Weyerhaeuser Corporate Headquarters

Built in 1971, the complex sits in an idyllic setting overlooking a lake, a meadow and surrounded by woodlands. 50 years later, the Weyerhaeuser Corporate Campus in Federal Way WA is still considered one of the most influential examples of green architecture in the United States. The building was a pioneer in open-office landscaping design and has won numerous awards for its architecture and integration into the surrounding environment and energy efficiency.

Vacated since 2016, the structure is becoming a well maintained urban ruin. The building has an interesting history.

                 

Beginning in 1911, a 50-year growth and expansion period by the Weyerhaeuser Company necessitated building of a new headquarters in the mid 1960's. After spending 60 years in the downtown Tacoma Building, the Weyerhaeuser Company needed more room and a new operations center. In 1964, they commissioned Skidmore, Owings and Merrill to locate and design their new headquarters. In 1968, a 200 acre site in Federal Way WA was selected, and later that year, ground was broken. By 1971, the new facility was completed.

The five-story Weyerhaeuser Corporate Headquarters building is composed of gently sloping landscaped terraces that step upward. At each level, deeply recessed windows ran continuously along each side of the building, uninterrupted by wall surfaces or metal dividers. With lush vegetation spilling over the terrace walls, the building merges with the surrounding environment. Visible from the I-5 corridor, it offers a visual treat for weary SeaTac commuters. 

The interior design was spacious and undefined by visual boundaries. The office building containing no full-height interior partitions, resulting in a melding of the company's different departments.  Along with offices and open floor desks and furniture, the building contained a cafeteria, library, barbershop, gym and a 600-person auditorium. The open office landscape integrated with its surroundings and further emphasized by the column placement, which governed a diamond-shaped grid turned at an angle to the basic rectangle of the building.

The Weyerhaeuser campus was called 'The Greenline" because it was heavily draped with English Ivy. The original design concept was a total integration between architecture and landscape. 

Peter Walker did the site analysis, planning and landscape development for both the building and the 260-acre surrounding area. The grounds featured a Bonsai museum, public running and hiking trails and a Rhododendron garden. The adjacent forest was cleared of underbrush and the grounds were kept manicured. The result was a spectacular combination of architecture and plush greenery.

Address: 2323 SW Weyerhaeuser Rd, Federal Way WA

Project Architect: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill

Landscape Architect: Sasaki, Walker and Associates

Building Dimensions: 385 feet long and 216 feet wide

Total Office Space: 360,000 square feet

On April 19, 1968 Weyerhaeuser announced its plans to build their corporate headquarters on a 200 acre site in Federal Way WA. The building would be built between to hills and feature a lake in the front. The building would be visible from the I-5 freeway and would be gracefully integrated with the natural landscape. Mt Rainer is seen in the background. 

The foundation of the building cleverly acts as a dam on a small creek forming a 10-acre lake on the north side. The limited outflow from the creek runs thru a channel underneath the building which creates a wet meadow on the south side. The meadow has wildflowers and seasonal grasses and is bordered by 2nd generation stands of Douglas Fir trees. The landscape design creates a tranquil, peaceful work setting. Parking terraces run at 90 degrees from the building. Overall design between building and landscape is excellent. 

Weyerhaeuser Time Line

1968 Site selected for Weyerhaeuser Headquarters campus

1971 Weyerhaeuser campus completed

1972  The building wins the American Institute of Architecture award

1989 Pacific Bonsai Museum opens

2015 Weyerhaeuser moves headquarters to Seattle

2016 Weyerhaeuser campus sold for $70.5M