JA’s Interior Design Studio was selected to reimagine the Renton Municipal Airport’s pilot’s lounge and administrative offices. The small airport in a Seattle suburb is experiencing an uptick in travel and some of their existing facilities are past their useful life. The client identified an existing 2,300 SF mid-century building on the aviation campus to repurpose into an inviting amenity lounge for pilots, as well as employee offices and breakroom.

JA designers selected key spatial elements to highlight, creating unique moments of interest for visiting pilots and staff members alike. Inspired by the Renton Municipal Airport’s waterfront location along Lake Washington, shades and textures reminiscent of water and natural surroundings are integrated throughout the space with materiality, furnishings, and artwork.

The facility’s existing courtyard is visible from every part of the building and boasts a Japanese garden, inspiring the team to imbue the interior with Japanese aesthetics. The designers accomplished this through some larger gestures, such as custom-designed sliding screens to separate the lounge and reception spaces, as well as subtle touches, like plants and organic patterns.

Balancing the natural elements, JA’s Interior Designers celebrate air and water through views of the lake and skies, offset by the earth - grounded by the Zen-like courtyard garden and tactile, natural materials. This duality informs the finishes and overall concept for the renovation, which will bring an 800 SF pilot’s lounge to the small airport, as well as another 1,500 SF of space for administrative offices and employee support spaces.

LOCATION Renton, WA
AREA 2,300 SF
COMPLETED Estimated Summer 2022