Person Behind the Place: Meredith Everist

Person Behind The Place: Meredith Everist

Principal | Baylis Architects

Meredith Everist has a deep appreciation for the way thoughtfully designed environments can shape meaningful experiences. During her tenure at Baylis Architects — a firm she admires for its artistry and strong ties to the Bellevue community — she has refined her expertise while offering valuable guidance to local architects navigating the field. Inspired by the power of storytelling to bridge barriers, Meredith launched The Blackprint, a podcast that highlights the journeys of aspiring and seasoned architects alike. Each episode offers listeners a wealth of insights and varied perspectives.

As she continues to shape the architectural landscape of Bellevue and beyond, Meredith embraces a client-first philosophy, blending the power of innovation and design to create transformative spaces. Read on to learn about her most recent project, connection to the BIPOC architecture community, and her experiences hosting a podcast.

How did your career lead you to your current role at Baylis Architects?

I grew up in a rural community but I had family in big cities like New York. Because of this, we traveled a lot when I was younger and I developed a fascination with big cities -- that's how I ended up in Seattle. After working in Kirkland for a few years, I began to find myself drawn to specific projects. There’s a very unique experience when you’re in a space that’s well designed and built -- you have almost an emotional response to it. When I found out that many of the spaces I coveted were done by Baylis, I was immediately drawn to the firm. During my time here, I've received wonderful mentorship and support from all of the partners. When you find a place that’s the right fit it just feels very natural.

What unique services does Baylis offer to the Bellevue community?

Baylis has been around for over 50 years, and we partner with clients looking for highly crafted design. We couple that with a focus on the client experience, ensuring we are working together every step of the way rather than only being concerned about the final result. Because we have been in Bellevue for so long, we have knowledge of the neighborhood, local landscapes, and general atmosphere of the community, which informs our work. We bring a high craft to a variety of project types -- mixed-use, single family, and commercial. 

Tell me about a recent project you worked on.

In Bellevue, we just opened 108 affordable housing units that were converted from a highly underutilized development. The project was ambitious but ultimately took less than two years from conception to completion. This fast pace was largely due to the creative collaboration between us and the developers. We just celebrated the grand opening in December! 

How do you leverage your voice to encourage aspiring BIPOC architects to pursue this path? 

I’ve been active with AIA, NOMA, and other similar organizations whose mission is to elevate, inspire, and empower people from underrepresented backgrounds. Because black men and women comprise only 2% of licensed architects, there is a profound need for greater representation there. And, when it comes to design, community spaces must be designed with diverse voices in mind. 

Tell me about your podcast, The Blackprint. What was the inspiration behind it and what do you hope listeners takeaway from the episodes? 

My podcast first came about when I was listening in on a roundtable meeting where people told their professional stories, which I found very inspiring. I asked myself: what if there was a platform for those stories to be shared? So, when I got started, I aimed to support others through storytelling and provide a space for guests to discuss their unique experiences. I talk to people in all stages of their architecture careers and it's fascinating to hear how things have grown and evolved over time.

If you haven't listened before, there is an episode for everyone. For example, if a listener is preparing to go through their architecture licensing exams, there’s a great episode with one of my guests who talks about her own grueling experience with them. She didn’t pass all of them the first time, and she addresses the emotional challenge that came along that. Another talks about augmented reality and the intersection of architecture and technology in a really unique way. I learned a lot from the first season and am looking forward to the second, which I think will be more focused even more on mentorship. 

What are your favorite spots in Downtown Bellevue? 

It's so hard to choose! I love La Mar, Monsoon, Royal Bakehouse, and Seastar -- especially their happy hour. One of my favorite things about Downtown Bellevue is its walkability, so I love just being able to take a walk around the city every day. There's always something to see.

Any final comments? 

Baylis is in Bellevue because everyone at the firm truly loves it here. Right now, Downtown Bellevue is a model city experiencing a renaissance with immense growth and growth potential. Even though architecture can be a challenging, volatile profession, I am fortunate that Baylis has been around long enough that we are capable of weathering any future storms.

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