News from Swift
Washington Society of Landscape Architects Conference
On May 8th, Swift Company staff attended the 2026 WASLA Conference in Tacoma and participated in four sessions focused on the conference theme of “Reclaim”. Barbara Swift, Gareth Loveridge, and Laura Enman shared presentations on a range of projects, exploring topics such as the life and evolution of urban civic infrastructure at Seattle Center, the cultural landscape of Gasworks Park, to the folly of the waste stream at the SPU South Transfer Station, and reclaiming a mine site for long haul planning at OSU-Cascades.
The full Swift team traveled to Tacoma to participate in the conference and came away inspired by the incredible work of landscape architects all across Washington State.
Bellevue Fire Station 10 Wins People’s Choice Award!
We’re proud to share that Bellevue Fire Station 10 has received the People’s Choice Award in the 2026 Bellevue/Seattle 2030 District Vision Awards. Thoughtfully organized to balance operational efficiency, neighborhood sensitivity, and connections to adjacent wetlands and open space, the design supports 24/7 emergency response while providing live/work accommodations designed for firefighter health, wellness, and serving as a civic amenity for the community. This recognition highlights the project’s contribution to a more sustainable and resilient built environment in downtown Bellevue.
Memorial Stadium Renovation Progress
The demolition is complete and the Stadium located on the Seattle Center campus is being rebuilt. The new walls come to the concourse and as a result, 11 new acres are visible from Seattle Center. The reenvisioned Memorial Stadium is a unique blend of public ownership, private funding and community influence that will keep the new civic space more inclusive and community centered. Gone are the massive foreboding walls and overgrown hedges. In its place will be a modern facility used for school sports as well as arts and cultural events. Swift Company has been proud to work on this project and has played a key role in softening the stadium edges to create new public spaces for multi-use community engagement and reclaiming reflective space around the restored WWII Students Memorial Wall.
To read more about the history, partnerships and vision for the project click here.
Federal Way Link Extension Recognized as Innovative Transportation Solution!
The Federal Way Link Extension (FWLE) has been recognized as an Innovative Transportation Solution at the 2025–2026 Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Puget Sound Awards. The 7.8-mile extension of Sound Transit’s 1 Line, which began service on December 6, 2025, connects South King County communities to jobs, education, healthcare, and cultural destinations. FWLE not only expands regional mobility but also sets a high bar for equity and inclusion—surpassing diversity goals with strong participation from disadvantaged, small, and women-owned businesses. More than 1,100 women and non-binary professionals contributed to the project, playing key roles across leadership, design, construction, and community engagement.
Puget Sound Growth, Transit, and Affordability
At Swift Company we’re interested and invested in understanding our role as landscape architects within the broad web of our environments. A recent article in Post Alley by Fred Jarrett, “Housing Affordability: Sound Transit’s Hidden Costs,” examines the history of growth in the Puget Sound area, the regional planning that led to the creation of Sound Transit, and offers some insights into the challenges to housing affordability, feeder infrastructure, and local public spaces. The insertion of light rail systems into regions and cities is complex, as it does not end at the transportation investment. There are substantial urban planning/zoning implications which beg for additional attention and investment from the region. Swift Company embraces the challenge with a focus on supporting this investment through serving communities and providing high quality spaces for people. We recommend you read it!
Federal Way Link Extension Opens!
Starting December 6, the Sound Transit Link light rail service extended south to Federal Way. Swift Company was involved in the design of the 8-mile extension including corridor restoration and station site design for Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown stations. This new piece of critical infrastructure provides accessible transportation for all, while enhancing the identity of place. See you on the train!
Memorial Stadium Renovation
In the heart of Seattle Center, the Seattle Memorial Stadium renovation has started. A focus of decades of discussion, the stadium has hosted World’s Fair events, pro and semi-pro sports teams, Seattle students and amazing music events. The One Roof Foundation’s innovative leadership brings the vision that “everyone benefits, and no one profits” to the integration of the stadium into the Seattle Center campus. With a 2027 opening, this cultural heart of the city has a renewed future.
The walls are coming down – a testament to a vision, team, commitment and hard work.
Climate Pledge Arena Statues
In the heart of the city, Climate Pledge Arena has honored two Seattle legends – Lenny Wilkins and Sue Bird! Both are heroes, breaking ground in their time.
Working with the Populous Architects-led team, Swift collaborated with Lenny Wilken Foundation, Seattle Storm, and the Seattle Kraken to support the location, design, fabrication, and installation of the statues and bases. The Climate Pledge Arena site is designed to embrace this legacy and these two new additions, bringing layers of memory and meaning by reminding us of what these two individuals have contributed to our city and community. Reminding us of the extraordinary.
https://storm.wnba.com/news/sue-statue
https://www.lennywilkensfoundation.org/lwfevents/statue-unveiling-lenny-wilkens-honored-at-climate-pledge-arena