Project: Westland Rackhouses

Architect: Upward Architecture & Interiors

Location: Burlington, WA

Status: Completed in 2021

Westland’s barrel aging rackhouses support large-scale whiskey barrel aging in the Skagit Valley. Each building stores more than 4,000 barrels and is unconditioned and passively ventilated to allow climate conditions to influence the aging process. Tilt-up concrete walls provide thermal mass that moderates daily temperature swings, following precedents from traditional Scottish rackhouses. Covered entries at both ends protect workers during barrel operations while defining threshold conditions. Stormwater is managed through Underground Injection Control (UIC) wells, engineered by Jacobson Engineering and Associated Earth Sciences, returning runoff safely to the aquifer while preserving Skagit Valley topsoils.

Veronica was involved in the project from schematic design through design development and permit submission. Her work included site planning studies to determine building placement in response to topography and solar orientation, continuing through DD and permitting documentation. She produced client presentations and worked directly with the client to understand whiskey aging processes and barrel organization systems in order to develop appropriate spatial proportions and layout strategies.

Learn more at Upward Architecture & Interiors.

Structural: Swenson Say Faget

Civil: Jacobson Engineers

Geotechnical:AES Geotech Engineers

Builder:TRICO Construction