Andrew Thompson | Graduation Year: 2024 | Associate Professor Neal Hubbell

Creating purpose between the type of service, the people it serves, and the location all became a priority in the initial concept design. The idea of reflectance serves as a conceptual idea on several levels, all of which give meaning to why this retail store is placed in Seattle, Washington. Relying primarily on the forms of Mt. Rainer, this bike and accessory shop uses angled geometry and tapered structure to mimic the natural environment. As a direct reflection of the outdoors, the type of retail sold also describes the community needs and activities. Cycling is such a huge part of the culture in Seattle, whether it’s the daily commute to work or the adventurous mountain bikers taking on the back trails. It only makes sense to build upon that healthy preexisting community. Developing a retail store that supports those needs for the community as well as continuing to bring people closer to the outdoors is a perfect merger and serves as the overall conceptual identity for this retail store.