ALSC expands Tri-Cities office

ALSC Architects has relocated its Tri-Cities office to a larger space to accommodate more workers. The new office is located at 8131 W. Grandridge Blvd., Suite 101, in Kennewick.

ALSC is working on regional projects including the city of Kennewick Shops, Kennewick City Hall, Bagley Dental Clinic, Bank Reale and Kiona-Benton City High School.

ALSC also provides master planning, programming, interior design, cost estimating, project management and construction management services.

Kundig is on AIA awards jury

Tom Kundig of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects is serving as a juror for the 2007 National American Institute of Architects Honor Awards for Architecture.

The awards will be given out next year at the national AIA convention in San Antonio.

Kundig was awarded two national AIA Honor Awards in 2004. This fall, he is a visiting design critic at Syracuse University.

Candela’s Frazier on SAF board

Mary Claire Frazier of Candela was recently appointed to the board of directors of the Seattle Architecture Foundation.

Frazier has degrees in architecture and psychology, and more than 20 years of experience as a lighting consultant, designer and instructor. Since joining Candela in 1996, she has worked on projects including the Ballard Library and Neighborhood Service Center and Experience Music Project, and was the recipient of the international 2004 Paul Waterbury Award for exterior lighting of the Museum of Glass and Contemporary Art in Tacoma.

Interface opens 2nd California office

Interface Engineering has opened its second California office. The San Francisco office is led by principals Hormoz Janssens and Joel Cruz. Both have practiced mechanical and electrical engineering in California.

Interface also has offices in Kirkland, Portland and Sacramento.

The office offers mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services, and is designing for higher education and health care clients as well as a mixed-use high rise in the Bay Area. The firm is doing 26 LEED registered projects and has completed 11 LEED certified projects.

One example of such projects is the Oregon Health and Science University Center for Health and Healing in Portland. The 400,000-square-foot building, which is expected to achieve LEED platinum certification, will be the largest LEED platinum building in the United States.

Design Detailings: Exterior Research now Trinity | ERD

Exterior Research and Design has changed its name to Trinity | ERD. The firm also has a new logo and Web site.

The name change coincides with Trinity | ERD's 20th anniversary. The Seattle firm began in 1986 as Trinity Engineering, then changed to Exterior Research and Design. It specializes in building protection and restoration.

Trinity | ERD will post a monthly e-newsletter with articles about buildings on its Web site: http://www.trinityerd.com.

Interior design awards Oct. 24

The Northern Pacific Chapter of International Interior Design Association will host the fourth annual INawards celebration from 5 p.m. to midnight Oct. 24. The awards will be at The Premier, 1700 First Ave. S.

INawards recognizes excellence in the field of interior design. The awards will be moderated by Cindy Allen, editor in chief of Interior Design Magazine.

The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13. The award categories are Design in Mass, Design in Home, Design in Health Care, Design in Hospitality and Design in Concept.

For more information, call IIDA at (206) 762-6471, e-mail info@IIDA-NorthernPacific.org or go to http://www.iida-northernpacific.org.

Bjarke Ingels to speak here Oct. 16

Space.City, Seattle's Art and Architecture Forum, will present a lecture by the Copenhagen-based architect Bjarke Ingels at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, in Seattle Central Library Microsoft Auditorium.

Ingels co-founded PLOT Architects in 2001, and started his own office this year called BIG/ Bjarke Ingels Group. BIG's goal is to balance a project's programmatic needs by considering its social, economical and ecological outcome.

Tickets are $12 in advance at Peter Miller Books at 1930 First Ave., or brownpapertickets.com. Remaining tickets will be $15 at the door.

Freiheit renovates Evergreen Plaza

Freiheit and Ho Architects has designed two renovations at Evergreen Plaza in Bellevue. The buildings are at 10940 and 11000 N.E. 33rd Place. Legacy Partners is the owner and developer.

The work will be in common areas, including restrooms, corridors and elevator cabs of Evergreen I, a 3,000-square-foot, two-story building, and Evergreen II, a 4,200-square-foot, three-story building.

Freiheit and Ho Architects included new travertine flooring, glass feature walls and accent lighting in both lobbies. Evergreen II is the focal point of the renovation. The storefront will be relocated, adding 180 square feet to the lobby.

The structural engineer is Richard Hudson & Associates Inc., and Chin Construction is the general contractor.

Design Detailings: AIA: markets look good for 2007

The Architecture Billings Index jumped in August to its highest mark since July 2005, according to the American Institute of Architects.

Demand for commercial/industrial projects led the way for increased billings, and architecture firms on the East and West coasts reported a significant upturn in business. The figures are encouraging for the overall economy because they suggest a strong outlook in the commercial construction market well into 2007, according to AIA.

The billings index is taken from a monthly work-on-the-boards survey and produced by the AIA Economics & Market Research Group.

Companies flock to WSU career day

A record number of companies will be recruiting at Washington State University's College of Engineering and Architecture Technical Career Fair, according to WSU. The fair will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Engineering Teaching and Research Laboratory.

The fair will have representatives from Avista Corp., CH2M Hill and Kenworth Truck Co.

“More than ever, these employers are looking for highly qualified engineers to solve critical 21st century problems in areas like energy, human health, computer and infrastructure security and the environment,'' said Bob Olsen, associate dean for undergraduate and student services for the College of Engineering and Architecture.

Jim Duncan speaks on brand power

Sparling Chairman and CEO Jim Duncan will speak on “Brand Power: Catalyst for Strategic Growth” at the Zweig Letter Hot Firm Conference in San Francisco Oct. 25 to Oct. 27.

Duncan will talk about how to create a brand and communicate it to clients.

Sparling's technology group recently won a job to develop communications infrastructure standards and a general assessment report of communications infrastructure at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute in Bermuda.

In addition, Sparling will complete technology consulting for a 670,000-square-foot replacement hospital at University Medical Center at Princeton including voice, data, nurse call, communication infrastructure and wireless design.

Design Detailings: How well are we teaching sustainability?

To highlight sustainability in architecture education, the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment has issued a study, “Design & Ecology: Ecological Literacy in Architecture Education.”

The study has definitions of sustainability and profiles of architecture coursework where ecological literacy has had an impact. It also includes surveys of U.S. architecture school Web sites and course offerings.

“The goal of this report is to help architecture curriculum evolve to the point where all design teachings are sustainable in nature,” said the study's co-author Kira Gould.

To see the executive summary and the full report go to http://www.aia.org.

Driftmier designs water district expansion

Driftmier Architects of Redmond is doing design and construction management of Covington Water District's expansion on an 11-acre site.

The project involves reorganization of current facilities, expansion, increased buffering for the neighborhood and several sustainable design features.

Recent work includes construction of a new utility yard and wetland enhancement, and completing a master plan for expanding the main facility.

The design team includes Hammond Collier Wade Livingstone, civil engineering; BHC Consultants, on-site sanitary treatment system; Armour Unsderfer Engineering, structural engineering; Abossein Engineering, electrical engineering; Yantis Acoustical Design, acoustical; Geotech Consultants, soils consultants; and Foresight, landscape architect.

R.W. Beck named top consultant

Management consulting and engineering firm R. W. Beck, which is based in Seattle and has offices around the United States, was named one of the top three consultants in a recent survey by Project Finance magazine.

The survey, published as part of the Market Trends 2006 report, tallied 250 borrower and lender responses. R. W. Beck has performed due diligence reviews for about 700 energy-related projects for more than 90 financial institutions in 50 countries. The firm has worked on $130 billion worth of energy projects funded by bonds, and more than $30 billion worth of projects funded by non-recourse financing.

Design Detailings: AIA conference: Livable communities

The American Institute of Architects sponsors “Livable Communities: Walking, Working, Water,” a four-day conference beginning Thursday.

The conference is for planners, architects, landscape architects, developers and urban designers, and will discuss the how changes in American society — such as aging baby boomers and volatile energy costs — are affecting urban planning and design.

The focus will be on sustainable places that connect people to their work and to waterfronts, according to AIA Seattle, which is a co-sponsor.

Presenters will include Val Thomas of Val Thomas Inc., Greg Hepp of Bassetti Architects, Carolyn Geise of Geise Architects and Lee Copeland of Mithun.

Registration is 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel, 2100 Alaskan Way. For information, call Bruce Bland at (202) 626-7557, or go to http://www.aia.org.

SMPS picks 2006-07 board members

The Seattle chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services has appointed new board members for 2006 through 2007.

The board includes chapter President Diane Levy of Kleinfelder; President-Elect Grace Vigil of Parametrix; Past-President Pam Heeke, CPSM of FCS GROUP; Treasurer Carly Cyr of Driftmier Architects; Secretary Jacquee Christnot of Macdonald-Miller; Director of Membership Carol Micek of HWA Geosciences; Director of Communications Edison L. Leonen, Associate AIA of Leonen Designs; and Director of Education and Programs Chere Garcia of J.R. Abbot Construction.

Seattle is the third largest chapter in the SMPS organization, with more than 220 members. Monthly luncheons are at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle on the fourth Tuesday of the month. For information, go to http://www.smpsseattle.org.

Carla Thompson leads Oct. 12 seminar

Marketing Associates of Spokane will offer a seminar by Carla Thompson from Designed2Win on Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Red Lion River Inn.

The 7:30 am to 4 pm seminar will have two sessions: writing proposals and strategies for presentations.

Thompson is a Fellow in the Society of Marketing Professional Services, an accreditation that been given to fewer than 100 people in the United States. In 1996, SMPS named her Marketer of the Year.

For reservations, go to http://www.mas.org, contact MAS Vice President Leslie White at (509) 328-2994, or write white@coffman.com.

Libeskind, Hadid at Oct. 25-26 conference

On Oct. 25 and 26, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat will hold a two-day conference in Chicago titled “Thinking Outside the Box — Tapered, Tilted, Twisted Towers,” which will focus on the design and construction challenges of skyscrapers.

The conference will explore the architectural, structural, sustainable, economic, and social issues of the modern designer, with keynote speaches by architects Daniel Libeskind, Zaha Hadid and Ken Yeang, and developers such as Dubai Properties and Gale International.

For more information, go to http://www.ctbuh.org.

Design Detailings: Costco CEO gives MulvannyG2 Salmon Award

Photo courtesy of MulvannyG2

MulvannyG2 Architecture Chairman Jerry Lee receives Costco's Salmon Award.

Jim Sinegal, president and CEO of Costco Wholesale, recognized MulvannyG2 Architecture at Costco's annual management meeting in Seattle last month.

MulvannyG2's partnership with Costco spans 20 years. The firm's services include planning new facilities and services, documentation, cost control and coordinating cost rebate programs. MulvannyG2 is also Costco's sole provider of construction document and administration related services.

“This year we will celebrate building and opening 500 Costco warehouses around the world,” said Mitch Smith, MulvannyG2 senior partner and managing director. “We have worked literally around the clock with our client to achieve this amazing record and are honored and humbled to receive this award.”

Sinegal presented Jerry Lee, MulvannyG2 Chairman, with Costco's Salmon Award, an award unique to Costco and given only to two other vendors in the past.

With 400 employees, MulvannyG2 is the third largest retail design firm in the U.S., as ranked by Design and Display Ideas and Visual Merchandising and Store Design magazines and the 13th largest architecture firm in the U.S., ranked by Building Design & Construction magazine.

Design/build forum on Sept. 22 at UW

The Northwest Chapter of the Design Build Institute of America and AIA Seattle host a program entitled, “Design a Team … then Build a Design,” 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. It will be held at the South Campus Center at the University of Washington.

It is the first program of its type in Seattle that will feature nationally known speakers and workshops that will be targeted at owners, contractors, engineers, suppliers and architects, according to Greg Bogard, president of the Design Build chapter.

The program will include a presentation by architect Stephen Kieran of Kieran Timberlake Associates of Philadelphia, entitled, “Refabricating Architecture.” Kiernan contends that it is time to update basic design and construction methods. Other workshops include: “Architect Lead Design/Build,” “Building Information Models,” “Design/Build Matchmaking” and “Keeping Design in Design/Build.” The program will conclude with a tour of the University of Washington Research and Technology Building.

For more information, call (206) 491-1148 or go to http://www.dbianwc.org.

Girvin's graphics at Lincoln Square

Branding and design firm Girvin, Inc. has completed a five-year assignment for Kemper Development Co.'s Lincoln Square, a 1.4 million-square-foot mixed-use complex in Bellevue.

Girvin's work involved environmental graphics for the property — including primary identification, tenant identification standards, retail directories and wayfinding, and parking garage wayfinding signing and graphics. In addition, Girvin worked with the city of Bellevue in using Lincoln Square as a prototype for an updated municipal sign code.

“The most interesting challenge of Lincoln Square involved bringing an urban architectural concept into the business district of Bellevue,” said designer Mandy Morgan.

Girvin has offices in Seattle and New York, and affiliates in Paris and Tokyo. Clients range from a packaged-goods marketer to Hollywood film studios and medical research institutions.

Corps' speaker on Sept. 20

American Water Resources Association of Washington will hold a dinner meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20 at Pyramid Ale House, 1201 First Ave. S.

Marian Valentine, engineer for the Seattle Corps of Engineers, will speak about the Corps' water management strategies in the region.

Cost is $20 for members, $35 for non-members and $12 for the non-dinner option. Write to morin@mentorlaw.com or go to http://www.wa-awra.org.

Yantis is NCAC's director-at-large

Michael Yantis, principal of Yantis Acoustical Design, was recently elected a director-at-large of the National Council of Acoustical Consultants.

Yantis was an active member of NCAC for 20 years before being elected to one of the five director-at-large positions. In the new role, he will vote on decisions relating to policies, by-laws and membership of the organization.

“The NCAC is a huge advocate for our profession through education and training efforts,” said Yantis.

The council is an international organization that has 100 member firms in the United States.

Design Detailings: Rice Fergus gets big Aberdeen job

Rice Fergus Miller will help Aberdeen's revitalization through its work on two projects: restoration of the 1924 Morck Hotel and a master plan for the blocks surrounding it. Aberdeen Development LLC is the developer.

The hotel is now used as apartments. The goal is to turn it into a four-star boutique hotel, remodel the Highlander Lounge and add more than 50,000 square feet of retail space in surrounding structures.

The master plan could include restaurants, a day spa, brew pub, galleries, condos and a garage.

Interior demolition of the Morck is scheduled for October.

Mike Miller, a partner at Rice Fergus, leads both efforts and is a native of Aberdeen.

M&S adds landscape architecture

The civil engineering firm MacKay & Sposito of Vancouver has added landscape architecture to its services.

Projects will include park and campus master plans as well as regional and community parks, trails and commercial development. The new group will collaborate with the firm's engineering and planning departments.

Bryan A. Cole is the landscape architecture manager and associate.

M&S offers civil engineering, land and construction surveying, land-use planning, landscape architecture, construction management and public involvement services.

Sept. 20 talk on Madrona library

Designers from Heliotrope Architects will discuss the interior renovation of Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch Library from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the library, 1134 33rd Ave.

The $392,000 project will include new seating, equipment, interior layout, electrical/mechanical/communications systems, ventilation and books. Work is expected to be complete in 2007.

The 1,700-square-foot branch opened in a converted firehouse in 1973 and was upgraded in 1986 for $85,000.

New book on Inca water engineering

Ken Wright, founder and chief engineer of Wright Water Engineers of Denver, bas written a new book called “Tipon: Water Engineering Masterpiece of the Inca Empire.” Tipon was a 500-acre, self-contained settlement for Incan nobility.

The book explains how the Incas mastered irrigation and hydraulic technology they used to design buildings, waterworks and massive structures. Wright discusses Tipon's canals, plazas, aqueducts and fountains.

Wright's firm specializes in water resources and municipal utility design.

The book is published by the American Society of Civil Engineers. For information, go to http://www.pubs.asce.org.

Design Detailings: Berger, Carey quake repairs win award

Berger/ABAM's design of the Maplewild Avenue Southwest earthquake repair project in Burien recently was named a Public Works Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association. The general contractor was C.A. Carey Corp.

The project won in the Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair category, in the $2 million to $10 million range.

Maplewild Avenue Southwest required extensive repair after the 40-second impact of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake in 2001. Berger/ABAM designed a wider road with a sidewalk and a 600-foot offset cylinder pipe wall on the down slope.

‘Sleepless in Seattle' on houseboat tour

The houseboat made famous in the movie “Sleepless in Seattle” will be among those on the Sept. 10 Floating Homes Tour.

The tour is sponsored by the Floating Homes Association and will feature 15 homes on the east and west sides of Lake Union. The tour will feature a “nautical cottage” that has a rowing scull oar as a banister, and another houseboat that has a hand-painted door inspired by 17th century wallpaper. The $25 admission includes shuttle via boat between the east and west sides. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. at Terry Pettus Park at the foot of Newton Street on Fairview Avenue East. For information, call (206) 356-2262.

Zipper Zeman opens Portland office

Zipper Zeman Associates, which has three offices in Washington, has opened an office in the Portland area. It will provide geotechnical and environmental engineering services in Oregon and southern Washington.

Geotechnical laboratory and construction monitoring services are scheduled to be added later this year.

Kris Hauck is office manager. Hauck is an experienced project manager in the Northwest and has worked on geotechnical and environmental projects in Washington and Oregon. Environmental services will be managed by Chris Wilson, a registered environmental assessor.

The new office is located at 4000 S.E. International Way, Suite F102, Milwaukie, Ore., 97222. The phone number (503) 659-3281 and fax number (503) 659-1287.

ZZA is owned by Terracon, a consulting firm providing geotechnical, environmental, construction materials and facilities services from more than 80 offices around the United States.

Callison NYC office gets bigger space

Callison this summer moved its New York office to a new location in response to the firm's growing number of clients and projects in the New York metropolitan area.

Recent clients include World Trade Center Redevelopment Department of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Ann Taylor, The Related Companies, Jones Lang LaSalle, Tishman Speyer Properties, Cole Haan, Liz Claiborne, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Washington Mutual.

“Our highly selective client base in the region is growing rapidly,” said Principal Tom Bowen.

Seattle-based Callison also has offices in Los Angeles and Shanghai, and employs more than 600.

Callison's new address is 100 Fifth Ave., 10th floor, New York, NY 10011. Phone and fax numbers will remain the same. The main number is (212) 354-9240.

Design Detailings: Berger/ABAM buys JD White Co.

Berger/ABAM Engineers recently purchased the JD White Co., a land use, natural resources and public involvement/facilitation firm.

Berger/ABAM specializes in structural engineering, program management and construction management and support.

JDW has a staff of 30 in Portland and Vancouver, and has been in business since 1976.

“Berger/ABAM's acquisition of the JD White Co. is consistent with our 2009 strategic plan to diversify geographically and combine services,” said Arnie Rusten, president and chief executive officer of Berger/ABAM. “Our two companies are an excellent strategic fit.”

JDW will be a division of Berger/ABAM and remain in Vancouver. John White, JDW's president and founder, will become a vice president of Berger/ABAM and manager of the Vancouver office. There will be no immediate changes in JDW department staff other than acquiring new hires to meet the needs of an expanded client base.

Daggett new chair of ACEC national

W&H Pacific co-founder and former CEO Jeff Daggett is the new national chairman of the American Council of Engineering Companies.

As W&H CEO, Daggett helped expand the firm to nine Northwest regional offices and more than 300 employees. The firm's market segments are land development, transportation and survey.

W&H added two offices in Washington in 2005, and its parent company, ASCG, made the ENR Top 100 list for construction management.

Daggett served as national treasurer of ACEC from 2001 to 2004, and was Washington ACEC Engineer of the Year in 2004.

Survey: office design boosts productivity

Poor office space design can prevent optimal job performance and inhibit a company's competitive advantage, according to a new study by Gensler.

Nine in 10 workers believe that better office design leads to better overall employee performance, and also makes a company more competitive, according to the survey.

Office workers believe they would be 21 percent more productive if given a better working environment, the survey said. Almost half say they would log an extra hour per day under improved circumstances.

Two-thirds of workers believe they are more efficient when they work closely with co-workers. Thirty percent don't think their workspace promotes spontaneous interaction or cooperation among colleagues.

Topping the list of employee grievances about physical environment were lack of space, too few quiet areas, uncomfortable workstations, and bad layout and design.

HNTB added to GSA schedule

HNTB Corp. has been added to the General Services Administration's Professional Engineering Services Schedule No. 871.

HNTB's presence on the list means federal agencies can solicit engineering services from the firm.

HNTB has done much of the critical assessment and analysis work toward repairing levees in the Gulf region after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The 20-year contract covers major disciplines of civil engineering. Although the contract excludes design services, HNTB can provide planning, conceptual design and program management services.

HNTB has 60 offices nationwide, including offices in Bellevue and Portland.

Design Detailings: Mahlum, Day form partnership

Smith

Day

Day CPM offers team leadership and planning management, programming and design review, cost estimating, public processing, construction management and building commissioning services. The new firm will serve as owner advocate and project manager to design projects, control costs, provide communications and manage the building process through move-in.

The association with Mahlum will result in more streamlined project management, quicker resolution of conflicts and potential savings, according to Mike Day, managing partner in Day CPM Services and founder of Day & Associates.

Mahlum and Day have collaborated on a number of projects in Washington and Oregon.

"We believe this new association has great potential, especially in design/build projects," said Michael Smith, Mahlum president.

Although Day CPM and Mahlum will offer combined services to clients as a result of the partnership, they will operate as separate entities and serve clients independently of each other.

Two at CDi pass sustainability exam

Joe Llona and Leslie Jonsson of the mechanical consulting firm CDi Engineers recently passed an exam to become certified sustainable building advisors, after completing the Sustainable Building Advisor program offered through Seattle City Light and Seattle Central Community College.

Llona is an associate at CDi Engineers, and serves as the firm’s director of sustainable design. Jonsson is a project manager and mechanical engineer.

The program emphasizes concepts such as analyzing costs and benefits of sustainable building measures, using financial incentives and technical assistance from governments, utilities, and non-profit organizations, and working with architects, designers, builders, building operators and utilities to improve a building’s performance.

At CDi, Llona and Jonsson are involved with continuing education and training of CDi staff members in sustainable building design practices.

SAF tour: Ballard then and now

Seattle Architecture Foundation will sponsor a tour of Ballard Saturday. The tour will travel along historic Ballard Avenue, looking at structures from the 1890s through the 1940s. Ballard’s modern side is found at the Ballard Municipal Center north of Market Street, with a new library, park and neighborhood service center.

The tour runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $20. For more information, call Seattle Architecture Foundation at (206) 667-9184 or go to http://www.seattlearchitecture.org.

Design Detailings: Miller Hayashi wins award for library

Photo courtesy of Miller Hayashi Architects

The ceiling canopy in the International District/Chinatown Branch library is made from ribbons of wood.

The International District/Chinatown Branch of the Seattle Public Library, designed by Miller Hayashi Architects, received an honorable mention award for interior design from the American Library Association and the International Interior Design Association.

The biennial awards honor library interior design and consider aesthetics, design creativity, function and satisfaction of the client's objectives. The groups named two projects of merit and one honorable mention from more than 100 submittals. Winners were honored last month at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.

Miller Hayashi Architects designed the east-facing space to take advantage of the 20-foot floor-to-ceiling height and used a ceiling canopy made from ribbons of wood. It is designed to draw pedestrians inside the mid-block location.

12 from Weber now LEED accredited

Twelve Weber + Thompson employees recently passed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design test. They are principal Kristen Scott; associates Mindy Black, Jeffery Reibman and Brian Steinburg; project managers Richard Jordison and Amanda Keating; and job captains David Akiyama, Kara Clark, Marc Furst, Myer Harrell, Scott Wells and MengYu Yu. The firm has 21 LEED staff members.

Weber + Thompson has several high-rise projects that will require LEED certification. The firm designed Blakely Hall, a community center for the Issaquah Highlands master planned community. Weber + Thompson also designed its new office building in South Lake Union with sustainable features, including a passive cooling and ventilation system, and hydronic heating. The team will seek LEED gold certification.

Group Mackenzie adds landscaping

Group Mackenzie, a Portland architecture and engineering firm, announced the addition of landscape architecture to its design services. Dan Jenkins will lead the new department.

The department will provide services such as campus planning, site planning, parks, urban design, streetscapes and sustainable landscapes.

ASCG joins ENR's Top 100

Alaska-based ASCG, the parent company of Bothell-based W&H Pacific, has made Engineering News-Record's Construction Management Top 100 list for 2006. ASCG is listed No. 47 in the annual rankings for construction management or project management services.

“Construction management services is one of the areas that ASCG has grown significantly in the last couple of years,” said ASCG President and CEO John McClellan. “We have been in the ENR Top 100 rankings for design for several years, but this is the first time ASCG made the Top 100 for construction management services.”

ENR based its rankings on 2005 revenues from ASCG's 18 offices. W&H Pacific is a consulting firm with more than 300 employees doing transportation, land development and survey projects. It has nine offices in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Design Detailings: WATG designs ‘green' Napa inn

Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo is designing the Bardessono Inn and Spa, a 62-room luxury lodge and spa on a 4.9-acre site in the Napa Valley town of Yountville, Calif.

The inn will have a spa with eight treatment rooms and a 75-foot-long rooftop pool, as well as a restaurant and meeting space.

It will use solar and geothermal energy, energy management systems, sustainable materials and organic landscape management. Developer Phil Sherburne of Yountville Investors said, “We have minimized impervious surfaces, limiting roadways and parking areas by using valet parking.”

The inn is scheduled to open in April of 2008 and will be managed by MTM Luxury Lodging. Sherburne also developed Willows Lodge in the Seattle area and the Inn of the Spanish Garden in Santa Barbara, Calif.

SMPS conference: ‘Keys to Success'

The Seattle and Portland chapters of the Society for Marketing Professional Services will hold a regional conference in Tacoma Oct. 25 through Oct. 27.

The keynote speaker is Peter van Stolk, president and CEO of Jones Soda, and the focus speaker is Al Lautenslager, author of “Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days.”

The theme is “Keys to Success — Opening New Doors in Marketing.” Programs include “Sales is Not a Four Letter Word — Business Development Best Practices,” “Strategic Networking,” “Presentation Coaching Skills for Marketers,” “Marketing Principles for Marketing Principals.”

For more information, call Stacey D'Alessandro at (206) 689-0430, or go to http://www.smpsseattle.org.

Otak gets projects in Marysville, Kent

Otak Inc., a planning, architecture, design and engineering firm, has been chosen for two transportation projects.

The city of Marysville selected Otak as a subconsultant on the Sunnyside Boulevard expansion project to provide surface-water management services. These services will include the design of a low-impact development drainage system, a fish-passage culvert and bridge scour protection. Otak will also consult on stream and wetland mitigation.

Otak will coordinate with the Tulalip Tribe, whose work on restoring the Qwuloolt floodplain wetlands by breeching the Ebey Slough levee is being done near the Sunnyside Boulevard expansion.

In addition, Yarrow Bay Development has chosen Otak to design and prepare plans and specifications for the widening of approximately 1,200 linear feet of roadway. Otak will also design intersection improvements and add left-hand turn lanes for Yarrow Bay's project, which is located within the city of Kent's urban growth area.