ABOUT THIS PROJECT

El Centro de la Raza is the leading voice and a hub for Seattle and King County’s Latino community. Through a comprehensive set of programs and services, El Centro empowers members of the Latino community as fully participating members of society. The organization works to raise awareness with the general public, and government, business and civic leaders about the needs of the Chicano/Latino community in the United States as well as other historically underserved communities.

In 2011, AWB received El Centro de la Raza’s Team of the Year Award! AWB was recognized for two projects for El Centro. The first was the design of a renovation of the exterior stairways. The design was sensitive to the historic features of the building while insuring that the stairs are safe for the building’s many users. The second was for the design services and renovation of a large conference room. Mortenson Construction partnered with AWB for the construction of both projects with largely donated materials and volunteer labor. See more on both of those project below.

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CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER REMODEL 2013

AWB-Seattle completed a remodel/rejuvenation project with the Jose Marti Child Development Center at El Centro de la Raza on Beacon Hill. Volunteers Rose Rodriguez and Dave Helton provided their design expertise with color and material selection and participated in a number of group work days prepping and finishing the project. Student and community volunteers provided the heavy lifting transforming the spaces into fresh clean updated classrooms for the preschoolers. This is the third project we have completed with El Centro de la Raza.

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CONFERENCE ROOM REMODEL 2011

AWB joined with Mortenson General Contractors to upgrade El Centro’s existing primary Conference Room. The project started with an idea generating charette with El Centro staff and AWB volunteers. The goal was to create a more appealing meeting facility that can be rented to outside groups, generating funds to help support El Centro’s mission. The space was given a major spruce up incorporating audio/visual upgrades, a new ceiling and lighting. This project is intended as a prototype for upgrading the other conference spaces as funding becomes available.

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ENTRY STAIRS UPGRADE 2010

AWB joined with Engineers Without Borders, United Way and Mortenson General Contractors to repair/replace and upgrade El Centro’s existing entry stairs, bringing them up to code while correcting potential safety issues by rebuilding degraded stairs and adding code compliant handrails. This effort greatly improved the safety and appearance at each of the buildings main entry points.