4770 Ohio Ave S
Ste B
Seattle, WA 98134
info@paxsonfay.com
Prefabricated straw panels and Passive House strategies were applied to Aska’s Animal Haus, a home in Victor, Idaho, designed by Bozeman, Montana–based Love Schack Architecture. Completed in 2025, the 3,292-square-foot house sits just across the border from Teton County, Wyoming—where land prices and building costs rival those in nearby Jackson—but it was designed with a different set of priorities.

The owners run Aska’s Animals, a nonprofit animal rescue with a rotating cast of dogs, pigs, and goats. They are long-term residents of the Victor community with a young son and a growing boarding business—the kind of clients Schack describes as “legacy clients,” building not to flip but to stay. They needed a home that could support their family and their rescue operation under the same roof. Architect Lindsay Schack’s solution was to work with the site’s sloping topography: the family lives upstairs, while a walkout basement below provides durable, sanitary space for the animals, with direct access to the yard. When the rescue eventually moves to a separate building, the lower level converts to family space.

The material that made the project possible is still relatively new: prefabricated straw panels manufactured by New Frameworks, a Vermont-based company that is expanding its regional operations. The panels look and behave like conventional structural insulated panels—wood-framed assemblies that arrive on a truck ready to be lifted into place. The difference is what’s inside. Instead of foam, the bays are filled with chopped, compressed straw—not whole bales, but an agricultural waste product processed into dense insulation that doesn’t attract pests and resists fire much like heavy timber. The finished panels can be covered with standard drywall or used as a substrate for plaster, making them compatible with natural interior finishes. Electrical and plumbing run through a service chase wall framed on the interior side of the panels—a detail that looks entirely conventional to the tradespeople who show up to wire and plumb the house.
“Everyone thinks it’s kind of like hippie-dippie from the ’70s,” Schack said of straw’s reputation in the building industry. Her practice has long been committed to Passive House principles and the use of non-toxic materials. Traditional straw bale construction, which requires post-and-beam framing in Idaho’s high seismic zone and a massive amount of labor, was never practical for her clients.
“We recognized early on that while there’s good technology out there that can relate to energy efficiency, not all the materials involved are non-toxic or easy to recycle,” she told AN. “We decided we would like to design with materials that we felt strongly about.”
The panelized system sidesteps the cost and labor problems entirely. Local tradespeople recognized the framing immediately. “The insulation material was different to them, but that was really the only change,” Schack said. The panels are light enough that Will Langman, the owner-builder, could erect much of the structure himself using a Gradall rather than a crane.

The project wasn’t without challenges. A week of heavy rain hit just after the panels arrived on site, and the team installed moisture sensors to monitor the straw as it dried. It did, and Schack said the lesson was straightforward: time your installation to the driest weather possible.
The wall assembly is vapor-open, meaning moisture can dry to both the interior and exterior—a quality that matters in Idaho’s dry, wildfire-prone climate. The system achieves approximately R-3 per inch of insulation, and while the walls are slightly thicker than a foam equivalent, Schack sees that as a feature: the added depth creates generous window sills and strong acoustic performance. Paired with airtight construction and balanced ventilation, the house stays warm and breathable through long mountain winters.

Getting code approval took patience. “The first time, it always is a little challenging from a code review perspective, because it’s a new system,” Schack said. But once local officials understood the material’s performance, “they became cheerleaders for the project.”
The Mountain West is developing fast, and much of what’s going up, Schack said, doesn’t always have the best building science behind it. Aska’s Animal Haus is her answer to that: a home where affordability, health, and environmental responsibility aren’t competing goals. “Once people understand what Passive House is and what it’s based upon, and what it gets you,” she said, “there’s really no alternative.”
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.