Alaska Airlines Flagship Lounge | Seattle, Washington | 2019

Architects: Graham Baba Architects
Design Team: Maureen O’Leary, Brett Baba, Andy Brown, Francesco Borghesi, and Katie Moeller
Associate Architects: SRG Partnership
Client: Alaska Airlines
Contractor: Hensel Phelps
Photographers: Andrew Pogue, Ross Eckert, Graham Baba Architects

At the Alaska Airlines Flagship Lounge in SeaTac International Airport, the door is always open. Travelers seek lounges as an escape from the anxiety, noise, and commotion of the concourse.

Traditionally, airport lounges catered to this desire by emphasizing exclusivity: sleek, business-oriented safe havens that prioritized the needs of a privileged swath of travelers.

Alaska Airlines sought to transform the lounge typology by providing a warm, welcoming space where all guests could find refuge—to relax, work, refuel, and connect—a home-away-from-home with a sense of place deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest.

Programmatically, the lounge is conceived in four zones: Come In, an approachable entry; Help Yourself, a casual bistro; Take a Breath, a haven for peaceful relaxation; and Cut Loose, a cozy bar atmosphere. Lightly separated with an array of oak and twisted metal screens, the spaces flow together.

Exploration elicits surprise and discovery: each space has its own distinct furnishings, acoustic properties, floor and ceiling materials, and light quality. By providing a range of experiences, each guest will find a place in which they will feel at home.

The entry sequence begins at the concourse level. A fifty-foot-wide window announces the lounge’s presence and provides enticing glimpses of the spaces within. Oak frames march along the corridor, guiding guests to a threshold. A porous transition with a beckoning view of the large central fireplace serves as an invitation to enter.

Concierges greet guests from a gently compressed space that features a sculptural wood desk and an illuminated topographical screen. A wall of twenty-foot-tall windows presents views of the runways, downtown Seattle, the Olympic mountain range, and Mt. Rainier.

Entering Take a Breath, the noise and bustle of the concourse fade away. Guests may enjoy views of the runways and the landscape beyond from various seating options designed for the comfort of both individuals and groups.

High-backed, tufted fabric banquettes wind through the zone, creating semi-private nooks. Custom-designed chaise lounge recliners encourage relaxation and contemplation. Lighting levels are lowered, and sound-absorbing elements ensure auditory comfort.

A variety of seating, from three-person round tables to banquettes to a large 24-seat table, provides plenty of options.

In addition, a 75-foot-long bar ledge lines the window wall, providing space for guests to work or simply pass the time watching the activity on the tarmac. End-grain oak floors are dyed to create a “rug” around the bar, blurring the vertical transition into the indigo-dyed bar front.

Local fabricators created custom elements throughout the space, such as the light fixtures that recall jet engines and the recycled cardboard screens at the entry.

By showcasing local fabricators and artists, Alaska Airlines honors their West Coast heritage and provides guests with a meaningful connection to the Seattle region.