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Extracurricular Activities

2024 Holiday Tree – West Seattle Rotary

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

2024 Holiday Tree–West Seattle Rotary

December 2024

Building More Than Structures: Our Commitment to Community

We believe architecture isn’t just about designing buildings – it’s about shaping the communities that live, work, and grow in them. As a small architecture firm rooted in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, our passion for thoughtful design goes hand in hand with a deep commitment to giving back to the place we call home.

One of our most festive and fulfilling recent contributions was our participation in the Rotary Club of West Seattle’s annual Festival of Trees fundraiser. Held on December 4, 2024, the event showcased 20 uniquely decorated holiday trees, each donated and auctioned off to raise funds for local causes. As a proud community partner—and with our firm’s owner currently serving as president of the Rotary Club of West Seattle—we knew we wanted to create something special.

Our team designed and fabricated a one-of-a-kind wooden holiday tree that reflected both our architectural sensibilities and the spirit of the season. Crafted from rotating tapered wood slats atop a felled log round and constructed in our studio, the tree was a celebration of design, craft, and community. The tree, entitled A Starry Night, when seen from above was unfinished wood. But when seen from below – a child’s perspective gazing into the night sky – was hand-painted with thousands of gold stars and illuminated by the flicker of LED candles.

The fundraiser was a resounding success, raising over $5,800 to support local programs and initiatives. We’re proud to be part of a profession that can quite literally lay the foundation for positive change. And we’re even prouder to do so side-by-side with the people who make our community vibrant and strong.

Spiral fan of dark blue wooden planks hand-painted with gold stars and crescent moons.
Spiral wooden holiday tree decorated with gold celestial patterns, hanging glass tea lights, and gold ornaments.
Spiral wooden Christmas tree with glowing candle ornaments on a log base, in front of a window at night.
Modern spiral wooden holiday tree with glowing candle ornaments against a twilight sky.
Large wooden log slice showing detailed growth rings on a concrete workshop floor.
A spiral wooden holiday tree prototype made of stacked slats, displayed on a log slice in an office.
Spiral wooden sculpture made of stacked timber slats resting on a rustic tree stump base.
Gold glitter starburst topper on a spiral wooden block stand, set on a grey stone countertop.
Slate blue painted wooden slats with pre-drilled holes laid out on a plastic drop cloth.
A person wearing a green hoodie and light blue cap operates a Delta drill press in a workshop.
Spiral wooden holiday tree with hanging glass globes, warm tea lights, and gold starburst ornaments.
Two women laughing in a workshop while building a spiral wooden holiday tree.
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We love discussing new ideas and projects. If you like what you see here and want to explore how we can collaborate together, send us a note.

CONTACT

TELEPHONE
(206) 400-7303
ADDRESS
1012 Western Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
EMAIL
hello@upwardarchitecture.com

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