Vitus Headquarters / Graham Baba Architects

Architects: Graham Baba Architects
Area: 25,000 square feet (existing structure) + 3,000-square-foot penthouse
Photography: Kevin Scott, Ross Eckert
Lead Architects: Jim Graham
Architects Team: Caroline Brown, Shazi Tharian, Ryan Drake, Ross Eckert
Design Team: Charlie Hellstern Interior Design; Sparklab (Lighting); ABLE Studio (Landscape)
Contractor: MRJ; Dovetail (Casework/Board-Formed Concrete/Architectural Metals)
Structural Engineering: Swenson Say Faget
Mechanical Engineering: Ecotope
Electrical Engineering: Case Engineering
Civil/Geotechnical Engineering: PanGEO
Materials: Heavy timber structural frame, board-formed concrete, steel penthouse, AEP Span Design Span HP exterior cladding and roofing, Marvin and Kawneer window systems, Crystalite skylights, Fleetwood exterior doors, Lynden and custom interior doors, Caesarstone and Pental solid surfacing, Resawn Timber Co. oak flooring, Ege carpet, Drytile floor tile, AdexUSA and DDS wall tile, Forbo and Tarkett resilient flooring, custom blackened steel and white oak stair and casework
Client: Vitus
City: Seattle
Country: United States

The Vitus Headquarters transforms a neglected 1920s timber-and-masonry structure in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood into a contemporary workplace that reflects the company’s mission of community-minded investment. The four-story building was stripped back to expose its timber framework, complemented by carefully inserted elements that support both modern office needs and a renewed architectural identity. A newly added steel-framed penthouse provides executive, meeting, and event functions and connects to landscaped outdoor terraces on opposite sides of the structure. Throughout the project, the design emphasizes craft, material authenticity, and art integration. Casework, lighting, and furnishings were selected or custom-designed to create warm, residentially influenced interiors that balance comfort with practicality. Circulation improvements, including a new primary stair and elevator, reorganize the building while enhancing daylight and movement. The result is a workplace that combines the heritage of an early twentieth-century building with the flexibility and refinement of a contemporary office environment.

Vitus headquarters / graham baba architects

The revitalization of the Vitus Headquarters centers on a careful negotiation between the building’s century-old framework and the company’s vision for a clear, welcoming workplace. Rather than masking the character of the 1920s structure, the design reveals and elevates it. Heavy timber beams and masonry walls shape the interior atmosphere, while new interventions rely on a restrained palette that highlights the material richness already present. This strategy allows the building to express both its age and its renewed purpose, creating an environment in which craft and restraint guide every decision.

A decisive shift in circulation defines the reconfigured interior. One of the existing stairs was removed to make way for a new elevator and a feature stair positioned within a core of board-formed concrete. The wide steel stair is animated by a four-story motion-activated light fixture that responds to movement, turning daily circulation into a moment of encounter. Inspired by Jacques Tati’s Playtime and the Citroën DS Présidentielle, the fixture brings a cinematic quality to the stairwell, reinforced by a skylight that modulates the space with daylight.

The third-floor arrival sequence introduces the tone of the workplace. Furnishings blend residential and commercial sensibilities, producing a sense of warmth that encourages lingering rather than simply transitioning. Casework organizes the floor into zones while offering generous storage and display opportunities for the owner’s art collection. A library anchors the open sitting area, creating a pause point reminiscent of a domestic interior and illuminated by custom lighting that avoids the glare of overhead fixtures. Formal and informal conference rooms are distributed across the office and penthouse levels, providing varied settings for work and collaboration.

The penthouse continues the project’s residential influence, expressed through custom casework, tailored furnishings, and a palette that softens light and texture. Operable facades open the interior to terraces on the east and west, allowing meetings and events to flow outdoors. Art is integrated throughout in niches, cabinets, and open surfaces, giving the workplace a curated sensibility that reflects the company’s identity. A custom rug inspired by the kingfisher feather introduces subtle color and pattern, reinforcing the project’s attention to detail.

Together, these elements create an office environment that honors the building’s past while extending its life through thoughtful, contemporary interventions. The Vitus Headquarters stands as a measured transformation: a building preserved, adapted, and reimagined to support the evolving needs of its tenant while maintaining a strong connection to its architectural heritage.