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Architecture & Engineering


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October 25, 2012

Survey: Swenson Say Faget

Specialty: Structural engineering

Management: Dan Say, Paul Faget, Blaze Bresko, Gary MacKenzie, Rob Galus, Ryan Reichman, Dan Morrow, Greg Coons, Chardie Byrne

Year founded: 1995

Headquarters: Seattle

2011 revenues: Did not disclose

Projected 2012 revenues: Up 25 percent over 2011 revenues

Projects: University Volkswagen Audi car-service building, Seattle; Curve mixed-use building, Seattle; Alley 111 mixed-use high-rise, Bellevue

Image courtesy of Gordon Fleener Architects [enlarge]
A three-story University Volkswagen Audi building will have 122,000 square feet of car display, storage and service space.

Dan Say, principal at Swenson Say Faget, answered questions from the DJC about what the firm has been up to.

Q. What sort of projects have been keeping you busy lately?

A: Lately we have been working on a number of mixed-use multifamily projects, adaptive reuse projects and public work. We also design a significant amount of custom single-family residential projects.

We recently completed the seismic renovation of the Pike Place Market redevelopment, which was a highly technical and very rewarding project.

Q. What will come next?

A: Over time, we expect to see the typical shift away from mixed-use developments toward adaptive reuse, renovation and single-family residential work.

Q. What was your greatest business challenge this past year?

A: Frankly, more challenges were in front of us two to three years ago due to a lean construction and development market. Over the last year we have made great strides in further diversifying our client base and project types. We feel well-positioned as we move into 2013.

Q. What are your ambitions for the near term?

A: We anticipate growing our staff both in Seattle and Tacoma and of course continuing to grow our client base and work type. We have very loyal clients and a strong foundation of truly wonderful and highly skilled staff. Without them we could not consider this growth.

Q. How has the growth of sustainable design affected the way you work?

A: We must always have an eye focused on sustainability and consider those impacts on everything that we do, from our internal operations to the design of our projects. Ten years ago most structural engineers never attended, or probably even heard of, an eco-charrette. Now we attend all eco-charrettes as an integral part of the design process.


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