Growing up in Moscow, Robert Zimmer delivered newspapers to the President’s House on Nez Perce Drive in Moscow. Now an accomplished architect — co-owning the firm Zimmerray Studios in Seattle — he returned to his roots to redesign the new University House.
“As a kid, I was always sort of curious about space and light,” Zimmer said. “When I was a very young boy, I remember being in a new library and as much as I liked to read books, I liked being in the space because it was different and it was bright. I was always good at math and art. It fit and I was on the path to become an architect.”
Zimmer graduated with a degree in architecture from the University of Idaho. While he wanted to stay true to his northwestern background, Zimmer said he wanted a more urban area with lots of interesting architecture, which drew him to Seattle.
Robert Zimmer
Between earning his degree and starting Zimmerray Studios with his business partner Harry O. Ray. Zimmer has worked for three different architecture firms.
“Working for the large firm, I was wearing too many hats. I was concerned about what the partners were thinking or how they would pursue a problem as well as my own interests,” Zimmer said. “It was exhausting.”
Zimmer and Ray met at the second firm Zimmer worked for and after several years decided to pursue their dream of creating their own firm. Owning their own firm involves a lot of communication between the partners, but Zimmer said this isn’t a problem for him and Ray.
“We go way back,” Zimmer said. “We weren’t only partners in the professional sense, we were friends. We share a lot of understanding and the belief of what the design process should look like.”
Zimmer has done a lot of work over the years including his work for UI on University House, the International Ballroom in the Pitman Center and the arboreta. Zimmer said one of his most prized projects was the building of the Seattle Central Library.
“I was the project director for the joint venture firm Rem Koolhaas on the Seattle Central Library, which is an internationally renowned library and piece of architecture,” he said. “That experience was career changing.”
Through his work at the university, Zimmer said the most important part of working with customers is communication and honesty.
“We went out on a limb,” Zimmer said. “We told the selection company what they wanted to hear. We were also direct and told them some things they didn’t want to hear in terms of what they could afford.”
Because of his history with Moscow and UI, Zimmer said he looks forward to future projects with the university.
“I look forward to (working more with UI),” Zimmer said. “I don’t know what that project might be, but we’re certainly going to keep our eyes open and look for the opportunity. We hope that our work is appreciated there, and we will have more opportunities.”
Brianna Finnegan can be reached at [email protected]