David L. Waldron
David L. Waldron is a licensed architect based in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Washington. He has worked as an architect since 1968 and has been in independent practice on San Juan Island since 1980, making him one of the longest-established architects in the San Juan Islands.
David grew up in the Seattle area and studied at Willamette University before attending the University of Washington School of Architecture. He moved to San Juan Island in 1980 and has been designing homes, commercial buildings, and community spaces on the island ever since.
Early Career
Before opening his own practice on San Juan Island, David spent a decade working for two established Seattle firms:
- 1968–1973 · Fred Bassetti and Co. — Contributed to the design of the underwater dome at the Seattle Aquarium and the Nocturnal Mammal exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo.
- 1973–1978 · James F. Hamilton, Architect — Designed Eddie Bauer retail stores across the United States and Canada.
Specialties
David's work spans new residential design, residential remodels, commercial architecture, historic preservation and restoration, passive solar design, and affordable housing. His designs often incorporate passive solar principles and local materials suited to the San Juan Islands environment.
Selected Projects
- Eagles Nest Estate — 15,000 sq. ft., 50 rooms on 3 levels, stucco and stone veneer with slate roofing and copper details
- Spring Street International School — classroom building, studio building, and 20-student dormitory for an experiential boarding school in downtown Friday Harbor
- Brickworks Event Center — conceptual plans for restoring a 1921 concrete block factory into a community center and farmers market
- Friday Harbor Food Bank — designed expansion and exterior restoration (2022), adding storage, customer service space, and weather protection
- Memorial Park — expansion and redesign of the historic park around a 1921 monument at the shoreline end of Friday Harbor's main street
- Vic's Drive Inn — expansion of the beloved 1958 Friday Harbor gathering spot with a 19-room hotel in 1950s architectural style
Pro Bono & Community Design
A significant portion of David's work on San Juan Island has been donated to the community. Pro bono projects include:
- Four buildings at Spring Street International School totaling roughly $2.5 million in design work — a 20-student dormitory, Art Studio building, Classroom Building, and Commons multi-purpose building
- Additions to the Friday Harbor Food Bank
- Brickworks building and plaza
- San Juan Historical Museum conceptual studies
- Sakya Society conceptual designs
- Alchemy Art Center designs
- Illustrations for the Friday Harbor Historic Preservation Review Board Manual
- Conceptual design for Vic's Drive In expansion (unbuilt)
Community Involvement
David has been a board member of Spring Street International School since 2003, where he oversaw construction of the dormitory, classrooms, and fine arts building and designed the multi-use facility planned for the school's next building phase.
He is a founding member of the Friday Harbor Historic Preservation Review Board and developed conceptual plans for the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild in 2008 with Washington State CTED funding.
David led the local Cub Scout pack for 15 years — during that stretch, more than 30% of the island's elementary-school boys were members. He received the American Legion Leadership Award (2013) from Post 163 for his long, dedicated service to Boy Scout Troop 90, and the BSA Council's Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to youth. He was also a member of FANS, which raised funds for Island Rec, and organized the annual Children's Carnival.
Contact
Contact David at his office at 310 Spring Street in Friday Harbor, by phone at (360) 378-3070, or by email at davidwaldron@interisland.net.