Douglas Ito

Douglas Ito, FAIA, Managing Principal

Douglas has dedicated his career to advancing affordable housing and social justice, earning the prestigious 2024 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award from the AIA for his profound demonstration of social responsibility. His extensive portfolio includes contributing to the design of over 35 affordable housing developments comprising more than 3,000 units, spanning diverse typologies from permanent supportive housing to artist live-work spaces, senior housing, and trauma-informed developments. His outstanding contributions have elevated him to the celebrated AIA Fellowship rank, with peers recognizing his impactful work in creating community assets that integrate thoughtfully with neighborhood fabric.

Beyond his design practice at SMR Architects, Douglas actively advocates for affordable housing at local and state levels through numerous leadership positions. He recently served as President of the Board of Directors of AIA Washington Council and participates in the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board and the City of Tacoma’s Affordable Housing Action Strategy Technical Advisory Group. Additionally, he demonstrates his commitment to community preservation through his work on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and his former role on the Board of Directors for the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. His dedication extends to volunteer work with nonprofit housing providers, including creative fundraising efforts such as participating in Plymouth Housing’s Seattle Dances fundraiser.

 

Relevant Projects

  • African Diaspora Cultural Anchor Village, SeaTac
  • Ballington Flats, Burlington
  • Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Tacoma
  • Housing Hilltop, Tacoma
  • Sunset Gardens, Renton
  • Bertha Pitts Campbell Place, Seattle
  • Kristin Benson Place, Seattle
  • The Rise at 19th, Tacoma
  • Thea Bowman Apartments, Kent
  • Plymouth on First Hill, Seattle
  • Sylvia Odom’s Place, Seattle
  • Artspace Mount Baker Station Lofts, Seattle
  • Artspace Everett Lofts, Everett)
  • Artspace Hiawatha Lofts, Seattle
  • Plymouth on Stewart, Seattle
  • St. Charles Apartments, Seattle
  • Plymouth Place, Seattle
  • YWCA Opportunity Place, Seattle
  • Colwell Apartments, Seattle

 

Registration

  • Architect, Washington, 2004

 

Education

  • MArch Studies, University of Washington
  • BA, University of Washington

 

Activities and Memberships (Select)

  • American Institute of Architects (AIA)
  • AIA College of Fellows Regional Representative for the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Region, 2025 – 2027
  • Seattle Housing Levy Planning Committee & Campaign, Co-Chair, 2022 – present
  • AIA Washington Council, Board Member (2020 – present), President (2022 – 2023)
  • Washington State Department of Commerce’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board, 2020 – present
  • City of Seattle Housing Levy Oversight Committee 2015 – 2022, Chair 2017 – 2022
  • Housing Development Consortium of Seattle | King County, Board President 2015 – 2017, Board Member 2010 – 2018

 

Honors and Awards (Select)

  • AIA Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award, 2024
  • AIA Fellowship, 2024
  • Urban Land Institute’s Jack Kemp Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing; Arlington Drive Youth Campus, 2021
  • AIA/HUD Secretary’s Alan J. Rothman Award for Housing Accessibility; Plymouth on First Hill, 2020