Kirkland Teen Union Building (KTUB)

The Kirkland Teen Union Building is committed to uplifting teens' identities, voices, and their right to exist and thrive with dignity and respect in an inclusive, safe space.

Located in the middle of Peter Kirk Park in downtown Kirkland, KTUB provides year-round recreation programs and services for teenagers of middle and high school age in a teen-only space. Programs include van trips, health and wellness courses, skill-building workshops, and monthly social events. In addition, KTUB provides drop-in hours for teens, where they can socialize, receive free counseling services, and/or participate in various free activities. 

Sign up for the KTUB Newsletter to receive monthly updates via email or text!

Drop-in Programs & Offerings

KTUB offers several scheduled activities during teen drop-in hours that promote positive socialization, skill building, and mental health and wellness. Below is a glimpse of the scheduled activities that are held (subject to pre-registration). A detailed activity calendar is posted monthly on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

In addition to scheduled activities, we also provide the following for teens to enjoy at their leisure:

• Sports equipment, such as soccer balls, volleyballs, basketballs, footballs, badminton, tennis, pickleball, and ping-pong for teens to enjoy indoors or outdoors in Peter Kirk Park.
• Video games for the Nintendo Switch and Xbox.
• Drop-in Art Studio, in partnership with 4 Tomorrow, where teens can use free art supplies, such as canvases, paper, oil pastels, watercolor paints, and acrylic paints.
• Free craft supplies for crocheting and beadwork.
• Free snacks for teens to enjoy during their visit.

Other Recreation Programs

Kirkland Parks and Community Services offers year-round recreation programs (both paid and free) for teens. Programs include van trips, summer camps, job and life skill classes, art workshops, and monthly social events. Learn more and register at:

www.kirklandparks.net

In need of financial assistance? Kirkland Parks and Community Services provides scholarships for recreation programs. Learn more and apply at:

Recreation Scholarship Application

Drop-in Services

The City of Kirkland partners with Youth Eastside Services (YES) to provide teens with free, on-site mental health and counseling services for drop-in support and scheduled appointments at the Kirkland Teen Union Building. Services include mental health, substance use issues, and assistance with life challenges. For more information and/or to schedule an appointment:

Contact Katelyn Mullikin

The City of Kirkland Youth Services division provides support, programs, resources, and advocacy for youth in grades 6-12. 

• Kirkland Youth Council - a group of about 45 middle and high school students who serve as the official advisory board on youth related issues and concerns to our City Council. They research, develop, and implement a wide variety of programs, activities, and resources for Kirkland teens.
• Youth Traffic Court - Kirkland's Youth Traffic Court (YTC) offers teens ages 16-17 the opportunity to have moving violations heard in front of a judge and jury of their peers. Any teen who has been issued a moving violation by an officer from any of the jurisdictions served by the Kirkland Municipal Court (Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Medina Woodinville, Yarrow Point, and Kirkland) can partake in YTC.
• Youth Mini Grants - The City of Kirkland offers a mini-grant program to provide short-term, limited funding for Kirkland youth and community groups for projects, activities, events, and training.

The Kirkland Teen Union Building (KTUB) is available for rentals!

The Kirkland Teen Union Building provides several amenities, depending on the space being used. 

For more information, please visit the KTUB Rental Information page:

KTUB Rental Information

Year-Round Opportunities

KTUB hires Recreation Attendants (16+) and Recreation Leads (18+) to support drop-in operations. These individuals actively engage with teens, help lead activities, provide program support, prepare rooms, and acts as an on-site City of Kirkland representative for recreation programs and during rentals. We also hire Program Instructors that teach teens essential skills and takes teens out to van trips.

View Current Employment Opportunities

Summer Opportunities

In early Spring, KTUB hires for the summer (end of June - August). We hire Recreation Attendants to support drop-in operations and Program Instructors to lead our summer programs, which include hiking camps and van trips for teens.

Last Updated: August 28th, 2025

Information on volunteer opportunities for teenagers and adults for the Kirkland Teen Union Building will be available in late 2025-early 2026.

Volunteer Opportunities for Teens at KTUB

More information coming soon. Late 2025-Early 2026. Information subject to change.

We offer opportunities for teens to assist with recreation programs at KTUB. Teens must be ages 14-18 and be in a middle or high school program. Teen volunteers are eligible to receive community service hours for these opportunities.

Other Volunteer Opportunities for Teens

The City of Kirkland offers various volunteer opportunities for teens ages 14-17. Opportunities include the Green Kirkland Partnership Habitat Stewardship, Teen Traffic Court, AquaLeaders Program (summer only), Kirkland Police Youth Explorers, Media Assistant, Kirkland Youth Council, and more.

Learn More Here

Volunteer Opportunities for Adults at KTUB

More information coming soon. Late 2025-Early 2026. Information subject to change.

Community members looking to volunteer their time at KTUB are encouraged to sign up. These opportunities focus on interacting with teens of middle and high school age (ages 11-18).

Last Updated: August 28th, 2025. The following information is subject to change.

Are you interested in teaching a class at the Kirkland Teen Union Building? Use the button below to get started on the Recreation Program Proposal Form.

Interested Parties:

Recreation Programs at the Kirkland Teen Union Building do not need to be teen-based. However, there are certain times where only teens are allowed in the building, so we ask that if your program is not teen-based, that it operates during the day or evening when teens are not occupying the building:

• Monday 8:30AM-2:00PM or 6:00PM-9:30PM
• Tuesday 8:30AM-2:00PM or 6:00PM-9:30PM
• Wednesday 8:30AM-12:00PM or 6:00PM-9:30PM
• Thursday 8:30AM-2:00PM or 6:00PM-9:30PM
• Friday 8:30AM-2:00PM

Due to the nature of our operating model, we encourage interested parties to provide teen-based programs outside of our drop-in hours. But you are welcome to offer it during these following hours:

• Monday 2:30PM-9:30PM
• Tuesday 2:30PM-9:30PM
• Wednesday 1:00PM-9:30PM
• Thursday 1:00PM-9:30PM
• Friday 1:00PM-6:00PM

Note: Some days and evenings may not be available due to center programming. Programs scheduled during drop-in hours are limited to the meeting room and class room only. Weekends are not available at this time.

Recreation Program Proposal Form

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In 1996, the Kirkland Youth Council organized its first All-City Youth Summit. Over 300 youth gave the Kirkland Youth Council and the City a mandate that they wanted Kirkland to be a better place for teens. The number one recommendation from this group was to develop a teen center in Kirkland. In 1997 the concept of a teen center emerged as one of five City Council priority goals. Teens needed a safe and welcoming place to hang out after school or on weekends; a place to develop relationships with police, community members, and the business community. Kirkland youth wanted a center for artistic and self-expression, particularly through music, art, and photography.

Unique to this project was the City’s desire and determination to have youth input throughout the development and implementation of both the program and facility. After years of research, dedication, and persistence, the teens of Kirkland were able to dedicate a facility to their peers on June 9, 2001. The KTUB facility is truly a reflection of Kirkland’s dedication to youth and the power that young voices can have in a community.

After a competitive RFP process, Friends of Youth was selected as the operating partner. Together, Friends of Youth, youth and City staff designed the facility, developed the programs, and hired staff. Friends of Youth continued this progressive, inclusive, youth centered approach throughout its ten-year partnership with the City. In 2009 Friends of Youth chose not to renew its contract with the City as the organization moved toward focusing its efforts on youth experiencing and transitioning out of homelessness.

A second RFP process was held in early 2010 for a new operating partner for the Kirkland Teen Union Building. On July 1, 2010, the City entered into an operating agreement with the YMCA of Greater Seattle. In June 2020, the City of Kirkland chose not to extend the agreement with the YMCA for services.

In November 2020, KTUB became a temporary host for Studio East. [ News Release ]

A formal process to identify the next organization to fulfill KTUB’s mission as a recreation, resource and arts center for teens began in 2022. An RFP was issued on August 4, 2022. Three operating models were reviewed by City Council at their January 17, 2023 meeting. City Council directed staff to proceed with the city operating model.

As part of the re-opening process the City conducted a youth-centered design competition over the summer of 2024 to identify the new look for the new KTUB. Congratulations to the winners of the KTUB design contest:

The City of Kirkland re-opened KTUB as a comprehensive city-operated teen center on September 3, 2024.

KTUB Murals

Before beginning the 2024 building renovations, staff documented the KTUB murals.

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