insightful projects
• Volunteer passion, energy, and efforts make our work possible