Record Group 163.04
OFFICE OF ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN COMMISSION

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

The Design Commission was established in 1968 as a professional, non-partisan board of advisors to guide the design and construction of county capital improvement projects. The Forward Thrust referendum served as the enabling legislation for the formation of the King County Design Commission. After the adoption of the county's Charter in 1968, the responsibilities of the Commission were expanded beyond the Forward Thrust program. The Commission was composed of six members in design-related professions: architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and planning. One layperson also served on the Commission. Members were appointed by the County Executive and were confirmed by the County Council after nominations had been solicited from appropriate professional organizations. One ex-officio member represented the King County Arts Commission. The Design Commission met monthly to select design consultants and review proposed designs.

Architecture Division began as an office in 1969 to provide staff support for the Design Commission. Responsibilities soon grew to include project management of all architectural and major park development projects. In 1972, the County Council formally established the Office of Architecture, which was renamed the Architecture Division, as a part of the Department of Community and Environmental Development (Ordinance 1438). In 1976, following another reorganization, the Design Commission & Architecture Division came under the Department of Planning and Community Development. In 1982, the functions of the Architecture Division were completely revised and rewritten (see Ordinances 6066 and 6172), but the same legislation also eliminated the division as an agency of County government effective January 1, 1983.

163.04-427 Project file: Seahurst County Park, 1971 - 1977
Background materials for the report prepared by the Ecology Study Team on behalf of the Design Commission (Document 3468). Includes administrative details of the project, scientific notes and data, a copy of the final report, as well as subsequent publications in response to the initial report. Also included are site plans and some photographs of Seahurst Park.

Volume: 0.83 cu ft