Graduate of the Last Decade, 2019
M.Arch 2012
Capitol Hill Housing
Jess Blanch is a Senior Design Manager with Capitol Hill Housing in Seattle, where she was previously an Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow. That three year appointment allowed her to improve the environmental footprint of that group’s property portfolio through managing U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Challenge commitment to reduce portfolio energy use; boost residents’ and CHH staff health outcomes through spearheading the CHH Healthy Homes initiative and serving on the Healthy Affordable Materials Project; and co-create the Guide to Design Guidelines, a resource to help affordable housing developers determine what they need and want out of design guidelines, published by the Enterprise Community Partners. Jess came to the UW Master of Architecture program in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College (2005), where she focused on environmental earth sciences and human development & education. During her graduate studies she expanded these interests with a concentration on public interest design, urban design, adaptive re-use and high-performance buildings. She also worked as a Research Assistant in the Integrated Design Lab. Following graduation, she took up a position as an architectural designer for Environmental Works Community Design Center, where she worked with nonprofit clients from feasibility studies through the completion of construction. The range of projects included affordable housing, community and cultural facilities, child care centers, food banks, a tiny house village, and a kitchen classroom.