Juanita Beach Park Bathhouse Wins 2022 Civic Design Award

Published on October 03, 2022

JuanitaBeachBathhouseRenovation.jpg

On September 22, 2022, Kirkland’s Juanita Beach Park Bathhouse received the 2022 Civic Design Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Washington Council. The Civic Design Award celebrates the best examples of what can be realized when architects and civic clients work together to achieve quality design. According to AIA, these projects represent the finest standards in innovation, sustainability, building performance, and overall integration with the client and surrounding community.

“We are fortunate in Kirkland to have beloved and beautiful parks and open spaces,” said Kirkland City Councilmember Kelli Curtis. “The Juanita Beach Park Bathhouse is an example of what we can achieve when we make thoughtful, well-designed investments in our parks. It’s an honor to continue to receive statewide recognition for this project, and we are very grateful to the team that made it happen.”

The bathhouse officially opened to the public on December 23, 2020. The 22-acre park also features 1,000 feet of shoreline, two new picnic pavilions, and a new historical public art installation. The playground’s synthetic turf and play elements are designed to be accessible to people of all abilities.

Last year, the Juanita Beach Park Bathhouse received the Project of the Year Award for Structures Under $5 Million from the Washington Chapter of the American Public Works Association. The bathhouse has a Northwest, natural aesthetic that was articulated in the 2006 master plan. The term “bathhouse” is an homage to a portion of the history of Juanita Beach Park, to a time where the land of the current park was a summer retreat and vacation destination for Seattle families. The bathhouse of that time included dressing rooms and showers on the lower level and dance floor and table area upstairs.

The project’s designers used sustainable and durable materials, such as cross-laminated timber. One of the project’s biggest challenges was to balance improving public recreation facilities, providing access to the shoreline to all segments of the population, and protecting and preserving publicly owned natural resources. However, with careful planning and precision, the completed project is both functional and esthetically pleasing, framing and enhancing lake views, and showcases the values of the community.

The American Institute of Architects Washington Council (AIA WA Council) is a member-driven professional society for architects and associate architects in the State of Washington. AIA WA Council works on behalf of architects by representing the profession on a broad spectrum of issues, including but not limited to climate action, professional liability, licensing, taxes, affordable housing, and employment. For more information on the Juanita Beach Park Bathhouse, please visit www.kirklandwa.gov/JuanitaBeach.