Seattle Architects
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The Office

First Lamp Architecture

First Lamp began in 2009 with the goal of becoming a full-service architecture and construction firm. We are a focused group of multidisciplinary architects whose work includes custom residential, commercial, and multifamily projects.

We believe that our construction knowledge guides our client's vision to be more successful in every way. Buildings mature through construction with the same creative focus and clarity that began their conception. Ideas become more practical and philosophically relevant to every client's project.

Architects.

We are architects. Every person in the office holds a master of architecture degree. We all care deeply about designing dwellings that are rooted in their surroundings and are a living extension of their inhabitants. We are chasing a lifelong obsession of creating architecture with beauty and integrity.

Builders.

We are builders. Every person in the office has a background in construction and building. Ideas must be communicated using the same diligence and care with which they are created. What the world sees as building is to us merely the completion of an idea. It is a mistake that design and construction have ever been seen as separate acts, so we try and bridge the gap.

 
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JARED ALEXANDER LUTHER

I grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where I studied politics, art, and tinkered around with old motorcycles in the parking lot.  While I ultimately moved west to Seattle, both work and graduate school has drawn me north, to Alaska and Norway respectively.  On the topic of wide open spaces and foreign countries, I was recently married in Austin, Texas.  My wife Kami and I met via the University of Washington's Master of Architecture Program, which I completed in 2016.  Professionally, I have been part of an international design competition abroad and most recently I was a designer for cultural projects at a mid-sized local firm.  In joining the First Lamp team, I am excited to refocus my efforts on residential design as well as the art of building.     

Some of my interests include drawing, historical debate, the great outdoors, and old vehicles.  Throughout my liberal arts education and varied work experience, I have always been drawn to the richness between working concepts and material feedback; a dialog I seek to continue in the practice of architecture.

 

DAN GONZALEZ

Born and raised in rural New England, Dan spent most of his time outside as a child. Obsessed with working with his hands in the world around him, he could often be found in makeshift shelters in the woods in summer; in winter, these changed into snow forts.

Some years later, not much has changed. Dan believes that working with his hands is the best way to learn how to use a material, and that working in harmony with the natural environment is of paramount importance. His architectural interests include finding new ways to make common materials shine, and his designs focus on asking questions that make people reconsider their ideas about the spaces they inhabit. He also enjoys architectural research using advanced modeling and fabrication techniques to see what the future holds for the building industry.

Dan studied both Engineering and Architecture separately, and graduated from the Universtiy of Cincinnati with a Bachelor's of Science in Architecture. He then moved to Seattle shortly after. Outside of work, he backpacks around the PNW, plays and listens to music almost constantly, cooks foods from around the world, and enjoys breathing new life into worn down or old machines.

 

MATT JOHNSON, RA NCARB

There was never any question that I was going to have a career in design. From an early age I was building forts, fishing poles, or Rube Goldberg machines to solve tasks. Originally from Nebraska, I graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with my Masters in Architecture. During college I studied abroad in Europe and gained a deeper appreciation for the detail and craft present in their centuries old buildings. From there I’ve spent time in multiple cities honing my own architectural skills in various sectors of architecture; from educational design to healthcare design.

 Upon moving to the pacific northwest, I knew that residential design was where I wanted to focus my career. My passion for the psychological aspect of architecture is able to shine through when collaborating with individuals and families to bring their dreams and goals to reality. A well designed space has the power to inspire, soothe, and invigorate those that inhabit it. I enjoy paying attention to the intricate details that you may not notice until your 3rd or 4th visiting a space.

 When I’m not working, I can be found out enjoying all that the PNW has to offer. From hiking to camping with my wife, daughter, and our two dogs – we love to do it all.

TAYLOR CALLAWAY, AIA, LEED APCPHC

In the fifth grade, Taylor wrote his first book report on what he aspired to be. His childhood friend at the time was the son of an Architect who allowed them to tag along on job sites, thus inspiring Taylor to choose that subject for his report. Since that report, Taylor has been hooked.

Throughout college and studying abroad, Taylor developed a passion for the craft of building. Understanding how things are made and the true nature of materials are what began to inform his design. Taylor is driven by those early fundamentals in conjunction with his passion for sustainable design and desire to make spaces that enrich the lives of the people who use them.

Taylor's projects have been awarded the AIA Home of the Month, been published in Seattle Homes and Gardens, and have been featured in the Seattle Metropolitan magazine. The Badger Mountain House was recently published in the Seattle Magazine "The Most Amazing Homes".

He studied Architecture in Vicenza, Italy and earned a Master of Architecture Degree from Texas Tech University.

 

BRENT HUNTLEY

From an early age Brent was always taking toys apart and putting them back together. If not tinkering, Brent would be drawing and sketching. With a fascination of parts and a love for drawing, it was only natural that Brent decided that ‘Architect’ was the right profession for him.

Brent was raised in Montana and graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman with a Master’s Degree in Architecture. He was also given the opportunity to study abroad in Italy and live in Rome during his studies. His experiences in school and growing up in Montana helped to hone his design skills and develop projects uniquely informed by their context and natural settings. His designs reflect sensitivity toward their places and are characterized by artful use of natural light, local materials, and landscapes. Brent moved to Seattle after graduating and has worked on multiple custom projects through all phases of design, documentation, and construction. 

Brent is an avid rock climber and mountaineer, trying to get outdoors as much as possible. He also enjoys listening and playing music, having built multiple guitars and amplifiers. Still a tinkerer at heart.

 

MARK DORSEY, AIA

Project manager Mark Dorsey AIA LFA is a licensed Architect with 16 years of professional experience and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Cincinnati. His wide-ranging experience on custom single-family homes, boutique retail, mixed use commercial, and multi-family residential projects is an asset to the firm.

My early work on custom single-family homes instilled into me a focus on realizing a cohesive design through spatial exploration and detailing. We have fun engaging in a process with owners to create spaces that are both inspiring and restorative. I enjoy architecture that has a story to tell through thoughtful material choices and expression of craft. 

One of my recent completed commercial office projects in Seattle received Living Building Challenge petal certification. The project featured both sustainable design principles and high-performance systems in order to meet ambitious sustainability goals. As a Living Future Accredited professional, I have gained a deep understanding of what it means to design buildings with healthier materials.

Away from the office I enjoy cycling, music festivals, mushroom foraging, getting lost in the woods on purpose and sharing these adventures with my family.