design story
craft
Jim Brown Design Portfolio

The new 101,000 SM Beijing
research and development center
required interior design services
through DD phase. The scope
included all individual work and
collaboration areas for 5000 staff
as well as main lobbies,
conferencing centers, cafeteria
and food service, and customer
interface facilities.
Shown here are lobby and
collaboration spaces including
the three story sky-garden
atriums, a major design feature.
Microsoft West, Beijing
2008 (completion 2010)

The CTC is the major customer interface component of
the new complex. Product is displayed and presented
in the Solution Forum centered around the centralized
server room. A bamboo wrap encloses the spaces and Solution Forum
defines this special zone as it undulates to create room
platforms and seating risers. The curved natural
bamboo form contrasts the glass and stainless server
room and the raw concrete structural bay.
Entry/Server
Microsoft West , Beijing
China Technology Center (CTC)
2008 (completion 2010) First Floor Axonometric

The 737 line engineers were re-situated in
Boeing workplace towers within structural bays of
Move to the Lake the existing factory. The result netted a
faster response to assembly problem-
Renton, WA solving and cut roll-out for a plane in half.
The towers contain 200,000 SF of
workstations, collaboration space and
executive offices. A skin of polycarbonate
maintains the transparency of space and
access while allowing way-finding graphics
at a scale appropriate to the 750,000 SF
factory floor.

The business plan for this
commercial contracting
company stresses an open
management structure and
collaborative environment. The
resulting design uses sliding
doors and full height glazing on
private offices. The “boxcar”
table, a major element at entry, Skanska USA
uses reclaimed wood to create a
collaborative surface for Seattle, WA
meetings and drawings. The
table and reception desk
reconfigures in sections and
tracks along a floor guide.

Philips Oral Healthcare
Snoqualmie, WA
Before being acquired by Philips,
the Sonicare company lobby
featured a radial floor pattern and
a fountain suggesting their sonic
cleaning technology. Now, Philips
desired a lobby re-branding which
joined that heritage along with the
corporate philosophy of “sense
and simplicity”. The re- design
combined a high-tech, polished
white aesthetic with a northwest
green sensibility in the use of
salvaged silver-maple planks.

Ernestine Anderson Room
Paramount Theater
Seattle, WA
This pro-bono project created an excusive VIP retreat
during pre-performance and intermission. Accessible
via a balcony level fire escape, the velvet draped space
has a “speakeasy” feel and recalls the 1950’s hot-jazz
recordings of Seattle singer Ernestine Anderson,
whose voice was called “honey at dusk”.

Hand Sketches

Singapore is a modern garden city
with a large ethnic Chinese
population. These factors informed
the interior design of their new US
embassy. Custom light fixtures,
carpets, furniture and door
hardware were included in the
design which combine modernism
with Asian influences.
Singapore Embassy
Washington, DC

Custom light fixtures
were integral in
maintaining the
design continuity.
I developed detailed
designs and worked
with prototypes and
fabricators to develop
the final fixtures.
Singapore Embassy
Lighting Fixture Design
Washington, DC

Embassy of Ethiopia
Washington, DC
The embassy design involved recalling and updating
ancient architectural motifs native to the horn of Africa.
The tight budget was maintained and a difficult site
embraced in this project in which I served as architect
and manager. I led a team to Ethiopia to observe and
grade indigenous stone for use as cladding. A local DC
Ethiopian artist , Alexander “Skunder” Boghossian,
worked with the design team to created a custom
sculpture for the building entry (right).

Baltimore is the
birthplace of the Star-
Spangled Banner and
this theme was used for
a temporary visitor’s
center at the inner-
harbor. Kiosks were
designed to represent
city landmarks and the
flag wall element was
sculpted as a backdrop
and information counter
visible from the street.
Baltimore Area Visitor’s Center
Baltimore, MD

Computer Sciences Corporation
Falls Church, VA

Hanoi Daewoo Hotel
Hanoi, Vietnam

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay
Cambridge, MD

Bethesda North Marriott
Hotel and Conference Center
Bethesda, MD

Crate&Barrel Home Store
Tigard, OR
My retail experience includes the roles
of project architect for Crate&Barrel
and project interior architect/designer
for the Denver Flagship REI. The REI
project, a former streetcar terminal,
also required historic preservation
assessments and hazardous material
REI Flagship Store mitigation.
Denver, CO

T-Mobile requested proposals for a creative center in an
existing downtown space containing a two-story
sky-lit atrium and stairway. Along with
our team qualifications, I presented
this concept which unified the
levels using a porous
artifact wall symbolizing
the transparency of
wireless communication.
The wall openings allowed views between designers and
became a focal point to the creative center, evoking the
slogan “stick together”.
Creative Center Concept, Seattle, WA

In this prototype for a
comfort shoe retailer,
Sole Comfort Shoes Prototype
design work included Winston Salem, NC
branding and logo,
merchandizing layout,
casework design, signage,
and an initial roll-out. The
team collaborated on all
design decisions and I
developed these
presentation materials.

This presentation was developed to tell a
design story without the design team being
present. Using hinged and rotating elements
and key-hole views, the
concept unfolded in a
sequence that
simulated the
experience for
museum patrons
and built upon
discovery and
interaction.
Science &
Space Museum
Concept
Nashville, TN

Kid’s Retreat
Washington, DC
The artist client for this
basement renovation
was inspired by a
classic furniture unit by
Charlotte Perriand.
The compact and
whimsical result
incorporates the
shelving and display
aspects, with
maximized storage,
work-tops and built-in
desks.

STICK STUDIOS
Personal Design Projects
Handmade Lamps
In 2001 I created a company named
Stick Studios. I design and
fabricate custom furniture by
commission and handmade lighting
fixtures for retail sale.

Our home was
featured in a local
design magazine in
2004. The story
highlighted our
house renovations
and contemporary
si t r a e h t e r e h w si e m o h
art, furniture and
ceramics collections.

Home Entertainment
Center
Custom Table
Reclaimed
Wood Bench
BluDot Dwell
Lounge Chair
Competition
Furniture Design

The Papa Chair
My design grew out of a specific requirement: to sit comfortable
on the floor and play with my daughter. The “Papa Chair” allows
for back support and leg re-positioning and the chair supports a
posture not unlike leaning against a tree stump. Proximity to
the ground allows interaction with a child to play or read book
as the chair allows the adult to comfortably be at the child’s
level. The angle of seat to back is 120 degrees, an optimum
angle for the relationship between the legs and spine to reduce
fatigue. The legs can be either be supported by the chair base
or raised up to cradle a book.
As an object placed within the context of a child’s play, the
simplicity of form and construction was important in the design.
When an adult is sitting on the Papa chair, the chair structure is
almost totally covered by the user. The chair no longer seems
to be an obtrusive piece of furniture pulled over to the child’s
play area.
Small Wooden Chair
Competition Entry

Self Published
Photography Books

Education: 1981 Bachelor of Architecture
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
Contact: 7201 Myers Road, East
Bonney Lake, WA 98391-8535
Jim Brown (206) 919-7718
Architect/Designer gymbeau@comcast.net
Design Experience:
2003 – 2008 Associate, Interior Architect/Manager
NBBJ Design, Seattle, WA
Corporate workplace, institutional and retail interiors
2001 – 2003 Office Director and Architect of Record
Domestic Architecture/Roy McMakin Inc., Seattle, WA
High-End custom residential and art installation
1998 – 2000 Project Interior Architect/Designer
Mithun Partners Inc., Seattle, WA
Retail and corporate commercial
1989 – 1998 Associate, Project Interior Architect/Designer
RTKL Associates Inc., Washington, DC
Corporate, institutional and hospitality interiors
Licensed Architect: Washington State
Education: Bachelor of Architecture
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS