Design Detailings: AELC's golf tourney Sept. 25 at Echo Falls

The fifth annual Architects & Engineers Legislative Council Golf Fundraiser will be held Friday, Oct. 24, at Echo Falls Country Club. Deadline for registration is Sept. 25.

Eight trade associations and professional societies comprise AELC, including the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington; AIA Washington; American Society of Civil Engineers; Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers; Structural Engineers Association of Washington; and Washington Society of Professional Engineers. AELC provides an organization for associations and/or organizations of architects and architectural firms, engineers and engineering firms in Washington to work on legislative objectives and issues for the improvement of business conditions.

The cost is $150 and includes golf, cart, lunch and prizes. Sponsors receive recognition on all tournament material, a sign on the course and a sponsor's gift. Sponsorship levels are: $100 for hole sponsor if foursome also golfing ($150 if not); $250 for long drive sponsor; $500 for closest to the pin sponsor; $500 for beverage cart sponsor; and $1,500 for tournament sponsor. Mail form and entry fee to AELC Golf Tournament, 700 112th Ave. N.E., No. 207, Bellevue, WA 98004. For information call (425) 453-6655.

ADA expert updates signage guidelines

Noted Americans with Disabilities Act expert Ken Ethridge will host a seminar from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 31. The event will be held at Henry Art Gallery Auditorium. Participants in the program will gain an understanding of the aims and structure of the ADA. They will also gain specific knowledge of the signage aspects covered by the ADA's Accessibility Guidelines.

Ethridge is vice-president, corporate communications for ASI Sign Systems, Dallas. He represents the Society for Environmental Graphic Design to the ANSI 117A Committee on site and facility accessibility. He was a co-author of the society's ADA white paper. He also represented the society as an advisor on signage to the Federal ADAAG Review Committee. More information about SEGD can be found at www.segd.org. AIA continuing education credits are available for this seminar. Cost for the event is $10 for society members and students, and $15 for non-members.

Design Detailings: A look into the art of a curator

Corrin

Lisa Corrin, SAM's deputy director of art, and Jon and Mary Shirley, curator of modern and contemporary art, will present a free lecture at SAM downtown at 7 p.m. Thursday. They will discuss the innovative thinking of several artists, curators and institutions who have made the museum the subject of their work.

Prior to her arrival at SAM in September 2001, Corrin was chief curator of London's Serpentine Gallery, one of Europe's premier venues for modern and contemporary art. Corrin has curated exhibitions of the work of distinguished figures such as Brice Marden, Bridget Riley and Felix Gonzalez-Torre. Corrin also served as chief curator and educator of The Contemporary Museum in Baltimore, which she developed with its founder George Ciscle in 1989.

Fromherz wins as Young Engineer

Transpo Group transportation engineer Kerensa Swanson Fromherz has been named by the Washington State Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers as this year's Outstanding Young Engineer for her hard work in the field.

Holly Parsons, one of Transpo’s principals, presented the award in her capacity as past president of the ITE Section. Parsons highlighted Fromherz's recent project accomplishments at Transpo, her service to ITE at the local and national levels and her leadership in the Women’s Transportation Seminar.

Fromherz has been an active member of the Women’s Transportation Seminar since 1997, and was awarded the Puget Sound Chapter’s Annual Achievement Award in 1999. She is currently serving her second term as chapter president. Her work as a traffic engineer at The Transpo Group includes traffic impact analysis; intersection control and operations analysis; channelization and traffic signal design; traffic calming; and multimodal and non-motorized system planning, analysis, and design. Kerensa has worked for a variety of both public and private clients.

Design Detailings: Harris on ENR's Top 25 list

Seattle-based consulting engineering firm Harris Group Inc. made Engineering News-Record's list of the Top 25 in Fossil Fuel for the first time, based on its 2001 revenues in the industry. With $14.4 million in revenue from its work on natural gas- and coal-fired power plants, Harris Group ranked 22nd in the U.S. according to ENR's The Top 500 Design Firm Sourcebook 2002.

Harris Group's Denver-based energy business unit provides engineering and design for new and existing power plants. Its financial consulting group provides due diligence and independent engineering for new and operating power plants around the world. Harris Group maintained its fifth ranking among design firms serving pulp and paper mills according to ENR. With $19.3 million in revenue from its forest industries customers, Harris Group was the only pure design firm -- no construction services -- listed in the top 10.

Harris Group was also ranked 23rd in industrial process and manufacturing, and fifth in pulp and paper mills by ENR. Company revenues in 2001 were $51.9 million.

Harris Group Inc. provides engineering and design to five market sectors: energy, ethanol and biomass, forest industries, industrial manufacturing and microelectronics.

Join in AIA's national conversation

The American Institute of Architects Southwest Washington Chapter is hosting a series of informal lunch discussions for architects. They are held on the second Friday of every month, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the meeting room of Johnny's Dock Restaurant, 1900 E. D St., Tacoma.

The next discussion will be Friday, and will include viewing and discussing two video presentations. The first is a half-hour video Jim Merritt brought back from the AIA National Convention, "AIA: A National Conversation." It covers contemporary issues and changes faced by the architectural profession that were identified in the latest national AIA firm survey.

There will also be a five-minute video introducing events of the 2002 AIA Northwest & Pacific Regional Conference, "A02 Urban Adventure: Remaking a City," which the AIA/SWW Chapter is hosting Aug. 7-11 in Tacoma. The conference offers numerous educational and social events, with architects from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and Hong Kong in attendance. For more information visit the Web site at aiasww.org.

Non-AIA members are encouraged to attend. For information contact Karin Poppy McCarthy at the AIA/SWW chapter office: (253) 627-4006, karin@aiasww.org.

King County seeks artists

The King County Public Art Program has released three calls for artists. Full application information is available on this Web site link www.metrokc.gov/exec/culture/callsforartists.

General Portable Works: deadline July 15. Open to artists living in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. Existing artworks will be purchased for the King County Collection. Total purchase budget is $50,000.

King County International Airport Portable Works: deadline Sept. 5. Open to artists residing in Washington state. Existing artworks will be purchased for the King County International Airport. Total purchase budget is $34,000.

Poetry on Buses 2002: Sept. 30. Open to residents from King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Enter poems to be considered for publishing on the interiors of King County Metro Buses. Selected poets' fee: $125.

Design Detailings: Miller/Hull displays new library design

Miller/Hull's North East Library is on display July 10.

The public is invited to see the design for the 8,000-square-foot expansion of the North East Library from 4 to 7 p.m. July 10, at the North East Library, 6801 35th Ave. N.E. Architects from The Miller/Hull Partnership will be present to explain the design and answer questions.

The $4.6 million project will feature an updated collection of books and materials, more seating, new computer work stations and instructional areas, a meeting room, better lighting, upgraded technology services and equipment, new carpeting, better seismic safety, more parking and energy-efficient windows. The library, which opened in 1954, will expand to 15,000 square feet.

Elliott Bay's Complita receives license

Elliott Bay Design Group announced staff naval architect Michael J. Complita passed his professional engineer's examination and will receive his engineer's license in naval architecture and marine engineering from the state. Projects which Complita has been involved with include design and construction supervision of the 63-foot passenger/vehicle ferry, Daniel Matheny V, for the Oregon Department of Transportation, design of three cable ferries for the state of Montana, and various design support projects for Coastwise Engineering.

Parametrix makes Washington CEO list

Sumner-based Parametrix was listed as one of the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For in the June edition of Washington CEO Magazine. The list includes 100 top-ranked companies in Washington State who are leading the way in the areas of leadership, communication, hiring, training, rewards and recognition, responsibilities, standards, benefits and work environment. Parametrix scored in the top 5 percent in the medium-sized company category.

The themes apparent across each of the winning companies were trust, a sense of family, participative culture, open honest communication, mutual respect between management and employees, and commitment to workers.

Founded in 1969, Parametrix is a 100 percent employee-owned engineering, environmental sciences, and architectural company. The firm’s 390 employees are located in eight offices in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Harris on ENR's Top 25 list

Seattle-based consulting engineering firm Harris Group Inc. made Engineering News-Record's list of the Top 25 in Fossil Fuel for the first time, based on its 2001 revenues in the industry. With $14.4 million in revenue from its work on natural gas- and coal-fired power plants, Harris Group ranked 22nd in the U.S. according to ENR's The Top 500 Design Firm Sourcebook 2002.

Harris Group's Denver-based energy business unit provides engineering and design for new and existing power plants. Its financial consulting group provides due diligence and independent engineering for new and operating power plants around the world. Harris Group maintained its fifth ranking among design firms serving pulp and paper mills according to ENR. With $19.3 million in revenue from its forest industries customers, Harris Group was the only pure design firm -- no construction services -- listed in the top 10.

Harris Group was also ranked 23rd in industrial process and manufacturing, and fifth in pulp and paper mills by ENR. Company revenues in 2001 were $51.9 million.

Harris Group Inc. provides engineering and design to five market sectors: energy, ethanol and biomass, forest industries, industrial manufacturing and microelectronics.

Design Detailings: Landmarks board seeks A/E members

The city of Seattle is looking for applicants to serve on the Landmarks Preservation Board in the following positions: architect, historian, real estate, structural engineer and at-large.

The 11-member Landmarks Preservation Board makes recommendations to the City Council for landmark designation and reviews all proposed physical alterations to designated features of landmark properties.

The board is composed of two architects, two historians, one structural engineer, one representative each from the fields of real estate and finance, one member from the City Planning Commission, and three members at-large. All appointments are made by the mayor, subject to city council confirmation.

Board meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 3:30 p.m. The architect members also serve on the Board’s Architectural Review Committee. Board members generally must commit approximately 10 hours per month to board business.

Interested applicants must be Seattle residents. Board members serve without compensation. Those interested in being considered should send a letter of interest and resume by July 8 to Alex Field, Mayor's Office, 600 Fourth Ave., Seattle 98104-1873.

Engineers institute honors Ahmed

Mujib Ahmed, managing principal of Parametrix, received the 2002 Outstanding Service Award from the Washington state section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Ahmed has been a member of ITE since 1981 and served on various committees and in section officer positions including president in 1989/90. During his tenure, the ITE section grew as new members joined and popular technical programs were introduced.

Ahmed is responsible for Parametrix operations in Boise and business development in the Pacific Northwest.

How to win state GA contracts

Find out what it takes to win contracts with the Division of Engineering and Architectural Services of the Washington State Department of General Administration. The July program and luncheon meeting of Marketing Associates of Spokane will include a presentation by John Lynch, assistant director for E&A Services.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, July 11, at noon at the Kress Gallery on the third level of River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave., Spokane. The cost is $15 for MAS members and $25 for non-members. Reservation deadline is July 8. For membership information or to make a reservation, contact MAS President Richard Myracle at (509) 459-9220 or see the MAS Web site at http://www.maspokane.org.

Delridge Library opens Saturday

Stickney Murphy Romine Architects' new $3 million Delridge Library, at 5423 Delridge Way S.W., opens its doors at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 29.

The 5,600-square-foot library anchors the first floor of a three-story building. Walsh Construction Co. was the contractor. This mixed-use project was developed in conjunction with the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. Nineteen apartments are located above the library.

The library features a collection of 20,000 books and materials, reading and study areas, modern technology services and equipment, special areas for children and young adults, a meeting room and computer work stations.

CPL seeks bookshelf designers

Coughlin Porter Lundeen invites architects and designers to rise to a creative challenge -- designing bookshelves -- to help this year’s Page Ahead book drive. Page Ahead is a statewide children’s literacy non-profit based in Seattle. Founded as Books for Kids in 1990, Page Ahead helps at-risk children reach their full potential by providing them with the inspiration to read. To achieve this, Page Ahead provides new books to at-risk children to choose; encourages parents, caregivers, and community volunteers to read with children; helps schools & social service agencies to run successful literacy programs; and holds reading motivation events to inspire children's love of reading. Since 1990, Page Ahead has placed 725,000 new books into the hands of 265,000 at risk children in Washington State who would otherwise have no books at home.

The project is to create a series of unique bookshelves to display books from book drives and raise funds through their sale to support Page Ahead. The bookshelves will be placed in selected Starbucks stores, then auctioned to buy more books. Bookcases will be featured on Amazon.com Auctions.

The bookshelves should be durable and contain no toxic materials. There is no restriction on theme although designers are encouraged to think of ideas that might inspire children to explore, discover and read. There is no cost associated with entry other than time and materials to complete the design. Final designs must be ready for transportation Aug. 28. On Sept. 1-30, the bookcases on display in major Starbucks stores in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. For information, contact Jill Jago at Coughlin Porter Lundeen, (206) 343-0460.

Design Detailings: Architects craft artistic reflections

At this year’s Poncho Gala Auction, a group of Northwest architects participated in the first Poncho Invitational Architects' Hall of Mirrors. More than a dozen architecture firms designed and produced unique wall mirrors sold at the 40th Anniversary Poncho Gala Auction on May 11.

"The complexity, thought and artistic flare represented in these 16 mirrors created a strong visual addition to this year’s gala auction," said Carol Evans Munro, Poncho executive director. Poncho trustee Mark Woerman, principal at the Bellevue-based architecture, urban and interior design firm CollinsWoerman, spearheaded this year’s project.

The values of the mirrors ranged from $500 to $2,500.

The following local architects donated their time and resources: Arai/Jackson Architects; Bumgardner; CollinsWoerman; William J. Chester, architect; ENM Architecture; Freiheit & Ho Architects; Fuller/Sears Architects; HOK/Burgess; Huntley Architects; LMN Architects; MulvannyG2 Architecture; Northwest Architectural Co.; Studio Meng Strazzara Architects; TCA Architecture-Planning.

The call for designers for next year's Poncho Invitational Architects' Project is underway. For more information, contact the Poncho office at (206) 623-6233.

Designing against terrorism

The June American Society of Engineering Management meeting tonight will address the topic, "Facility and Design Elements for Anti-Terrorism and Personnel." Bob Galteland of Reid Middleton will address factors that engineers must start to take into consideration on future projects.

The meeting will be held 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Rock Salt Steak House at Latitude 47, 1232 Westlake Ave. N. Cost is $30. Call Shannon & Wilson at (206) 695-6670.

This is the last meeting for the season. The ASEM is seeking new members for the board of directors. For more information, contact Mohammed Kashani at m.kashani@co.snohomish.wa.us.

CityDesign hones open space plan

CityDesign hosts a presentation and discussion 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on the Center City Open Space Strategy, released in first draft form last year. Since its release, CityDesign has received comments and recommendations for carrying the project forward, and has been revising the content and the format of the document. CityDesign has also drafted recommendations for the 10-year implementation strategy.

The event will be held at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya Hall.

New exam targets architectural engineers

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying has approved a long-awaited exam that could elevate the profession of architectural engineering.

The Architectural Engineering Professional Engineers Exam is the first that covers the key areas of engineering education that an architectural engineering graduate receives at the undergraduate level.

The exam, developed by the Architectural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, will be available to state licensure boards as part of the package of exams offered by the national council for April 2003.

Traditionally, architectural engineers have taken the principals and practice exams of other disciplines such as civil, electrical and mechanical. However, these exams cover topics that are not part of the architectural engineering undergraduate curriculum and are not used by architectural engineers in professional practice.

The exam was developed by the Architectural Engineering Institute under the guidance of the Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. It has been in development for 10 years and will cover the analysis and design of structural, electrical and mechanical systems for commercial, industrial and institutional facilities as well as construction management. For more information, contact Patricia Brown at (202) 785-6420.

ASCE honors Reid Middleton, CH2M Hill

The Seattle Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers last week announced its 2001 Outstanding Project Award winners. In the structural category, Reid Middleton won an Honor Award for the DCLU Emergency Services, post-Nisqually earthquake, and Grays Harbor County Courthouse seismic retrofit.

The Outstanding Project Award went to CH2M Hill for the West Gayler Street Flyover Ramp. The Honor Award in the Small Projects category went to Oyster Creek Inn, by Shannon & Wilson. The Outstanding Project Award went to Reid Middleton's Tester Road Roundabout.

Old building new home for Thomas Hacker

The Portland architectural firm Thomas Hacker Architects recently relocated its design studio to the newly renovated Balfour-Guthrie Building at 733 S.W. Oak St. The building was purchased jointly by Thomas Hacker Architects and Gray Purcell Inc., general contractor, of Tigard, Ore.

The intent of the renovation was to restore as much of the original character of the exterior as feasible and use the street and lower levels to create a studio-based architectural office.

Designed by architect Morris Whitehouse, the Balfour-Guthrie Building was built in 1913, during a period of expansion in Portland from 1900 to World War I. During his 36-year Portland practice, Whitehouse was the principal designer or a significant collaborator for a number of Oregon's public buildings, country clubs and private residences.

Thomas Hacker Architects provided architectural design services for the renovation, with structural engineering support from Associated Consultants Inc., of Portland.

Design Detailings: Kirkland's innovative housing forum

Photo courtesy of Ross Chapin Architect The Third Street Cottages in Langley, Whidbey Island.

A presentation and discussion about innovative housing styles will be held Monday at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Kirkland City Hall, 123 Fifth Ave. The event is sponsored by the city of Kirkland as part of the Community Lecture Series and as the kick-off event for an innovative housing program.

Housing styles the city will be considering for single-family neighborhoods include cottages, compact single-family homes on smaller lots, and duplexes and triplexes designed to look like single family homes.

Featured speakers will be Jim Soules, cottage housing developer, and Art Sullivan, ARCH (A Regional Coalition Housing) program manager. They will discuss how single-family homes, accessory dwelling units, cottages and duplexes can all fit in one neighborhood. For more information, call Dawn Nelson at (425) 828-1131.

SMPS hosts Markee Awards June 19

The Seattle Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professionals will honor local marketers at its annual Markee Awards ceremony at 5 p.m. June 19.

The event, which will award marketers in the categories of Marketer of the Year, Corporate Marketing Achievement, Marketing Communications Achievement, Special Event Achievement and Client of the Year, will be held at the Big Picture, 2505 First Ave. SMPS will also pay tribute to the inspirations and success of four marketers and the unique vision and communication of one notable client.

The cost is $50 for SMPS members, $65 for non-members. The event includes appetizers, dessert, drinks and music. To register, contact Grace Vigil at Reid Middleton, (425) 741-3800 or visit http://www.smpsseattle.org.

Four firms vie for Southwest Library

An architect selection advisory panel has recommended Carlson Architects, Koppe/Wagoner Architects, Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects and The Portico Group be considered for the job of designing the 7,400-square-foot expansion to the Southwest Library.

Panel members evaluated 14 firms before selecting the Seattle-based finalists to interview and introduce to the public. A total of 17 firms applied for the job.

A public reception for the finalists is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 9, at the Southwest Library, 9010 35th Ave. S.W. The architects will display examples of their work and be available to answer questions. For more information, contact Justine Kim, Library project manager, at (206) 615-1329 or justine.kim@spl.org.

The $4.4 million expansion project will feature an updated collection of 66,700 books and materials, new seats and shelves, improved program, service and work areas, new computer work stations and study areas, a meeting room, upgraded technology services and equipment, more electrical, communications and computer connections, better lighting, a modern mechanical system, improved seismic safety, and more accessible and safer parking.

The project is expected to be completed in 2004. The current 7,500-square-foot library was built in 1961.

The panel will interview each firm. The Seattle Public Library board of trustees is expected to hear comments from the advisory panel and select an architect at its meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, at the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, 2021 Ninth Ave.

Xorel recognized for what it's not

The Washington chapter of the International Interior Design Association and Environdesign6 recently paired green product manufacturers with Northwest designers for the 2002 Greenworld Product Exhibit competition.

As a part of Greenworld, an educational forum on sustainable design, the competition charges manufacturer/designer teams to come up with building exhibits that best illustrate the manufacturer’s "green story" and engage people to learn more about the environmental benefits of the product. Out of more than 30 entries, judges selected first, second and third place winners.

Dupont Flooring Systems and NBBJ received first place honors. Second place was awarded to Carnegie/Xorel and DLR Group. Third place went to DesignTex and Gensler.

Xorel is an environmentally sound alternative to textiles for walls, upholstery and panels. Xorel was developed by Carnegie Fabrics in 1981, and has since been recognized as one of the leading textile advances of the last two decades.

"We began brainstorming about what makes Xorel fabrics especially green," said Dave Walsh, LEED certified architect at DLR Group who paired with Carnegie/Xorel for the competition. "Production of Xorel uses very little water or energy, and no hazardous materials. It produces no VOCs. It’s chlorine free and plasticizer free. We discovered that what makes a green product is what it’s not. What we chose to single out about it, for the purposes of a display design, was its versatility."

The Carnegie/Xorel exhibit was a sculptural narrative of Xorel's best qualities. A sphere of the material rests on a cylindrical wood-frame base. The exhibit is lit from within by low-power-consumption LED lights in the sphere, and compact fluorescents in the base.

"In all," said Walsh, "the illumination consumed less power than an average light bulb." A first-person graphic narrative, told from Xorel’s point of view, ripples across the top of the cylinder from under the sphere, while the LED lights shift through the hues of the rainbow.

"The design became an organic representation of the product," said DLR Group designer Stephanie Deshaies. "It’s recyclable, it breathes, it’s friendly to fish. I think the organic play of forms and light evoked Xorel’s invisible qualities."

Other displays ranged from graphic display panels to interactive, walk-through exhibits.

Design Detailings: Murphy honored for preservation

King County Executive Ron Sims recently honored Ron Murphy, a Seattle architect who has made a 30-year contribution to historic preservation in this region. He received a Certificate of Distinction for outstanding preservation work.

Murphy, who is a partner in the firm of Stickney Murphy Romine Architects, was recognized for 30 years of professional and volunteer commitment to historic preservation. One of his first projects was the Pioneer Building on Yesler Street in Pioneer Square, which became a catalyst for preservation efforts throughout the area. He is also considered an expert in creating affordable housing in historic buildings.

As a volunteer, Murphy has served on national, state, local organizations and boards to promote preservation. He also taught at the University of Washington for many years -- helping to educate a new generation of architects and historic preservationists.

The Spellman Award for Exemplary Achievement went to Dale and Susan Sherman, who restored the historic McGrath Hotel in North Bend. Not long ago, the building was so deteriorated that it was considered an eyesore by many, and hardly anything remained of the once-elegant lobby. "Within 16 months of purchasing the run-down 1922 hotel, the Shermans returned the McGrath to its former glory," said Sims.

ASCE hosts engineering winners

The Seattle Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers invites all ASCE members and interested civil engineers to the section meeting held Wednesday, June 12, at the Ballard Yankee Grill, 5300 24th Ave. N.W. The technical program will feature the 2001 Outstanding Project Awards Ceremony, recognizing 10 projects in the structural engineering and small projects categories. Awards will be given to the top project in each category. The competing projects are:

Structural Engineering: Grays Harbor County Courthouse Seismic Retrofit by Reid Middleton; DCLU Emergency Services, post-Nisqually earthquake by Reid Middleton; West Galer Street Flyover by CH2M Hill; Fatigue Technologies New Manufacturing Facility and Corporate Offices -- DCI Engineers.

Small Projects: Rehabilitation of West Wall Bulkhead by PanGEO, Inc. & Port of Seattle; Tester Road roundabout by Reid Middleton; Oyster Creek Inn -- Shannon & Wilson, Inc.; vertical movement detector system by Shannon & Wilson. Inc.; Willapa Bay Fish Ladders by Golder Associates; and Union Slough Mitigation Bank by Reid Middleton.

Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:30. Cost is $21. The reservation line is (206) 926-0482.

Degenkolb's 5 years in the NW

Degenkolb Engineers is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its first Northwest office in Portland. The Bay Area-based structural engineering firm expanded to the Northwest to continue its growing practice with Hewlett-Packard and Kaiser Permanente.

In five years, the office has grown to 20 employees in several market sectors. Chris Thompson leads the office’s health care, higher education and local government markets. Dave Roggenkamp leads commercial office buildings, residential, retail and construction means and methods. Stacy Bartoletti, now heading Degenkolb’s Seattle office, leads the microelectronics and federal government markets.

The Portland office offers services including structural design of new buildings, seismic evaluation and retrofit of existing buildings. Degenkolb’s client base includes architects, building owners, institutions, contractors and large corporations. Seismic upgrade work includes 29 Portland fire stations, 12 branch libraries for Multnomah County, four buildings at Oregon Health & Science University and seven buildings at Hewlett-Packard’s Corvallis and Vancouver campuses.

Sharpening your client focus

The Marketing Associates of Spokane, an educational and networking association of the area's professional marketers, sponsors a luncheon Thursday, June 13.

The luncheon will address questions such as are you winning jobs rather than clients, do you have the skills to profitably connect your corporate culture with your customers' culture and how effectively do you relate to clients and peers? Randy Tuminello of TrustBuilders International will speak.

The meeting will take place noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Kress Gallery on the third level of River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave. in Spokane. Cost is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. For information, contact Richard Myracle at (509) 459-9220. Deadline is June 6.

Design Detailings: Mahlum hosts art show June 6

John Stamets John Stamets' photos of the Suzzalo Library, including this silver gelatin print, will be on display at Mahlum.

Celebrating its third year in Pioneer Square, Mahlum Architects will host a multi-disciplinary arts show, Genius Loci, in its offices at 71 Columbia St. from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 6.

The show includes photographs by John Stamets and Eduardo Calderon, paintings by Andrew Keating and Lanny DeVuonoi and sculptures by Michael Dennis. The show will also include a video and sound installation by Ford Gilbreath.

Stamets specializes in photographing buildings under construction. Several of his photos will be of the renovation of Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington, a Mahlum project. Keating's paintings are based on imaginary architecture, with strong ties to childhood play. Calderon's photos were taken on the streets of Prague, Havana, New York City, Seattle and Peru.

Swenson Say wins image award

Swenson Say Faget, a Seattle-based structural engineering firm, has received an Award of Excellence from American Corporate Identity for its corporate image design. The firm's new logo was designed by Gage Design of Seattle.

American Corporate Identity is the only annual national competition devoted specifically to corporate identity. Winners in previous competitions have included large and small companies -- ranging from work for such giants as AT&T and FedEx to small businesses that are literally "cottage" operations. The American Corporate Identity annual is distributed to more than 60 countries around the world.

Whitney curator speaks Thursday

Lawrence Rinder, curator of Contemporary Art at the Whitney Museum of American Art, will be 2002 School of Art Capstone Speaker Thursday at 7 p.m.

Rinder is the chief curator of the 2002 Whitney Biennial, which featured upcoming artists from across the U.S. Prior to finding a home at the Whitney, Rinder directed the California College of Arts and Crafts Center for Exhibitions and Public Programming, served as Matrix Curator at the University Art Museum at U.C. Berkeley, and held curatorial positions at the Walker Art Center and the Museum of Modern Art.

The event is sponsored by the U.W. School of Art, the Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media, the Henry Art Gallery, and the Walter Chapin Simpson Center for the Humanities. For information, call (206) 543-6450 or e-mail access@u.washington.edu.

Bend project goes to Pinnacle

Pinnacle Architecture of Bend has been selected by the Central Oregon Regional Housing Authority to design a 14,400-square-foot transitional housing facility on the new Healing Health Campus in Bend.

The campus is designed to serve persons with mental illnesses. The transitional housing will fill a gap in the continuum of care for residents as they move to independent living.

The facility, known as the Horizon House, will offer 14, one-bedroom units designed for single adults with special needs, and a two-bedroom manager’s unit. Pinnacle Architecture has designed three community rooms to provide different levels of social interaction and skills training in an effort to help achieve self-sufficiency and to help residents move to permanent housing options.

ACSE backs early access bill

The American Society of Civil Engineers commended members of Congress in a recent hearing for introducing legislation that would minimize obstacles encountered during building performance studies, including the World Trade Center complex and the Murrah Building bombing.

The National Construction Safety Team Act, introduced May 9 in the House by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and in the Senate by senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY), would improve the protocol for forming and operating teams to assess how buildings failed during a natural disaster or terrorist event. If enacted, the legislation would give future teams early site access, subpoena power and guaranteed funds up to $25 million per year over a three-year period.

"Building performance studies have had a long history of uncovering new information that has often led to the design and construction of safer buildings, however, the process has long been misunderstood by those outside of the engineering community, making it a challenge for the team to effectively conduct its work," said W. Gene Corley technical lead of the ASCE/FEMA World Trade Center Building Performance Study Team.

Data collection has also proven to be a challenge, especially during the study at the World Trade Center complex. While the team was able to retrieve enough data to complete its study, the lack of authority precluded it from immediate access to information. ASCE officials said resources are always an issue with building performance studies, particularly for one whose magnitude and scale is unprecedented.

The total amount of resources dedicated to support the World Trade Center building performance team’s activities was approximately $1 million, including volunteer time towards the research and draft of the final report, according to the ASCE.

The funds allowed the team to do the initial reconnaissance of the site and building materials, begin to set hypotheses and conduct limited testing.

However, experienced team members said $40 million would be needed to fully fund a comprehensive study of the World Trade Center tragedy.

Virtual Architect has online service

VirtualArchitect.com, an Internet-based architectural firm specializing in custom, online residential design services for homeowners, recently announced the unveiling of their newest service, Get-A-Sketch, which is the company's exclusive interactive feature to help homeowners plan and design their remodel, addition, or new house project.

"Every great design starts as a series of sketches," said Virtual Architect's president Bryan Welty. "Our Get-A-Sketch service has the potential to improve the quality of residential design by giving homeowners convenient access to the professional expertise of architects."

To use the Get-A-Sketch service, the client simply provides digital photos, written questions and a design program for their project. The staff at Virtual Architect then creates a design solution through a series of sketches, which integrate the ideas of the client with the skill of the architect. The sketches are e-mailed to the client, along with a written explanation and a cost estimate for construction.

The Get-A-Sketch service has allowed clients to visualize their project on paper, obtain cost estimates and use the sketches as a basis for construction drawings.

VirtualArchitect.com, which is affiliated with a traditional, brick-and-mortar firm in Dallas, provides a variety of other online services to meet the needs of any homeowner. In addition to the Get-A-Sketch service, other design services include permit-ready remodeling and addition plans custom-designed for the client's home, as well as custom house plans. Virtual Architect also provides free design advice through their Ask-the-Architect section.

Design Detailings: CoCA looking for designs that 'blur'

"Blurred," the first group show of architectural installations at the Center on Contemporary Art, will explore the breath and depth of architectural possibility, expanding the traditional definition of architecture in the Northwest. The exhibit will ask the question, how are boundaries being blurred?

For the exhibit, CoCA is seeking formally trained architects that use architectural methodologies and ideas to create works in a wide range of media. Participants should use this opportunity to share the new CoCA space and install ideas that engage architectural issues, expressed in ways outside of what is typically understood as architecture.

This includes sculptor-architects that focus on materials and space, digital-architects that work on virtual environments, architect-builders who explore construction techniques, filmmakers or photographers who explore architectural spaces or the art of making that challenges our imagination.

CoCA is looking for submittals that will confront the question of what is architecture and address how the work blurs architecture's boundaries. CoCA is looking for four images of relevant, completed work.

Submittals are due by June 10. Installation will take place from July 15 to July 29, and the public opening is on Aug. 3. For information, call (206) 728-1980. CoCA's Web site is cocaseattle.org. E-mail questions to blurred@cocaseattle.org.

A/E group backs Referendum 51

A coalition of Washington architects and engineers will pledge support Thursday for Referendum 51 at a meeting with Gov. Gary Locke. Craig Curtis, chair of the Architects & Engineers Legislative Council, will join colleagues from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington and AIA Washington Council in voicing support for the referendum, which would bring $7.7 billion in road transit improvements.

AIA Seattle President Steven N. Arai will offer the architects' perspective on transportation issues, representing a significant number of design practices throughout Washington actively engaged in planning and designing transportation-related infrastructure and facilities.

The bill addresses financing transportation improvements through transportation fees and taxes. The bill would increase highway capacity, public transportation, passenger and freight rail and transportation financing accountability through increased fuel excise taxes, sales taxes on vehicles, and weight fees on trucks and large vehicles.

Design Detailings: Challenges in courthouse design

Design of the Federal Courthouse included dialogue with judges.

Dorm Anderson of NBBJ will speak about the new U.S. Courthouse at noon Thursday in Room 100 of Gould Hall at the University of Washington. The speech is titled the "New United States Courthouse in Seattle: The Mystery and Pleasures of Designing a Large Federal Project with the United States General Services Administration."

The presentation will cover the critical space needs of the federal court system, siting the building, and the resulting design, which is presently under construction. The process included a dialogue about design with federal judges and judicial departments that will share the building.

The Seattle courthouse will include several breakthrough concepts in the design of federal courthouses, made possible by communication between future tenants and the design team. For directions, go to www.washington.edu/home/maps/northwest.html.

Revisiting Rem, via the Internet

Did you miss Rem Koolhaas' April 11 lecture at University of Washington or get there too late? Courtesy of UW's College of Architecture and Urban Planning, the Koolhaas presentation is available for viewing online at www.caup.washington.edu/praxis/spring.php. Click on the "More" button for the lecture. On the detail page, you'll find links to the video streams, one optimized for broadband, one for 56k modems.

Forum for project management success

"Budget Controls Methods for Project Success" will be the topic of an all-day seminar Tuesday at the Mountaineers Building. The event is sponsored by the College of Architecture and Urban Planning Continuing Professional Education Program at University of Washington, and appropriate for project managers at all levels.

The seminar will take participants through aspects of a project and offer opportunities for improving performance. The process begins with establishing a relationship at negotiation and continues through completion and beyond. Participants will have opportunities to test theories using practical examples. The goal is to give participants practical tools to use on their projects.

Engineer Steve Isaacs will lead the seminar. He has been an officer in the Professional Services Management Association and a speaker at many industry conferences, including the AIA national convention. Cost is $300. The Mountaineers Building is at 300 Third Ave. W. For information, contact Lyn Firkins at (206) 685-8222.

ASCE members share talents

On April 27, a 40-volunteer group from the American Society of Civil Engineers rehabilitated House No. 33 in the Rainier Valley under the leadership of Rebuilding Together house captain Ann Epler of Hammond Collier Wade Livingstone and volunteer coordinator Mary Holland of RoseWater Engineering.

More than 200,000 volunteers performed home repair projects on 8,000 houses nationwide in connection with Rebuilding Together USA, a national non-profit organization specializing in rebuilding homes for low income or physically disabled homeowners.

Landscaping, installing motion detector lights, reconstructing the porch, installing new outlets, adding a stackable washer/dryer unit and rearranging the kitchen to improve access were among 27 tasks performed by the volunteers from various civil engineering disciplines. House 33 was one of approximately 50 Seattle area houses rehabilitated that day.

Epler said the project provided an outlet for civil engineers to share their talents with the community, and a chance to work with others in the profession.

Environmental engineering forum May 22

On May 22, the Management in Engineering Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Seattle State Section of the American Society for Engineering Management presents the second annual forum on designing for the future: Engineering for the Environment.

The forum will cover topics such as how environmental issues are expanding business opportunities, cutting-edge technologies and business models that are driving growth in engineering for the environment, and what organizations are undertaking design for the future.

A multidisciplinary panel of green design experts will talk about how sustainability is being integrated into engineering design. Leaders will discuss finance, management, policy, engineering and land use planning required to manage environmental change and position their organizations for expanding business opportunities.

Panelists Marina Alberti, University of Washington Urban Design & Environmental Planning associate professor, will speak on the impact of alternative urban development patterns on ecosystems. Engineer Mark Buehrer will speak on wholistic engineering. Steve Dubiel of EarthCorps in Seattle will speak on green design community-based environmental restoration. Timothy Lowry, ASCE Management in Engineering chair, will facilitate.

The forum will be held at the Rock Salt Steak House, 1232 Westlake Ave. N. Cost is $40 prepaid, with reservation postmarked by Friday, May 10, or $50 thereafter. Price includes dinner and refreshments. Contact Lori Doherty, Shannon & Wilson, Box 300303, Seattle 98103. For more information about the forum, call Mohammed Kashani at (425) 388-6493.