Amenity spaces at Suncadia Lodge, designed by Heliotrope Architects and built by BNBuilders, introduces a comprehensive refresh of the lodge’s public areas in Cle Elum, Washington. Located roughly 90 minutes east of Seattle, Suncadia sits on the shoulder of the Cascade Mountain Range and operates as a four-season resort community spanning 6,400 acres. The project rethinks more than 10,000 square feet of shared interior spaces within the lodge, which serves as a central gathering point for the wider resort.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Suncadia encompasses private residences, three golf courses, and a broad range of amenities that include recreational facilities, a spa, an extensive trail network, and a mountain lodge with convention functions. Within this context, the lodge plays a key role as both a social hub and a point of arrival. Prior to the renovation, the public areas no longer matched the scale or expectations of the resort. The design team set out to reshape these spaces with a clear objective: create a strong sense of place that reflects the surrounding environment and the cultural history of the Roslyn-Cle Elum region.
Heliotrope Architects approached the project by grounding the interiors in materials and references drawn from the local context. Natural, locally sourced materials guide the design throughout the refreshed spaces. The palette draws from tones found in the surrounding terrain, creating continuity between interior and exterior without relying on literal representation. Details throughout the lodge reference the area’s mining past, adding depth and regional specificity through form and material.
Visual connection to the outdoors became a central design driver. The team enlarged existing windows to strengthen views from the interior and reoriented key program elements to take advantage of the surrounding mountains. Interior partitions were removed where possible, allowing sightlines to extend across the lobby, bar, and dining areas.
Seating layouts received careful attention during the redesign. The team reconsidered placement and orientation throughout the lobby, bar, and dining room to prioritize comfort and alignment with architectural features and views. Furniture arrangements now support both social interaction and moments of rest, responding to the lodge’s dual role as an active gathering space and a place to pause.
One of the most significant changes brings the bar and lobby together into a single shared space. This adjustment increases capacity while improving flow and energy across the main public zone. The unified layout encourages movement and interaction, allowing the bar to operate as an extension of the lobby.
Fine art and decorative components include custom commissions by regional artists, while furniture and casework come from local artisans and fabricators. These collaborations root the interiors in the surrounding community and give the lodge a distinct character shaped by place and people.
The refreshed amenity spaces at Suncadia Lodge reshape the experience of the building without altering its role within the resort. The renovation introduces comfort, clarity, and a sense of ease through material choice, spatial organization, and attention to detail.
Heliotrope design team: Joe Herrin, AIA (Principal in Charge), Renee Boone (Project Manager), Rachel Belcher (Project Designer)
Consultant team
Interior Designer: Heliotrope Architects
Contractor: BNBuilders
Structural Engineer: Swenson Say Faget
Mechanical Engineer: BNBuilders
Lighting: Heliotrope Architects
Acoustical Engineer: Stantec Engineering
Kitchen Consultant: CMA
Client: Suncadia Resort, LLC
Photography: Andrew Pogue
Materials/Products
Loewen – Doors and windows
Resolute – Lighting
Stone Source – Tile
Brintons – Carpet
Kush Rugs – Rugs
