Seattle Street Sink

In Spring 2020, CBE faculty and alumni responded to a call from Real Change to develop a prototype outdoor hand-washing station to address the urgent need for personal hygiene among the most vulnerable populations on the streets during the pandemic. The first installation was completed on May 19, 2020, hosted by the ROOTS Young Adults Shelter in the U District. With the success of the first unit, Real Change planned to fund 10 more, with sites including UHeights, Teen Feed, and the Tenants Union. Named Seattle Street Sink, the DIY hand-washing station can be assembled by anyone using off-the-shelf parts purchased online or in a store. The sink unit is combined with a biofiltration planter to filter wastewater before it’s discharged to a street drain. Connected to any outdoor hose bib, it can be placed next to the street right-of-way to provide access to clean water during the pandemic. Read about the project in Real Change, The Seattle Times, and The Stranger. [Project one-pager] [Project Link]

Team members: Elizabeth Golden (Architecture), Jeff Hou (Landscape Architecture), Brice Maryman (MxM), and Rick Mohler (Architecture), with Karen Braitmeyer (Studiopacifica), Anita Chopra (UW Medicine), Mehr Grewal, Tiffani McCoy (Real Change).