Copyright Tim Durkan
Shape new buildings in your community
Passionate about design or architecture? Mayor Bruce Harrell is looking for qualified candidates to fill 26 upcoming openings on the City of Seattle’s Design Review Boards. Board members evaluate the design of new buildings based on citywide and neighborhood-specific design guidelines. The boards review large mixed-use developments, multifamily housing, and commercial projects. The volunteer positions will start on April 4, 2024.
Ideal candidates are professionals in the design and development fields who have proven skills and established careers. We also are seeking community and business leaders interested in civic engagement and helping to shape new development in their neighborhoods. The City of Seattle encourages applicants from all backgrounds and those with diverse life experiences. Applications will be accepted for the following board positions:
Central Area Board
- Business or landscape design profession representative
- Design profession representative
- Development profession representative
- Local community representative
- Local residential representative
Downtown Board
- Business or landscape design profession representative
- Design profession representative
- Local community representative
East Board
- Business or landscape design profession representative
- Development profession representative
- Local community representative
Northeast Board
- Business or landscape design profession representative
- Design profession representative
- Development profession representative
Northwest Board
- Development profession representative
- Local community representative
- Local residential representative
Southeast Board
- Business or landscape design profession representative
- Development profession representative
- Local community representative
Southwest Board
- Business or landscape design profession representative
- Design profession representative
- Development profession representative
- Local community representative
West Board
- Business or landscape design profession representative
- Local community representative
Email erika.ikstrums@seattle.gov to receive a copy of our application or download it from our website: https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/SDCI/About/DesignReviewBoardApplication.pdf.
To be considered for appointment, please send a completed application, cover letter, and resume by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 28, 2024 to Erika Ikstrums at erika.ikstrums@seattle.gov.
Emailing your application is preferred, but if emailing is not an option, mail your application to:
Erika Ikstrums, Design Review Program
City of Seattle
Department of Construction and Inspections
700 5th Ave, Suite 2000
P.O. Box 34019
Seattle, Washington 98124-4019
Applicants should have:
- Knowledge of, or interest in, architecture, urban design, and the development process
- The ability to evaluate projects based on the City’s design guidelines
- The ability to listen and communicate effectively at public meetings
- A passion for urban design and community development
- The ability to work well with others under pressure (prior experience with community or neighborhood groups is a plus)
Board members should anticipate spending roughly 15 hours a month attending and preparing for two evening board meetings a month. Board meetings have transitioned to an online platform and board members are expected to attend at least 90 percent of them.
For more information on the Design Review Board and the City’s Design Review Program, visit: https://www.seattle.gov/sdci/about-us/who-we-are/design-review
For additional information, please contact Design Review Program Manager Shelley Bolser, via email at shelley.bolser@seattle.gov or call 206-733-9067.