State of La Union Newsletter - Spring 2025 Recap
Greetings Friends,
As we fully transition into the summer season, we find ourselves reflecting on the power of space not just the physical environments we create, but the emotional and cultural spaces we hold for one another. From collaborating with bold small business owners to participating in conversations that shape the future of design, spring was a reminder that our work is as much about storytelling as it is about structure.
Thank you for continuing to build this movement with us.
Warmly,
Sonia-Lynn + Sergio Max
Founders of La Union Studio
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
- Announcement - Transformative Housing Event
- Client Spotlight - Shape the Future of Hillman City with Us! + Palomo House Update
- Media Features - Ayala Coffee
- In the Community - NOMAS UW ANCHOR + Fil-am Sa CBE Speaker Panels
- Connect With Us - Connect with Us
ANNOUNCEMENT
Transformative Housing: From Policy to Practice
La Union Studio joined a diverse community of housing advocates, designers, policymakers, and community leaders at Transformative Housing: From Policy to Practice. Convened by AIA Seattle, this forum explored Seattle’s most pressing housing challenges and opportunities. With a focus on missing middle housing, transit-oriented development, and social housing, the event unpacked the implications of recent legislative updates and the proposed One Seattle Plan.
As designers committed to equitable and sustainable communities, we were energized by the collaborative spirit of the discussions—especially around how design can be a catalyst for moving housing policy from vision to implementation. The forum reaffirmed our belief that culturally responsive design must play a central role in shaping a future where housing is abundant, accessible, and rooted in community.
We’re grateful to the organizers and fellow attendees for holding space to imagine bold, people-centered solutions for the evolving housing landscape in Seattle and beyond.
Couldn’t make it? Click below for a link to the attendee resources shared by AIA Seattle. Use Password: 25HDF!
CLIENT SPOTLIGHTS
Shape The Future of Hillman Hub!
We’re honored to be working alongside the visionary partners of Hillman Hub, SEED Seattle, Black & Tan Hall, and Multi Cultural Community (MCC) to co-create a cultural and co-working space that centers community voices and uplifts BIPOC creatives.
In partnership with Hillman City Partners, La Union Studio is facilitating a dynamic three-part community engagement series this summer. Each session invites residents and cultural leaders to collaboratively shape the future of the Hillman Hub’s upper floor and parking lot—transforming it into a thriving community-rooted hub.
Each session invites local residents, artists, and stakeholders to collaborate and co-create:
Session 1: Visioning & Siter Tour
Wednesday | July 9, 2025 | 6-8PM
Location: Meet @ Black & Tan Hall
Session 2: Shaping the Hub
Thursday | August 28, 2025 | 6-8PM
Location: Hillman Hub
Session 3: From Ideas To Action
Wednesday | Sept 24, 2025 6-8PM
Location: Hillman Hub
Hosted at Black & Tan Hall, these workshops ensure that the future Hillman City Hub reflects the aspirations and creativity of Hillman City’s residents.
Together, we’re not just building a space we’re building belonging, opportunity, and cultural legacy.
Want to Attend? Register Here!
Palomo House - Construction Update
🔨 What does it take to turn a vision into a home?
Construction is moving full steam ahead at Palomo House in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood and we’re entering one of the most exciting stages: the layers that bring a home’s personality to life.
Here’s a peek at what’s happening on-site:
🎨 Siding & Paint: The exterior envelope is now sealed and painted, protecting the structure while setting the tone for the home’s design identity.
🧱 Drywall: Walls are up, giving shape to spatial flow and framing how light will move through each room.
🚪 Interior Finishes: Cabinetry, fixtures, and textures are beginning to transform this house into a livable, tactile experience.
Design Tip: Every finish you choose whether it’s a matte wall texture or a natural wood siding impacts not just aesthetics, but also how a home feels, performs, and ages over time. It’s where beauty and functionality meet.
MEDIA FEATURES
Photo by Kollective Hustle
Ayala Coffee Featured in Kollective Hustle
We’re proud to see our clients and friend Ayala Coffee featured in Kollective Hustle, sharing the behind-the-scenes realities of opening a brick & mortar rooted in cultural identity. The article highlights the thoughtful process of aligning brand aesthetics with the spirit of Filipino hospitality. Especially meaningful is where founders Matt & Trixie speak on the role of design in evoking comfort, family, and heritage in their first brick and mortar space.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Sergio Speaks at NOMAS UW on Design & Belonging
This past May, in celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month, our co-founder Sergio Max Legon-Talamoni was invited to speak on the ANCHOR: A New Chapter — Home, Origins, Resilience panel hosted by NOMAS UW.
The event gathered AANHPI designers and professionals to reflect on identity, migration, and the evolving meaning of home in our work and lives. We were honored to share the stage with fellow colleagues Alex Rolluda of Rolluda Architects and Tanya Kataria of Weber Thomspon
“Design isn’t neutral. It’s a vessel for memory, a tool for empowerment, and a map to where we belong.” — Sergio Legon-Talamoni
We’re deeply grateful to NOMAS UW for creating space to uplift voices that too often go unheard in the design world. It’s an honor to contribute to a more inclusive, culturally grounded future for our communities and the built environment.
Sonia-Lynn on Filipino Identity & Design at UW Fil-Am Sa CBE Panel Celebrating Cultural Roots with Bilang Filipino
This June, our co-founder Sonia-Lynn Abenojar was invited to speak at Bilang Filipino: As Filipinos — Rooted in Place, Built with Identity, a community panel hosted by Fil-Am SA CBE at the University of Washington. The event brought together Filipino professionals in the built environment to share their personal journeys, reflect on career paths, and explore how Filipino identity informs their design work and values.
We were honored to be in conversation with inspiring peers including Ray Villanueva of Kawayan Collective, Stephanie Velasco of APAWA Youth in Planning, and others who are shaping spaces rooted in heritage, equity, and community.
“As designers, our cultural identity is not separate from our work — it’s the foundation that gives it meaning.” — Sonia-Lynn Abenojar
We’re grateful to Fil-Am Sa CBE for creating space to uplift Filipino voices and celebrate the richness of our shared heritage in the built environment.
CONNECT WITH US
Let’s keep the dialogue going. Follow our journey on Instagram or drop us a note—whether you're dreaming up a project or want to talk story.
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