The new home for CASA Latina, a non-profit provider of services to the immigrant community in Seattle, is a multi-purpose facility housing a hiring hall, classrooms, meeting rooms and a “living room” for their growing constituency. Phase I of the project is complete, with a second phase planned for next year.

Since 1996, CASA has supported families and workers with ESL classes, women’s groups, and a wage claim clinic as well as access to employment. After working out of cramped downtown offices for 10 years, the agency decided to make a move to a new neighborhood. In Phase I an existing building was renovated and an annex was added. The existing building houses CASA’s offices and the annex provides a classroom and a hiring hall. In Phase II, a new 6,000 SF building will be built on an adjacent site. Together, the two buildings will become the CASA Latina campus and include some expanded program elements such as a café and storefront retail.

When complete, the design will include a hill climb between the two buildings with a small plaza at street level. Ample space for art, landscaping and community gathering space are planned. A key attribute of the building will be flexibility, for as CASA grows, their home will have to accommodate expanded programs and new challenges. Completion is anticipated by the end of 2011. The project is being funded by the City of Seattle, the State of Washington and various private entities.

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