Location: North Satellite Terminal, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
End Client: Alaska Airlines (in partnership with Port of Seattle)
Architect: Graham Baba Architects
Completion: July 2019
Alaska Airlines’ flagship North Satellite Lounge at SEA–TAC, known as the “Northwest Oasis,” offers travelers a refined, comfortable retreat before their flights. Designed to reflect the beauty and warmth of the Pacific Northwest, the 15,800-square-foot lounge is the largest in the airline’s network and features multiple distinct zones for dining, relaxation, and socializing… all framed by sweeping views of the runways, Olympic Mountains, and Mt. Rainier.
QA Group was selected to fabricate a wide range of custom upholstered elements to support this creative vision. This included cushion panels for a fully custom, curved, double-sided banquette, plush lounge chair seating complete with footrests and headrests, oversized button-tufted wall panels for the soft seating area that also wrapped up the wall to form an integrated art feature, and channeled seat and back pads for an extended wall banquette. Additional contributions included built-in booths with upholstered seats and wall back pads, as well as other small design accents to tie the space together.
Working closely with Interior Environments and Graham Baba Architects, we produced the upholstery using a combination of premium leathers (including Garrett Vintage Elk Leather) and durable woven fabrics (including Brentano Euclid Decimal) selected for their high-performance characteristics in heavy-use environments. All seating was constructed with ultra-cell high-resilience foam for exceptional comfort and long-term durability. The original mockups and spec reviews provided a clear framework for aligning design intent with budget.
Since the lounge’s opening, QA Group has continued its relationship with Alaska Airlines through maintenance work and selective reupholstery on original pieces, through our sister company, Queen Anne Upholstery. The seating has held up exceptionally well under high-traffic conditions, and recent updates included a refreshed color scheme to align with the airline’s evolving brand aesthetic.
Despite a fast-tracked production window of less than eight weeks, all components were delivered field-ready with no modifications required. The result was a seamless, high impact opening for one of the most iconic airport lounges in the nation.
