Dovetail Celebrates 25 Years of Exceptional Building
In 2016, Dovetail celebrates 25 years of building meaningful and memorable projects that define the character of the Northwest’s built environment. Since 1991, Dovetail has been crafting fine residential and commercial buildings throughout the Puget Sound with a hallmark of quality, sustainability, and a commitment to lasting relationships. We specialize in custom, bespoke, architectural projects with both a wood and metal shop to support custom designs.
We have grown from a high-end residential builder specializing in traditional craftsmanship and fine finish carpentry to a contractor with a reputation for exquisite contemporary detailing and finishes. Over the years we have worked with inspirational architecture firms such as Olson Kundig, Suyama Peterson Deguchi, Heliotrope Architects, MW Works, Graham Baba Architects, and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson among others. Additionally, as word spread of our commitment to quality and our collaborative working process, developers and restaurateurs began turning to us for their special commercial projects. Dovetail is trusted to capture the soul of a commercial space with the same care and craft we bring to our residential buildings. As the size and complexity of our residential work has grown, so too has our commercial work: large, multi-story adaptive reuse projects; tenant improvements of cultural landmarks; and new construction of boutique multi-story mixed use buildings. Along the way we have won AIA awards for both our residential and commercial work.
Below are some highlights from our last 25 years.
Madison Park Residence (net-zero energy home): Jim Olson, Olson Kundig
Photo: Jill Hardy
Artist in Residence Home: Heliotrope Architects
Photo: Jill Hardy
Blaine Stairs: Mithun + Dovetail
Photo: Lara Swimmer
Medina Residence: Rocky Rochon Desigh + SKB Architects
Photo: Mark Wood
In 2015, Dovetail opened our metal shop to fabricate custom designs, such as this galvanized downspout.
Photo: Jill Hardy
Dovetail's wood shop continues to produce custom designs such as doors, cabinets, kitchens, soaking tubs, and more. The doors here are fabricated out of reclaimed redwood that was then burned and oiled.
Photo: Lara Swimmer
Filson Flagship Store: Heliotrope Architects
Photo: Lara Swimmer
Fremont Collective (adaptive reuse project):
Heliotrope Architects + Graham Baba (shell & core), photo: Aaron Leitz
The Whale Wins: Heliotrope Architects
Photo: Aaron Leitz
Miller's Guild: Graham Baba Architects
Photo: Lara Swimmer
London Plane and Little London Plane: Dovetail
Photo: Lara Swimmer
The Studios Performing Arts Center: Graham Baba Architects
Photo: Lara Swimmer
Q Nightclub: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Photo: Jeremy Bitterman
Rock Box: MW Works, AIA Award
Photo: Benjamin Benschneider
As we look back over the years we would like to thank you. Thank you for your big dreams, inspiring designs and beautiful visions. Thank you for being such active and passionate collaborators – ultimately together we create the best possible outcome. Additionally, thank you for your commitment to the future of our planet. Together we’ve built net-zero energy homes, Built-Green projects, sustainable structures that divert rainwater into backyard rain gardens, and utilized Living Building products. Lastly, we are deeply thankful for an incredibly talented team of carpenters, superintendents, project managers and support staff that are dedicated to their craft as well as visionary designs.
Looking toward the next 25 years, we are invigorated by the future of building: urbanism and the renaissance of cities; smart and elegant multi-family design solutions; increasing mobility and public transit; innovation in design such biomimicry, smart buildings, buildings that will self-heal, produce energy and food; and once again you. We’re so excited to see what you dream of and dream up in the next 25 years and we can’t wait to begin building it.