4770 Ohio Ave S
Ste B
Seattle, WA 98134
info@paxsonfay.com
AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE LYING VACANT and in ruins, the Metropole, as its name implies, is once again a vibrant center of culture, industry, and influence. Located in the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood, the Metropole building was constructed in 1892 as the first major commercial project of Henry Yesler, the city’s wealthiest resident during his lifetime.
Fronted with a lavish expanse of hand-carved Tenino sand-stone, the Metropole quickly became a supplier for miners on their way north as part of the Klondike Gold Rush and the flagship location of the G.O. Guy pharmacy empire, where prospectors picked up medicine kits designed to withstand the harsh conditions in the icy north. In the decades that followed, the Metropole suffered under several disasters. It was severely damaged in Seattle’s infamous 1949 Olympia earthquake when the 7.1-magnitude shaker collapsed two upper floors, and experienced subsequent structural damage from two additional earthquakes in 1965 and 2001. A 2007 fire finally put the Metropole out of commission.
A few developers poked at the rubble over the years, but were ultimately discouraged by the formidable seismic and fire codes governing reconstruction. In 2019, the Satterberg Foundation purchased the building to house its organization and advance its twofold mission: promoting a just society and a sustainable environment.
The foundation is historically disinterested in real estate investments, preferring to award operational grants, but was alarmed by the trend of high office rents driving nonprofit organizations run by and for Black, Indigenous, and people of color out of Seattle proper.
“It was also a way of supporting the community, giving back to the community, and not shying away from tough problems,” says Metropole community Steward Kendra Walker.
Despite return-to-office mandates, vacancy rates in Seattle’s central business district remain among the highest in the nation, with empty downtown offices hitting 34.6 percent in the second quarter of 2025, up from 30.6 percent a year ago, according to global commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield.
Work on the Metropole was completed in April, and the building was fully leased by early summer at rates of $30 per square foot or less, about 20 to 25 percent below market rate, Walker estimates. Prior to construction, the Satterberg Foundation solicited input from dozens of local organizations, preservationists, community leaders, and nonprofits. “We didn’t want to just put up a building and say, ‘This is what we’re doing,” Walker recalls. Among the tenants are the Seattle Black Panther Party’s Legacy Interpretive Cen-ter, the Chief Seattle Club, and Families of Color Seattle.
Metropole’s amenities were designed to encourage collaboration and community building, with shared, commercial, and catering kitchens, venues with seating for up to 100, multiple gathering spaces, rooftop facilities, conference rooms in refurbished Seattle underground space, a half-dozen video-conferencing nooks, and bike storage for those who choose to pedal in. One-third of the building’s floor space is devoted to childcare facilities administered by Seed of Life, which provides multicultural and multilingual services for little ones aged six weeks to six years. The staff includes a chef.
SEATTLE-BASED BUILDINGWORK, EXPERTS IN historic preservation and adaptive reuse, was tapped to lead the project, transforming the derelict, wedge-shaped building-long an eyesore on the 2nd Avenue Extension-into a bright, updated, and functional space that celebrates the neighborhood’s indus-tria past, while embracing future-thinking design, build, and operational processes.
“Satterberg Foundation challenged us to design the most sus-rainable building renovation possible,” says architect Matt Aalfs, a BuildingWork design principal and partner.
Certified LEED Platinum, the Metropole features triple-pane windows, solar panels, and an ultra-tight envelope, all while preserving the warm sandstone exterior and brick interior. In some Places, workers peeled up to 11 coats of corrosive lead-basea paint from the exterior, which was then extensively refurbished.
The HVAC system includes a heat exchanger that can draw from outside air or the basement, hydronic baseboards, and chilled beams in the ceiling—a technique new to the U.S. that uses circulated, cooled water to lower air temperatures. The project is designed to achieve an energy use index (EUI) of 18, making the Metropole one of the lowest energy-users locally, in any building category. “A newly constructed commercial building in Seattle, which has some of the strictest energy codes in the na-tion, has an EUI of 40, or a bit less, making the Metropole twice as efficient,” Aalfs explains, adding that this project is the firm’s most meaningful to date.
“We’re grateful to the Satterberg Foundation for its willingness to take on this project,” he says. “It feels really good that this building is contributing to the city again.”
meet the team
We’re inspired by diverse design perspectives, innovation, technology, art, and the world around us. We live for the chance to create and disperse powerful, genuine messages that resonate.
tessa franchini
principal
tessa@paxsonfay.com
Tessa graduated from Fordham University in New York with a dual bachelor's degree in Communications and Political Science. During her time at Fordham, she worked for an interior designer and at NBC News where she developed her love for both design and communications. After graduating, Tessa managed marketing at 3form, a pioneer in the sustainable building products industry. During her tenure, 3form was repeatedly named one of the most recognized manufacturers in the design industry among architects and designers, and the company won multiple awards for its innovative product launches. After 3form, Tessa consulted on marketing efforts with leading product manufacturers in architecture and design before starting Paxson Fay with Amy.
amy golden
principal
amy@paxsonfay.com
Originally from Seattle, Amy left her home in the Pacific Northwest to attend Fordham University, fulfilling her dream of living in New York City. After graduating with a BS in business administration, specializing in marketing and minoring in economics, Amy began her career in advertising sales at CNN and the Hallmark Channel in New York and LA. However, Amy’s love of writing, design, and connection with people ultimately led her to PR. While finishing her MBA back home at Seattle University, in 2015, Amy cofounded Paxson Fay with her friend and business partner, Tessa, driven by a shared vision to build a PR agency that reflected their values and passions. At Paxson Fay, Amy thrives in media relations and pitch development, enjoying the process of diving deep into each client’s story to craft compelling narratives that resonate with editors and journalists. Amy has a particular passion for architecture-focused projects, and securing SHED’s feature in The New York Times was an especially rewarding moment, as they were her first client. Another major career milestone was helping build out Paxson Fay’s talented team, fostering an environment where young professionals can grow their skills and pursue their passions. Outside of work, Amy loves spending time with her family, chasing after her two little boys, exploring Seattle’s restaurant scene, traveling with friends, and reading.
colby wood
senior account executive
colby@paxsonfay.com
After graduating from Fordham University in New York City with a major in Communications and Media Studies and a handful of marketing and PR internships, Colby moved to Boston to manage marketing for a small, women-owned, creative consulting agency. While in that role, Colby managed public relations and marketing efforts for some of Boston's most prominent events and public art initiatives, including the Boston Pickle Fair and The Bulfinch Crossing Projections in downtown Boston. Colby gained experience crafting brand stories and identities through social media marketing and creative copywriting, seen through the successful launch of a premier Massachusetts adult-use dispensary and the revamp of her agency's own website. After two years, Colby decided it was time to figure out what the West Coast was all about. Looking to blend her marketing experience with her passion for design and architecture, Colby found Paxson Fay, where she focuses on social media strategy and management and public relations.
paige childs
account executive
paige@paxsonfay.com
As a child, Paige wanted to be an architect; but after falling in love with storytelling, the power of words, and yes, the show West Wing, she decided to pursue journalism at The George Washington University in the nation’s capital. Following graduation, Paige crafted communications for the beauty and banking industries. Craving space for creativity, she joined the small team that would reopen the congressionally designated National Children’s Museum. There, she played an integral role in establishing the museum’s brand, bringing it to life across digital channels, including social media, email, and advertising. After nearly eight years in DC, she decided it was time for a change of scenery. Having grown fond of the title Washingtonian, she made the cross-country move to Washington State. She landed in Seattle at Paxson Fay, where in true full circle fashion she is the architect of social media and public relations strategies for our architecture and design clients.
martina povolo
account coordinator
martina@paxsonfay.com
Martina joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern when she was a senior at the University of Washington. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Interest Communications, Martina is now continuing with the team as a Communications Assistant. During her time at UW, Martina worked as the Special Sections Editor at the university’s newspapers where she won multiple awards for her front page spreads. Looking to blend her minors in real estate and environmental science with her focus in communications, Martina is passionate and excited to join the Paxson Fay team.
tara lyons
account coordinator
tara@paxsonfay.com
With roots in Napa and Denver, Tara ventured to the Pacific Northwest to pursue her academic journey at the University of Washington, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Education. Tara's love for writing began when she delved into songwriting, building on her pre-existing passion for singing and playing the piano. Following her undergraduate years, she returned to Paxson Fay, where she had previously interned, transitioning into the role of Communications Assistant. With a keen interest in PR and social media, Tara seamlessly integrates her creative flair into the professional realm. Outside of work, you'll find Tara passionately supporting the Kraken, embodying her love for both storytelling and sports.
We are hiring for our internship program! We are looking for an intern with a passion for design to help manage key communication channels. Click here to read more.
what we do
We are a communications firm founded in our passion for good design. Our unique approach to marketing and public relations in the architecture and design community has elevated our clients work to the next level. We’re backed by a talented community of creatives. From copywriters to social media experts, we provide a complete package of customized services. We strive to create a personal experience with each client, integrating teams and tackling your biggest marketing and public relations challenges from a high level. Then we help execute those plans ensuring lots of reporting along the way, with lots of coffee breaks in between because we’re from Seattle and that’s what we do.
marketing
marketing strategy
brand strategy
project management
partnerships acquisition and management
e-mail blasts
public relations
media strategy
content production
media communications and outreach
awards: strategy, content development and submissions
social
platform strategy and management
content production
targeted campaigns
results + reporting
advertising
advertising strategy
budget strategy + negotiation
calendar management
creative coordination
content
storytelling
copywriting
website and e-mail marketing
video: sourcing, storyboarding and scheduling
photography acquisition + curation
events
event management
sponsorships + partnerships
tradeshow coordination
press tours
clients
Here is a little taste of who we love to work with and what we love to do.