Weber Thompson has promoted eight staff members to new leadership positions in the firm. Susan Frieson, Lissa Goetz and Aaron Swain have been promoted to Senior Associate. Erik Doran, Emily Evenson, Fanny Idoux, Brittany Porter, and Burton Yuen have been promoted to Associate.
Top (left) Aaron Swain, Brittany Porter, Erik Duran, Burton Yuen, Fanny Idoux. Bottom (left) Lissa Goetz, Emily Evenson, Susan Frieson
Susan Frieson, Senior Associate
Susan joined WT in 2013 and is a member of the firm’s High Rise and Hospitality Design studios. She is currently Project Architect / Manager on 1000 Virginia, a 45 story multi-family high rise building, at Terry & Virginia currently on the boards. Susan has worked on several high rise projects in Seattle, including Stratus, the award-winning high rise luxury apartment building in South Lake Union, Nexus, a high-rise condominium nearing completion in Seattle’s Denny Triangle neighborhood, and Ascent, the high-rise component of 425 Fairview, as well as Avenue Bellevue, a two tower, hotel / residential development. Susan is viewed as a mentor and collaborator in the office, always willing to help with any question that may come her way. She is an active member of AIA Seattle, NOMA NW and serves as the AIA Seattle Diversity Roundtable Chair. The Diversity Roundtable has gained national attention through their work increasing the dialogue about the necessity for equity, inclusivity and diversity within communities as well as the design profession overall.
Lissa Goetz, Senior Associate
Lissa joined Weber Thompson’s Interior Design team in 2016. She has a background in architecture which allows her to bring an additional layer of knowledge and expertise to projects such as the student-targeted housing projects Trailside Phase I and II, and 1001 John, a high rise residential project with architecture by Collins Woerman. Lissa’s understated leadership style helps guide the team and her infectious, positive attitude affects the entire office. She is an active advocate for affordable housing; in 2018 she helped Bellwether procure new, reduced price or donated, furniture for their newly completed Arbora Court affordable housing project to ensure a more welcoming atmosphere for residents. Internally, Lissa is a core member of the firm’s ‘Pin-Up Series’ committee, which provides opportunities for design discussions of all types.
Aaron Swain, Senior Associate
Aaron joined the firm in 2012 and has worked on several projects including Pike Motorworks, Ballard Blocks II and The Waverly, a high rise residential tower located in South Lake Union that is currently under construction. Aaron is a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) and was the Project Architect of Solis, a multi-family Passive House condominium project in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. He is known throughout the office for his calm and caring leadership style, always looking to ensure the success of his teammates while also helping them hone their technical and REVIT skills. Outside of the office he is a Board Member on the SLU Community Council, and volunteers his time leading architectural tours for the Seattle Architecture Foundation.
Erik Doran, Associate
Erik has been with Weber Thompson since 2014. He was promoted for his leadership in construction administration (CA) and quality management (QM). Erik leads the firm’s CA Forum and created the ‘Postcards from the Field’ program, which helps team members share and learn from different construction administration situations. Erik’s currently serving as Senior Project Architect on 1400 Madison, Seattle’s first affordable housing high rise project in over 50 years, which will add over 350 units to the First Hill neighborhood. Praised by clients and co-workers alike, Erik personifies the fun and collaborative culture at Weber Thompson, where knowledge sharing and professional development are paramount.
Emily Evenson, Associate
Emily joined WT in 2018 and has already made a big impact through her enthusiasm and positive, outgoing attitude. She has worked on a variety of projects within the firm including the passive house multifamily project Solis, and SCIDpda’s North Lot project which recently received funding by the City of Seattle’s Office of Housing. In 2017 Emily received her Certified Passive House Design (CPHD) credential from the Passive House Institute, and is an advocate for promoting more socially responsible and sustainable projects to the region. Within WT she is an active member of the sustainability task force team, the Pin-Up Studio core group, the Affordable Housing Marketing group and the ‘What If?’ team which supports employee research projects. Outside of the office, Emily is an active member of the Policy Advisory Group with the Housing Development Consortium (HDC) where she advocates her belief that housing is a basic human right that should be accessible for everyone.
Fanny Idoux, Associate
Interior designer Fanny Idoux, joined Weber Thompson in 2014 bringing with her an impressive hospitality design portfolio. She has worked on a wide variety of projects for the firm including the refresh of Willows Lodge Spa, and the design of Orenda, a workforce housing building in the Othello Square development. Fanny is best known for her exceptional design work at Stratus, an award-winning high rise located in South Lake Union, for which she drew on her experience in hospitality design to create the building’s welcoming and elegant design. Client care is one of Fanny’s many strengths, which she has proven again and again through repeat clients and glowing referrals. Beyond her project work, Fanny is active in Weber Thompson’s internal sustainability task force, and the ‘Culture Club’, which allows her to plan some of the firm’s most important employee appreciation events.
Brittany Porter, Associate
Brittany joined the firm in 2018 and has been promoted to Associate for her dependable and detail-oriented work ethic and her passion for sustainable design. A valued member of the firm’s Commercial Office Design Studio, she is currently Project Architect on Dunn Lumber’s Latona Station project in Wallingford. Brittany is a passionate advocate for sustainable design, de-carbonization, and the future of passive house design. She is a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC), serves on the Board of Directors of Passive House Northwest and is a core member of the firm’s internal sustainability task force. During 2019 she played a key role in developing the narrative for the firm’s 2019 Seattle Design Festival Block Party installation, Murmur, and helped design and assemble the installation. Brittany is a dedicated leader who has quickly made her mark on the firm.
Burton Yuen, Associate
Landscape designer, Burton Yuen, has also been promoted to Associate. Burton joined the firm in 2014 and has been an integral part of the Landscape Design Studio. He brings over 25 years of experience and a collaborative, positive attitude that reaches throughout the office. Working in a multi-disciplinary setting is where Burton is the happiest. The constant interaction with all the members of the design team keep ideas fresh and possibilities open. He thrives in the complexities of bringing a design to fruition and is seen as a leader in construction administration and quality control within the firm. Additionally, Burton ensures the safety of his colleagues as a member of the firm’s Emergency Preparedness Team. Outside the office, Burton designs theater sets which can be seen around town in various theatres.