Miller Hull

By Amy Edelen 

A state-of-the-art “smart home” designed to meet the needs of people diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their families was recently honored in an international design awards competition.

Matt’s Place Foundation’s cross-laminated timber smart home in Spokane won People’s Choice in Azure Magazine’s AZ 2022 Awards, an international competition that recognizes excellence and innovation in architecture and design.

Matt’s Place Foundation, Seattle-based Miller Hull Partnership and a group of area businesses are building the eco-friendly, state-of-the-art, interactive “smart home” designed specifically for ALS patients and their families to live in while coping with the disease.

The two-story, nearly 2,000-square-foot smart home consists of 13 cross-laminated timber modules each comprised of a floor, walls and roof that are prebuilt and assembled on site at 1116 E. Francis Ave.

The prototype has wide hallways to facilitate wheelchair access, recessed outlets and junction boxes to eliminate obstructions, and smart home systems that residents can control with their eyes.

Because the ALS smart home is designed to be built in modules, it can easily be scalable to meet residents’ needs for more space.

“We’re thrilled and it’s very exciting the project is receiving design recognition,” said Brian Court, partner at Miller Hull Partnership.

“Good design isn’t just for people with a lot of money who are paying high architecture fees. We can deliver great design at even the nonprofit level. I couldn’t be more thrilled and happy for Matt, Theresa and the foundation.”

Matt Wild and his wife, Theresa Whitlock-Wild, are founders of Matt’s Place Foundation, a nonprofit that supports those with ALS and their families.

The organization aims to provide ALS patients and their families with resources and rent-free, ADA accessible homes.

Wild, a Marine Corps. veteran, was diagnosed with the disease in 2015.

Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, the progressive, neurodegenerative disease affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control needed to move, speak, eat and breathe.

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