Miller Hull's Matt’s Place on 1889 Magazine

Miller Hull’s Matt’s Place on 1889 Magazine

Home, Calling

With community support, a nonprofit builds a home in Spokane for ALS patients to live with autonomy and integrity

Written by Melissa Dalton

When Ryan Riddock’s golden retriever, Maverick, has to be let out in the yard, Riddock can open the door for him with the click of his gaze. If the sun is shining too brightly into his room, he can lower the window coverings doing the same action. Ditto, if he wants to watch a game on television, or turn down the thermostat. As for the typical obstacles that face wheelchair users, of which Riddock is one—think raised door thresholds, too-narrow hallways and sharp corners—those are also all absent in his Spokane home. The first time Riddock wheeled through after living in his last apartment, how was the experience different? “Just being able to move freely throughout the whole living level,” said Riddock. “It was wide open.”

Riddock was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, in 2012. It’s a nervous system disease that causes progressive loss of muscle control and eventually destroys a person’s ability to move, speak, eat, swallow and breathe. While some new homes or apartments might conform to accessibility guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act, those “are the bare minimum for making something wheelchair accessible, but they’re not ideal,” said Riddock, especially for a person with ALS. That’s where Matthew Wild and Theresa Whitlock-Wild come in.

In 2015, Matt and Theresa had been dating for three months when Matt, a former U.S. Marine, received an ALS diagnosis at 41 years old. “We knew nothing about the disease,” remembered Whitlock-Wild. “But the one thing we did know is that because he is a military veteran, and ALS is a service-connected disease… the Veteran Affairs department was going to be this wonderful resource for us. But our next question was, what about people that don’t have that?”

The couple, who have since married and have three children together, saw first-hand how ALS can take both patients and caregivers out not just in medical care, but things like the necessary home modifications to make a house successfully accessible, which can cost upward of $200,000 depending on what modifications are needed. “There’s a lot of moving parts that happen with a neurodegenerative disease like ALS, and one of them is not being supported with housing and accessibility,” said Whitlock-Wild. When news of his diagnosis hit, Matt and Theresa established Matt’s Place Foundation, a nonprofit based in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, that provides kick-out funding for rents and mortgages, ramps and bathroom modifications for people and families living with ALS, as well as two homes for housing families for free while they navigate the disease.

Deemed Matt’s Place 2.0, this Spokane house was specifically designed to help people living with ALS to thrive at home. “We knew nothing about the disease. But one thing we did know is that because [Matt] is a military veteran, and ALS is a service-connected disease…the Veteran Affairs department was going to be this wonderful resource for us. But our next question was, what about people that don’t have that?” – Theresa Whitlock-Wild, Matt’s Place Foundation co-founder

The living area, like the other spaces, has one uninterrupted floor level to make it easier for wheelchairs. Made with an environmentally friendly CLT kit, this model can be replicated for more people with ALS housing needs. Exposed wood in the CLT-wrapped bedroom provides a warm and bright space.

The Spokane home where Riddock lives is dubbed “Matt’s Place 2.0” and is the second that the organization built. For it, they teamed up with a wide range of local volunteers and businesses, all of whom donated their expertise, services and supplies, from interior design to rooftop solar panels that help the home achieve Net Zero energy status, and the smart home systems that allow environmental control via voice, touch and eye-gaze movements.

While “Matt’s Place 1.0” was a traditional stick-built home, this design utilizes prefabrication and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels—the latter from a longtime family-run sawmill operation in Colville, called Vaagen Timbers—in order to create a model that could be erected more quickly and in greater number. “The idea was to come up with a kit of parts that could be replicated,” said architect Brian Court of the Seattle firm Miller Hull. “We would design one house as a prototype, and have the basic building blocks already engineered and designed so that it could be deployed at scale.” (Since completing this project in 2022, the group has broken ground for “3.0,” a three-story, nine-unit apartment building next door that will create a community for families affected by ALS and similar disorders.)

The team shaped this 1,561-square-foot house like an L, in order to include a covered carport for weather-protected movement between vehicle and driveway. A flat exterior deck with no step between it and the doors along the east facade connects Riddock to the garden. The main floor suite has an open concept living room and kitchen with big windows to catch natural light, and a bedroom suite with the bathroom fully open and integrated—all the better to make maneuvering with a wheelchair, or for caregivers to work around a patient, that much easier.

The design team engineered the solid wood CLT walls for fully recessed junction boxes and outlets—quite a trick when dealing with prefabricated construction that doesn’t have typical wall cavities—and the result is even greater clearances for wheelchairs of multiple sizes, as a patient may need various versions as ALS progresses.

Upstairs, there’s two bedrooms and a bathroom for Riddock’s family, a separation of zones that keeps everyone from being on top of one another. “I can go about my normal routine,” said Riddock, so he can have privacy when needed, and togetherness when ready. And thanks to the exposed CLT wrapping of many walls and ceilings, there’s an inherent warmth everywhere he looks. “All my medical needs are met here,” said Riddock. “But it feels like a home.”

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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.

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