diff --git a/src/lib/components/admin/ProjectListItem.svelte b/src/lib/components/admin/ProjectListItem.svelte
index aa9be5e..409aca9 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/admin/ProjectListItem.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/admin/ProjectListItem.svelte
@@ -3,32 +3,18 @@
 	import { createEventDispatcher, onMount } from 'svelte'
 	import AdminByline from './AdminByline.svelte'
 
-	interface Project {
-		id: number
-		title: string
-		subtitle: string | null
-		year: number
-		client: string | null
-		status: string
-		projectType: string
-		logoUrl: string | null
-		backgroundColor: string | null
-		highlightColor: string | null
-		publishedAt: string | null
-		createdAt: string
-		updatedAt: string
-	}
+	import type { AdminProject } from '$lib/types/admin'
 
 	interface Props {
-		project: Project
+		project: AdminProject
 	}
 
 	let { project }: Props = $props()
 
 	const dispatch = createEventDispatcher<{
-		edit: { project: Project }
-		togglePublish: { project: Project }
-		delete: { project: Project }
+		edit: { project: AdminProject }
+		togglePublish: { project: AdminProject }
+		delete: { project: AdminProject }
 	}>()
 
 	let isDropdownOpen = $state(false)
@@ -114,7 +100,12 @@
 	</div>
 
 	<div class="dropdown-container">
-		<button class="action-button" onclick={handleToggleDropdown} aria-label="Project actions">
+		<button
+			class="action-button"
+			type="button"
+			onclick={handleToggleDropdown}
+			aria-label="Project actions"
+		>
 			<svg
 				width="20"
 				height="20"
@@ -130,12 +121,16 @@
 
 		{#if isDropdownOpen}
 			<div class="dropdown-menu">
-				<button class="dropdown-item" onclick={handleEdit}>Edit project</button>
-				<button class="dropdown-item" onclick={handleTogglePublish}>
+				<button class="dropdown-item" type="button" onclick={handleEdit}>
+					Edit project
+				</button>
+				<button class="dropdown-item" type="button" onclick={handleTogglePublish}>
 					{project.status === 'published' ? 'Unpublish' : 'Publish'} project
 				</button>
 				<div class="dropdown-divider"></div>
-				<button class="dropdown-item danger" onclick={handleDelete}>Delete project</button>
+				<button class="dropdown-item danger" type="button" onclick={handleDelete}>
+					Delete project
+				</button>
 			</div>
 		{/if}
 	</div>
diff --git a/src/lib/types/admin.ts b/src/lib/types/admin.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d391ed9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/types/admin.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+export interface AdminProject {
+	id: number
+	title: string
+	subtitle: string | null
+	year: number
+	client: string | null
+	status: string
+	projectType: string
+	logoUrl: string | null
+	backgroundColor: string | null
+	highlightColor: string | null
+	publishedAt: string | null
+	createdAt: string
+	updatedAt: string
+}
diff --git a/src/routes/admin/projects/+page.server.ts b/src/routes/admin/projects/+page.server.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e2a2d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/routes/admin/projects/+page.server.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+import { fail } from '@sveltejs/kit'
+import type { Actions, PageServerLoad } from './$types'
+import { adminFetch, adminFetchJson } from '$lib/server/admin/authenticated-fetch'
+import type { AdminProject } from '$lib/types/admin'
+
+interface ProjectsResponse {
+	projects: AdminProject[]
+}
+
+function toStatusCounts(projects: AdminProject[]) {
+	return projects.reduce(
+		(counts, project) => {
+			counts.all += 1
+			counts[project.status as 'draft' | 'published'] += 1
+			return counts
+		},
+		{ all: 0, published: 0, draft: 0 }
+	)
+}
+
+function toTypeCounts(projects: AdminProject[]) {
+	return projects.reduce(
+		(counts, project) => {
+			counts.all += 1
+			if (project.projectType === 'work') counts.work += 1
+			if (project.projectType === 'labs') counts.labs += 1
+			return counts
+		},
+		{ all: 0, work: 0, labs: 0 }
+	)
+}
+
+export const load = (async (event) => {
+	event.depends('admin:projects')
+
+	const { projects } = await adminFetchJson<ProjectsResponse>(event, '/api/projects')
+
+	return {
+		items: projects,
+		filters: {
+			statusCounts: toStatusCounts(projects),
+			typeCounts: toTypeCounts(projects)
+		}
+	}
+}) satisfies PageServerLoad
+
+export const actions = {
+	toggleStatus: async (event) => {
+		const formData = await event.request.formData()
+		const id = Number(formData.get('id'))
+		const status = formData.get('status')
+		const updatedAt = formData.get('updatedAt')
+
+		if (!Number.isFinite(id) || typeof status !== 'string' || typeof updatedAt !== 'string') {
+			return fail(400, { message: 'Invalid toggle request' })
+		}
+
+		await adminFetch(event, `/api/projects/${id}`, {
+			method: 'PATCH',
+			headers: {
+				'Content-Type': 'application/json'
+			},
+			body: JSON.stringify({
+				status,
+				updatedAt
+			})
+		})
+
+		return { success: true }
+	},
+	delete: async (event) => {
+		const formData = await event.request.formData()
+		const id = Number(formData.get('id'))
+
+		if (!Number.isFinite(id)) {
+			return fail(400, { message: 'Invalid project id' })
+		}
+
+		await adminFetch(event, `/api/projects/${id}`, {
+			method: 'DELETE'
+		})
+
+		return { success: true }
+	}
+} satisfies Actions
diff --git a/src/routes/admin/projects/+page.svelte b/src/routes/admin/projects/+page.svelte
index baa9fb3..7273f05 100644
--- a/src/routes/admin/projects/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/admin/projects/+page.svelte
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import { onMount } from 'svelte'
-import { goto } from '$app/navigation'
-import { api } from '$lib/admin/api'
+	import { goto } from '$app/navigation'
 	import AdminPage from '$lib/components/admin/AdminPage.svelte'
 	import AdminHeader from '$lib/components/admin/AdminHeader.svelte'
 	import AdminFilters from '$lib/components/admin/AdminFilters.svelte'
@@ -9,37 +8,29 @@ import { api } from '$lib/admin/api'
 	import DeleteConfirmationModal from '$lib/components/admin/DeleteConfirmationModal.svelte'
 	import Button from '$lib/components/admin/Button.svelte'
 	import Select from '$lib/components/admin/Select.svelte'
+	import type { PageData } from './$types'
+	import type { AdminProject } from '$lib/types/admin'
 
-	interface Project {
-		id: number
-		title: string
-		subtitle: string | null
-		year: number
-		client: string | null
-		status: string
-		projectType: string
-		logoUrl: string | null
-		backgroundColor: string | null
-		highlightColor: string | null
-		publishedAt: string | null
-		createdAt: string
-		updatedAt: string
-	}
+	const { data, form } = $props<{ data: PageData; form?: { message?: string } }>()
 
-	let projects = $state<Project[]>([])
-	let filteredProjects = $state<Project[]>([])
-	let isLoading = $state(true)
-	let error = $state('')
 	let showDeleteModal = $state(false)
-	let projectToDelete = $state<Project | null>(null)
-	let statusCounts = $state<Record<string, number>>({})
+	let projectToDelete = $state<AdminProject | null>(null)
 
-	// Filter state
 	let selectedTypeFilter = $state<string>('all')
 	let selectedStatusFilter = $state<string>('all')
 	let sortBy = $state<string>('newest')
 
-	// Create filter options
+	const actionError = $derived(form?.message ?? '')
+	const projects = $derived(data.items ?? [])
+
+	let toggleForm: HTMLFormElement | null = null
+	let toggleIdField: HTMLInputElement | null = null
+	let toggleStatusField: HTMLInputElement | null = null
+	let toggleUpdatedAtField: HTMLInputElement | null = null
+
+	let deleteForm: HTMLFormElement | null = null
+	let deleteIdField: HTMLInputElement | null = null
+
 	const typeFilterOptions = $derived([
 		{ value: 'all', label: 'All projects' },
 		{ value: 'work', label: 'Work' },
@@ -63,9 +54,55 @@ import { api } from '$lib/admin/api'
 		{ value: 'status-draft', label: 'Draft first' }
 	]
 
-	onMount(async () => {
-		await loadProjects()
-		// Handle clicks outside dropdowns
+	const filteredProjects = $derived(() => {
+		let next = [...projects]
+
+		if (selectedStatusFilter !== 'all') {
+			next = next.filter((project) => project.status === selectedStatusFilter)
+		}
+
+		if (selectedTypeFilter !== 'all') {
+			next = next.filter((project) => project.projectType === selectedTypeFilter)
+		}
+
+		switch (sortBy) {
+			case 'oldest':
+				next.sort((a, b) => new Date(a.createdAt).getTime() - new Date(b.createdAt).getTime())
+				break
+			case 'title-asc':
+				next.sort((a, b) => a.title.localeCompare(b.title))
+				break
+			case 'title-desc':
+				next.sort((a, b) => b.title.localeCompare(a.title))
+				break
+			case 'year-desc':
+				next.sort((a, b) => b.year - a.year)
+				break
+			case 'year-asc':
+				next.sort((a, b) => a.year - b.year)
+				break
+			case 'status-published':
+				next.sort((a, b) => {
+					if (a.status === b.status) return 0
+					return a.status === 'published' ? -1 : 1
+				})
+				break
+			case 'status-draft':
+				next.sort((a, b) => {
+					if (a.status === b.status) return 0
+					return a.status === 'draft' ? -1 : 1
+				})
+				break
+			case 'newest':
+			default:
+				next.sort((a, b) => new Date(b.createdAt).getTime() - new Date(a.createdAt).getTime())
+				break
+		}
+
+		return next
+	})
+
+	onMount(() => {
 		document.addEventListener('click', handleOutsideClick)
 		return () => document.removeEventListener('click', handleOutsideClick)
 	})
@@ -73,268 +110,170 @@ import { api } from '$lib/admin/api'
 	function handleOutsideClick(event: MouseEvent) {
 		const target = event.target as HTMLElement
 		if (!target.closest('.dropdown-container')) {
-			// Close any open dropdowns by telling all ProjectListItems
 			document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('closeDropdowns'))
 		}
 	}
 
-	async function loadProjects() {
-		try {
-			const data = await api.get('/api/projects')
-			projects = data.projects
-
-			// Calculate status counts
-			const counts: Record<string, number> = {
-				all: projects.length,
-				published: projects.filter((p) => p.status === 'published').length,
-				draft: projects.filter((p) => p.status === 'draft').length
-			}
-			statusCounts = counts
-
-			// Apply initial filter and sort
-			applyFilterAndSort()
-		} catch (err) {
-			error = 'Failed to load projects'
-			console.error(err)
-		} finally {
-			isLoading = false
-		}
-	}
-
-	function handleEdit(event: CustomEvent<{ project: Project }>) {
+	function handleEdit(event: CustomEvent<{ project: AdminProject }>) {
 		goto(`/admin/projects/${event.detail.project.id}/edit`)
 	}
 
-	async function handleTogglePublish(event: CustomEvent<{ project: Project }>) {
+	function handleTogglePublish(event: CustomEvent<{ project: AdminProject }>) {
 		const project = event.detail.project
-
-		try {
-			const newStatus = project.status === 'published' ? 'draft' : 'published'
-			await api.patch(`/api/projects/${project.id}`, { status: newStatus, updatedAt: project.updatedAt })
-			await loadProjects()
-		} catch (err) {
-			console.error('Failed to update project status:', err)
+		if (!toggleForm || !toggleIdField || !toggleStatusField || !toggleUpdatedAtField) {
+			return
 		}
+
+		toggleIdField.value = String(project.id)
+		toggleStatusField.value = project.status === 'published' ? 'draft' : 'published'
+		toggleUpdatedAtField.value = project.updatedAt
+		toggleForm.requestSubmit()
 	}
 
-	function handleDelete(event: CustomEvent<{ project: Project }>) {
+	function handleDelete(event: CustomEvent<{ project: AdminProject }>) {
 		projectToDelete = event.detail.project
 		showDeleteModal = true
 	}
 
-	async function confirmDelete() {
-		if (!projectToDelete) return
+	function confirmDelete() {
+		if (!projectToDelete || !deleteForm || !deleteIdField) return
 
-		try {
-			await api.delete(`/api/projects/${projectToDelete.id}`)
-			await loadProjects()
-		} catch (err) {
-			console.error('Failed to delete project:', err)
-		} finally {
-			showDeleteModal = false
-			projectToDelete = null
-		}
+		deleteIdField.value = String(projectToDelete.id)
+		showDeleteModal = false
+		deleteForm.requestSubmit()
+		projectToDelete = null
 	}
 
 	function cancelDelete() {
 		showDeleteModal = false
 		projectToDelete = null
 	}
-
-	function applyFilterAndSort() {
-		let filtered = [...projects]
-
-		// Apply status filter
-		if (selectedStatusFilter !== 'all') {
-			filtered = filtered.filter((project) => project.status === selectedStatusFilter)
-		}
-
-		// Apply type filter based on projectType field
-		if (selectedTypeFilter !== 'all') {
-			filtered = filtered.filter((project) => project.projectType === selectedTypeFilter)
-		}
-
-		// Apply sorting
-		switch (sortBy) {
-			case 'oldest':
-				filtered.sort((a, b) => new Date(a.createdAt).getTime() - new Date(b.createdAt).getTime())
-				break
-			case 'title-asc':
-				filtered.sort((a, b) => a.title.localeCompare(b.title))
-				break
-			case 'title-desc':
-				filtered.sort((a, b) => b.title.localeCompare(a.title))
-				break
-			case 'year-desc':
-				filtered.sort((a, b) => b.year - a.year)
-				break
-			case 'year-asc':
-				filtered.sort((a, b) => a.year - b.year)
-				break
-			case 'status-published':
-				filtered.sort((a, b) => {
-					if (a.status === b.status) return 0
-					return a.status === 'published' ? -1 : 1
-				})
-				break
-			case 'status-draft':
-				filtered.sort((a, b) => {
-					if (a.status === b.status) return 0
-					return a.status === 'draft' ? -1 : 1
-				})
-				break
-			case 'newest':
-			default:
-				filtered.sort((a, b) => new Date(b.createdAt).getTime() - new Date(a.createdAt).getTime())
-				break
-		}
-
-		filteredProjects = filtered
-	}
-
-	function handleStatusFilterChange() {
-		applyFilterAndSort()
-	}
-
-	function handleTypeFilterChange() {
-		applyFilterAndSort()
-	}
-
-	function handleSortChange() {
-		applyFilterAndSort()
-	}
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head>
-	<title>Projects - Admin @jedmund</title>
+	<title>Work - Admin @jedmund</title>
 </svelte:head>
 
 <AdminPage>
-	<AdminHeader title="Projects" slot="header">
+	<AdminHeader title="Work" slot="header">
 		{#snippet actions()}
-			<Button variant="primary" buttonSize="large" href="/admin/projects/new">New Project</Button>
+			<Button
+				variant="primary"
+				buttonSize="large"
+				onclick={() => goto('/admin/projects/new')}
+			>
+				New project
+			</Button>
 		{/snippet}
 	</AdminHeader>
 
-	{#if error}
-		<div class="error">{error}</div>
-	{:else}
-		<!-- Filters -->
-		<AdminFilters>
-			{#snippet left()}
-				<Select
-					bind:value={selectedTypeFilter}
-					options={typeFilterOptions}
-					size="small"
-					variant="minimal"
-					onchange={handleTypeFilterChange}
-				/>
-				<Select
-					bind:value={selectedStatusFilter}
-					options={statusFilterOptions}
-					size="small"
-					variant="minimal"
-					onchange={handleStatusFilterChange}
-				/>
-			{/snippet}
-			{#snippet right()}
-				<Select
-					bind:value={sortBy}
-					options={sortOptions}
-					size="small"
-					variant="minimal"
-					onchange={handleSortChange}
-				/>
-			{/snippet}
-		</AdminFilters>
+	<AdminFilters>
+		{#snippet left()}
+			<Select
+				bind:value={selectedTypeFilter}
+				options={typeFilterOptions}
+				size="small"
+				variant="minimal"
+			/>
+			<Select
+				bind:value={selectedStatusFilter}
+				options={statusFilterOptions}
+				size="small"
+				variant="minimal"
+			/>
+		{/snippet}
+		{#snippet right()}
+			<Select bind:value={sortBy} options={sortOptions} size="small" variant="minimal" />
+		{/snippet}
+	</AdminFilters>
 
-		<!-- Projects List -->
-		{#if isLoading}
-			<div class="loading">
-				<div class="spinner"></div>
-				<p>Loading projects...</p>
-			</div>
-		{:else if filteredProjects.length === 0}
-			<div class="empty-state">
-				<p>
-					{#if selectedStatusFilter === 'all' && selectedTypeFilter === 'all'}
-						No projects found. Create your first project!
-					{:else}
-						No projects found matching the current filters. Try adjusting your filters or create a
-						new project.
-					{/if}
-				</p>
-			</div>
-		{:else}
-			<div class="projects-list">
-				{#each filteredProjects as project}
-					<ProjectListItem
-						{project}
-						onedit={handleEdit}
-						ontogglePublish={handleTogglePublish}
-						ondelete={handleDelete}
-					/>
-				{/each}
-			</div>
-		{/if}
+	{#if actionError}
+		<div class="error">{actionError}</div>
+	{/if}
+
+	{#if filteredProjects.length === 0}
+		<div class="empty-state">
+			<h3>No projects found</h3>
+			<p>
+				{#if selectedTypeFilter === 'all' && selectedStatusFilter === 'all'}
+					Create your first project to get started!
+				{:else}
+					No projects found matching the current filters. Try adjusting your filters or create a new
+					project.
+				{/if}
+			</p>
+		</div>
+	{:else}
+		<div class="projects-list">
+			{#each filteredProjects as project (project.id)}
+				<ProjectListItem
+					{project}
+					on:edit={handleEdit}
+					on:togglePublish={handleTogglePublish}
+					on:delete={handleDelete}
+				/>
+			{/each}
+		</div>
 	{/if}
 </AdminPage>
 
 <DeleteConfirmationModal
 	bind:isOpen={showDeleteModal}
-	title="Delete project?"
-	message={projectToDelete
-		? `Are you sure you want to delete "${projectToDelete.title}"? This action cannot be undone.`
-		: ''}
+	title="Delete Project?"
+	message="Are you sure you want to delete this project? This action cannot be undone."
+	confirmText="Delete Project"
 	onConfirm={confirmDelete}
 	onCancel={cancelDelete}
 />
 
+<form method="POST" action="?/toggle-status" class="hidden-form" bind:this={toggleForm}>
+	<input type="hidden" name="id" bind:this={toggleIdField} />
+	<input type="hidden" name="status" bind:this={toggleStatusField} />
+	<input type="hidden" name="updatedAt" bind:this={toggleUpdatedAtField} />
+</form>
+
+<form method="POST" action="?/delete" class="hidden-form" bind:this={deleteForm}>
+	<input type="hidden" name="id" bind:this={deleteIdField} />
+</form>
+
 <style lang="scss">
+	@import '$styles/variables.scss';
+
 	.error {
+		background: rgba(239, 68, 68, 0.1);
+		color: #dc2626;
+		padding: $unit-3x;
+		border-radius: $unit-2x;
+		border: 1px solid rgba(239, 68, 68, 0.2);
 		text-align: center;
-		padding: $unit-6x;
-		color: #d33;
-	}
-
-	.loading {
-		padding: $unit-8x;
-		text-align: center;
-		color: $gray-40;
-
-		.spinner {
-			width: 32px;
-			height: 32px;
-			border: 3px solid $gray-80;
-			border-top-color: $primary-color;
-			border-radius: 50%;
-			margin: 0 auto $unit-2x;
-			animation: spin 0.8s linear infinite;
-		}
-
-		p {
-			margin: 0;
-		}
-	}
-
-	@keyframes spin {
-		to {
-			transform: rotate(360deg);
-		}
+		margin-bottom: $unit-4x;
 	}
 
 	.empty-state {
-		padding: $unit-8x;
 		text-align: center;
+		padding: $unit-8x $unit-4x;
 		color: $gray-40;
 
+		h3 {
+			font-size: 1.25rem;
+			font-weight: 600;
+			margin: 0 0 $unit-2x;
+			color: $gray-20;
+		}
+
 		p {
 			margin: 0;
+			line-height: 1.5;
 		}
 	}
 
 	.projects-list {
 		display: flex;
 		flex-direction: column;
+		gap: $unit-2x;
+	}
+
+	.hidden-form {
+		display: none;
 	}
 </style>