Architects: Graham Baba Architects
Area: 16,500 ft²
Year: 2016
Photography: Kevin Scott, Jenn LaFreniere
Video: Juan Benavides
Interior Design: Graham Baba Architects & Interior Motiv
Landscape Architecture: The Berger Partnership
Contractor: Artisan Construction
Structural Engineer: MA Wright, LLC
M/E/P/Fire Protection Engineer: ARUP
Lighting Design: Brian Hood Lighting
City: Yakima
Country: USA

Washington Fruit & Produce Co. headquarters, designed by Graham Baba Architects in Yakima, Washington, creates a courtyard-centered office complex that offers a calm workspace amid an industrial landscape. The 16,500 ft² structure, enclosed by earthen berms and concrete walls, is inspired by agricultural vernacular, using exposed glulam columns, weathered steel, reclaimed barn wood, and expansive glazing. The L-shaped design organizes spaces around a central courtyard, integrating natural light, energy efficiency, and spatial openness. Thoughtful material selection and structural transparency reinforce a functional yet serene work environment that reflects the company’s agricultural heritage.

The Washington Fruit & Produce Co. headquarters is designed as a secluded workplace, offering a quiet retreat from the industrial surroundings of Yakima’s fruit-packing warehouses. Set behind landforms and board-formed concrete walls, the building embraces a courtyard-focused layout, inspired by a weathered barn that resonated with the client. The design balances rural utility with contemporary simplicity, employing a restrained material palette and natural patina to reflect the region’s agricultural roots.

Washington fruit & produce company headquarters / graham baba architects

The L-shaped structure integrates into the landscape through earthen berms and concrete walls, enclosing a central courtyard that serves as the project’s focal point. Soil excavated from the foundation was reused to construct the berms, reducing material waste. A notch through the berm provides access from the parking lot, leading visitors along a boardwalk into a glazed facade, framed by regularly spaced wood columns. A wood-wrapped passageway marks the entrance, subtly offset within the glass exterior.

Structural clarity defines the project, with 18-foot-tall scissored glulam columns positioned externally, allowing for a 175-foot-long column-free interior. The 68-foot-long exposed truss girders, reaching a 20-foot peak, contribute to construction efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The north-facing courtyard facade, fully glazed, extends the visual boundary of the interior, while a south clerestory dormer balances daylight distribution. Large south-facing overhangs and high-performance glazing reduce solar heat gain, enhancing passive energy efficiency. The exterior, clad in reclaimed barn wood and weathering steel, reinforces the agricultural aesthetic.

Inside, natural light and a warm material palette define the atmosphere. Private offices align the southern perimeter, while conference rooms and utility spaces are housed within wood-clad enclosures. Low-profile furnishings maintain spatial openness, allowing the structural framework to remain visually dominant. Custom uplights keep the ceiling uncluttered, while a raised flooring system conceals cabling, ensuring a clean, uninterrupted aesthetic.

The sales office, located in the shorter arm of the L-shaped plan, is designed for privacy and noise separation. Adjacent to it, a separately enclosed dining space features a 30-foot-long communal table, where farmers and company partners gather for meals. The structural connection between this space and the main building creates a partially covered courtyard, recalling the remnants of a barn. Throughout the 30-acre site, views are carefully framed, directing focus toward the courtyard, distant hills, or intimate office outlooks shaped by the surrounding berms. The design prioritizes serenity, efficiency, and agricultural authenticity, creating a workspace that respects both function and heritage.