Design Review - Program

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Seeking Design Review Board Members

We are seeking candidates to fill multiple board positions, with terms beginning April 4, 2025. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2024. To be considered for appointment, please send an application, cover letter, and resume to Erika Ikstrums.

Applicants should have knowledge of, or interest in, architecture, urban design, and the development process. They should have the ability to evaluate projects based on the City’s design guidelines, the ability to listen and communicate effectively, have a passion for urban design and community development, and the ability to work well with others under pressure. Prior experience with community or neighborhood groups is a plus. Board members must live in the city. They should expect to work 15 hours a month attending and preparing for two evening board meetings a month. Board members are expected to attend at least 90 percent of the meetings.

What is Design Review?

Watch our What is Design Review video for an overview of the program objectives and the three paths of Administrative Design Review, Full Design Review, and Streamlined Design Review. 

Program

Design Review LogoDesign Review Great Examples - Greenfire Campus is one example you'll find in our gallery

Design Review is one of the tools we use to create a better city. It gives everyone an opportunity to shape the design of many new multifamily and commercial buildings. It also offers flexibility with the Land Use Code requirements.

The Design Guidelines are tools that we use to review how new buildings fit into and relate to the surrounding neighborhoods, including things like:  

  • The overall appearance of the building 
  • How the proposal relates to adjacent sites and the overall street frontage 
  • How the proposal relates to unusual aspects of the site, like views or slopes 
  • Pedestrian and vehicular access to the site 
  • Quality of exterior building materials, open space, and landscaping

There are three types of Design Review. SDCI Design Review staff review many smaller buildings through Streamlined Design Review and Administrative Design Review. Larger buildings may require Full Design Review, which includes both public Design Review Board meetings and review by City staff. All Design Review includes an opportunity for public comment and involvement.  

Learn About & Get Involved With Design Review

Design Review Program Community Outreach 

Design Review Community Survey graphic

SDCI is partnering with SEVA Workshop to conduct public outreach to gather community feedback to help us understand how different possible Design Review program changes would impact everyone in Seattle. 

SEVA Workshop has gathered feedback on several topics, including: 

  • Which areas of Seattle should require Design Review for new construction
  • Which types of new construction should go through Design Review
  • When and how people can comment on new construction projects
  • How to update the Design Guidelines to be easier to understand
  • How adding incentives for new construction could improve equity

Some of the possible changes could include limiting projects to only one public meeting, streamlining the Design Review process to be quicker and less costly for applicants, and reducing the number of projects that are required to go through Design Review. SDCI’s goal is to update the Design Review program before the Washington state’s House Bill 1293 deadline of June 30, 2025.  

Take the Design Review Program community survey and add your voice to help shape the future of Seattle. The survey closes November 27, 2024.

Responde esta encuesta para ayudar a que el programa de revisión de diseño de Seattle sea más inclusivo, equitativo y responsable a las necesidades de la comunidad. Sus respuestas ayudarán a mejorar nuestros vecindarios y comunidades. La encuesta cierra el 27 de Noviembre. Por favor, comparte esta encuesta.

Learn About Upcoming Reviews and Design Review 

Comment on a Proposed Design

The Design Review Boards and staff welcome public comment on project designs. Public comment helps the Design Review Boards and staff understand important design issues as they review the project.

  • Anyone may submit a public comment online. 
  • For projects reviewed by a Design Review Board, you may also comment at the Design Review Board meeting
  • Use the Design Guidelines to craft your comments before you submit them to us. The Design Review Boards and staff can only consider comments that relate to the Design Guidelines. 
  • Design Review focuses on design: the building’s size and shape, exterior building materials, proposed plants and trees, and other elements within the Design Guidelines. 
  • Design review can’t consider comments about things like housing affordability, displacement, permitted building height, density, parking, traffic, potential landslides, etc. The City of Seattle has other code requirements for those topics, but they are not part of Design Review. 

Apply to serve on a Design Review Board

Each year the City asks for volunteers to serve on the Design Review Boards.

  • The application period opens in November and runs through the end of December
  • The Mayor and City Council appoint Design Review Board members for 2-year terms 
  • Board members must live in the City of Seattle 
  • Design Review Board members should have knowledge of, or interest in, architecture, urban design, and the development process 
  • Board members spend approximately 15 hours a month attending and preparing for board meetings, held twice a month in the evenings 

For questions, please contact Erika Ikstrums, erika.ikstrums@seattle.gov.

Get Involved with a Neighborhood Group 

Neighborhood groups are community organizations that operate separately from City government. They may focus on many topics important to their neighborhoods, and often comment on proposed Design Review projects. To get involved: 

  • Contact your community council, chamber, or other local group and seek to join them on upcoming project reviews. To make your group more effective, find people who are passionate about design and inform others about upcoming project reviews.  
  • Participate in the development of new or updated neighborhood Design Guidelines. 

Construction and Inspections

Nathan Torgelson, Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 34019, Seattle, WA, 98124-4019
Phone: (206) 684-8600
Phone Alt: Violation Complaint Line: (206) 615-0808
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SDCI issues land use, construction, and trade permits, conducts construction and housing-related inspections, ensures compliance with our codes, and regulates rental rules. SDCI is committed to an antiracist workplace and to addressing racism through our work in the community.