Designing Our New Nest: The Inspiration Process

In March, Birds Connect Seattle proudly announced our new location at 616 Olive Way in the heart of the Denny Triangle neighborhood of downtown Seattle. With the design inspiration now complete, the new space is under construction to prepare for opening this summer.

Birds Connect Seattle’s new downtown rental space is very different from our former space in Wedgwood. Because of this, we knew we needed to reimagine what our headquarters and retail space could be and how it would better meet the needs of our current operations.

Where We Started
A house (model home to be exact) in a suburban neighborhood with a lush garden. The Wedgwood property provided a homey feel and the authentic charm of a space thatʼs grown and adapted over the years.

Where We Are Going
A ground floor commercial space in the heart of downtown. This blank space is modern, concrete, and open. While it may lack the natural warmth and greenery, it offers exciting possibilities, with greater access to transit and ADA accessibility.

The real opportunity and challenge with designing the new space lies in bringing the warmth and character to honor our past and inspire our future.

In Addition to the Birds, Who Are We Serving?

Birds Connect Seattle aims to make our programs accessible to diverse audiences throughout the greater Seattle area and beyond. We began the design process by thinking about all the people who are part of our community, both current and future, to understand their unique needs, motivations, and inspirations. 

Staff and volunteers reviewed survey results from our strategic planning and relocation processes and conducted interviews with key stakeholders to help identify what was most important to our community and how we could meet those needs in our new headquarters (in addition to our field programs). 

Design: Core Themes

From our community feedback surveys and interviews several key themes emerged that we wanted to incorporate into the final design including a feeling of home, being in nature, and an interactive learning component.

1. Lived-in Home

This concept drew inspiration from the cozy, community-focused roots of the Wedgwood location, reimagining it as a home for the future. The idea evokes warmth and nostalgia while integrating forward-thinking design elements that reflect both heritage and innovation. It is an inviting atmosphere that feels personal and familiar for visitors.

2. Step into Nature

This direction focused on immersing visitors in the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Through rich textures, organic flows, and artistic representations of local ecosystems and native bird species, the concept
celebrates the regionʼs environmental diversity. The design creates a calming, restorative experience, drawing visitors closer to nature and inspiring a sense of connection to the environment.

3. Interactive Museum

This concept blends retail with education and storytelling, transforming the space into a dynamic journey for visitors. The design guides guests through an engaging, narrative-driven experience that combines learning, interaction, and discovery. By positioning the space as a destination, it offers an immersive and educational environment that encourages exploration and fosters deeper connections.

Evaluating Three Design Approaches

With the guidance of an Experience Designer we held a workshop to trial run three unique designs that incorporated all of the above mentioned themes for the space. This was an important activity to strike the right balance of functionality and inspiration for the new space. 

Winning Design Inspiration: The Nest

After taking into consideration compliments and criticisms from workshop participants the final design concept was created: The Nest: A Place to Grow and Thrive.

This direction immerses visitors in the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Rich textures, organic flows, and artistic representations of local ecosystems and bird species will create a calming, restorative environment for visitors. The nest design fosters a deep connection to nature, inspiring both wonder and reflection.

Key Features

• Leverages Pacific Northwest aesthetics with textures like wood, stone, and moss.
• Creates a next-level, immersive experience with subtle sensory elements, including ambient bird sounds, earthy scents, and dynamic lighting.
• Feels: Organic | Composed | Science + Art | PNW | Natural

Navigating the Space and Experience

With the design inspiration identified, we turned our attention to the functionality of the space and how visitors would move through and interact with the features. Several layouts were mocked up and the visitor experience was considered. 

Welcoming Entrance & Greeter Area

Transparent windows with vibrant graphics and educational touchpoints. This will provide visitors with flow and clear navigation for first-time visitors.

Retail & Optics Display

Modular, flexible display units for birding gear and educational materials. Interactive optics testing zone with gamified bird-finding challenges.

Immersive Educational Spaces

Interactive storytelling areas focusing on urban habitats and conservation. Cozy nooks with birding books, seating, and community storytelling. Flexible classroom environment for workshops and educational programming.

Special Installations and Artist Collaborations

Donor bird sculptures include two large-scale installations integrating donor names. Hanging canopy/abstract bird sculpture is inspired by bird flight patterns using sustainable materials. Glass bird installation features dynamic light and shadow play for an immersive experience.

Community Space and Gathering Areas

Multi-functional areas supporting lectures, community meetings, and events. Modular furniture and adaptable layouts for diverse programming needs.

Welcoming You Soon…

Birds Connect Seattle is excited about this new chapter for our organization to serve our community and bird with our central hub focused on the inspiration of birds and our shared desired to protect them. 

With construction of the space now in progress we plan to open in summer of 2025.