We design housing that works—for the people who build it, and the people who live in it.
We’re a Seattle-based architecture and engineering firm focused on missing-middle housing—townhouses, ADUs, and small multifamily infill that make cities work. Our mission is to unlock land value, streamline permitting, and deliver buildable & livable designs with precision and speed. We’re growing a selective team of designers and engineers who want to learn fast, take ownership, and make a visible impact.
What We Do
We help get good housing built—fast. We design the missing-middle housing that makes cities work—human-scaled density that supports walkability, vibrancy, and sustainable living. We combine architecture and structural engineering to solve tough, real-world problems—tight lots, steep grades, tangled codes—and turn them into clean, buildable solutions.
Our mission is to make it easier to build impactful housing. We move fast, think deeply, and stay close to the details. We don’t chase flashy design for its own sake—we focus on clarity, coordination, and technical excellence that make projects sail through permitting and perform in the field. If you like solving hard problems that actually get built, this is the kind of work you’ll find here.
How We Work
We integrate architecture and engineering from the start, with structural design handled in-house. Every project—whether a backyard cottage or a ten-unit infill—is developed as a single, coordinated system from feasibility through permit. This multidisciplinary approach keeps design and execution tightly aligned and gives every team member visibility into how the whole project works.
What defines our work:
- Technical Excellence – We dig until we understand the problem fully, and we choose solutions for their effectiveness, not convenience.
- Digital Craftsmanship – Our drawings are clean, precise, and clear—communicating everything needed to build with confidence.
- Continuous Improvement – We’re always refining our tools, standards, and workflows to deliver better quality and faster results.
- Challenge Seeking – We take on complex sites and tricky conditions because that’s where the best learning—and best work—happens.
- Design That Works – We aim for pragmatic, context-sensitive designs that perform, endure, and quietly make cities better.
Who We Are
Ian Story, Architect – Principal
I started MODE Architecture in 2020 after spending ten years at a local firm. After earning my architecture license, I wanted to go deeper — to really understand how housing gets built, financed, and lived in. So I decided to learn it firsthand. I bought a steep slope infill lot and developed it myself to see what it’s like to be the project owner. I got my real-estate license to understand how projects pencil and what buyers actually care about. I earned a certificate in real-estate development to dig into pro formas and financing, and a second degree in civil engineering to push my technical design skills further.
MODE grew out of that curiosity — wanting to connect all the dots between design, engineering, and development so we can deliver high quality projects that work in the real world, as quickly and efficiently as possible. I’m drawn to complex sites and practical problems — the kind that force you to think clearly and build better systems. For me, good design isn’t about making noise; it’s about making housing that performs, endures, and makes cities stronger. I focus on housing because it’s where design has real impact. Every project we take on adds homes that make cities stronger — walkable, vibrant, and sustainable. For me, that’s the best way to contribute to the built environment and the world we live in.
Aiden Phelan, Engineer in Training
Why Join Us
Our cities need housing, and we’re on a mission to create it—lots of it—in walkable, vibrant, and livable neighborhoods. We believe thoughtfully-designed urban areas are the key to opportunity, sustainability, and better quality of life. That’s why we work every day to design homes that add character, density, and vitality to the communities we serve.
But we’re not just dreamers—we’re problem solvers. Our team thrives on navigating complexity: tough sites, tight budgets, tricky zoning. We help developers find creative solutions and bring ambitious projects to life. Every project is a chance to learn, grow, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in residential design and permitting.
If you’re passionate about cities, love a good design challenge, and want to work with a team that values creativity, agility, and purpose—we’d love to hear from you.
Selected Work
Dearborn Townhouses
Judkins Park Townhouses
Wallingford Backyard Residence
Des Moines 4-Plex
Ballard ADU
Bremerton Townhouses
Interested in Joining Us?
MODE is a place for ambitious architects and engineers who want to grow, solve challenging problems, and shape the future of housing. If that’s you – let’s talk.