Peter Steinbrueck

Early life and education

Steinbrueck was born and raised in Seattle, and is the son of noted architect Victor Steinbrueck (1911–1985). He graduated from Lakeside School, received his bachelor of arts degree in government from Bowdoin College, and a master of architecture degree from the University of Washington College of Built Environments.

Political activities

Steinbrueck was a member of the Seattle City Council, first elected to the council on November 4, 1997, and immediately sworn in to fill an unfinished term. He was elected to full council terms in 1999 and 2003 and served through 2007. Steinbrueck served as council president during 2002 and 2003 and was succeeded by Jan Drago. He served as chair of the Housing and Human Services Committee in his first four years on the council, later the Parks, Education, and Libraries Committee, and in his final four years, he chaired the Urban Development and Planning Committee.

In late 2012, Steinbrueck announced his candidacy for Mayor of Seattle in the 2013 election but failed to move past the primary election. In June of 2017, Peter Steinbrueck announced his candidacy for Seattle Port Commissioner Position 4.

Educational activities

Steinbrueck has been a visiting instructor at the University of Washington’s College of the Built Environments, and is a frequent speaker, commentator, and writer on the emerging framework for advancing environmental sustainability of cities and regions. In 2009, Steinbrueck was named a Loeb Fellow in the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, where he completed an academic year 2009-10 of independent research focused on the environment, climate change and urban sustainability in the United States.

In 2007, after leaving his City Council position, Steinbrueck founded his own firm, Steinbrueck Urban Strategies, an urban planning and urban design consulting practice.

Awards and recognition

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recognized Steinbrueck with its Young Architects Award in 1999 for his public and civic contributions affecting affordable housing, homelessness, civic design, historic preservation, and the environment and in 2006 elevated him to membership in the AIA College of Fellows for his achievements in public office and contributions to the profession and society. In 2002 Steinbrueck received the Public Sector Achievement Award from the National Alliance to End Homelessness for his commitment to reducing and preventing homelessness through systematic change.

Other local, state, and national organizations that have honored him including The Municipal League of King County Outstanding public official, the Seattle Education Association (Hero Award, 2004), King County Human Services Coalition (Stewardship Award, 2006), Seattle magazine's Most Influential People (2006), Seattle Fire Fighters Local 27 (Red Helmet Award, 2008), and the Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (Career Achievement in Historic Preservation, 2008).