
May 15, 1998

WACA Award: Cast-in-Place Structures

Journal staff

Another popular category, Cast-in-Place Structures, had eight entries until the judges moved the Mud Mountain project into the Public Works category. The list includes: Johnston Ridge Observatory, Harbor Steps East, Riverpoint Higher Education Park Academic Building Phase I, Cle Elum Hatchery, Wafer Tech, Lake Washington School District Resource Center and the Gateway Parking Structure.

Johnston Ridge Observatory, which came in second to St. Ignatius for the Grand Award, won this category. The bunker-like fortess at Mount St. Helens uses concrete to help fend off the punishing elements encountered at 4,300 feet above sea level. The hostile mountain environment includes extreme freeze-thaw conditions as well as high winds laden with abrasive ash and sand.

Johnson Ridge Observatory

Johnson Ridge Observatory

The 17,176-square-foot building features battered concrete walls and beams and a structural concrete roof that supports an earth cover. To blend in with its environment, the visitor center was built into the hillside and all exposed concrete was colored to match the ash that covers the area.

The remote site meant a portable batch plant had to be set up to make concrete.

The two runners up were Riverpoint Higher Education Park and Harbor Steps East.

Project Teams

Johnston Ridge Observatory: U.S. Forest Service, owner/developer; Kramer, Chin & Mayo, structural engineer; Bodenhamer Inc., general and concrete contractor; Spencer Associates, architect; and Toledo Sand & Redi-Mix Concrete, concrete supplier.

Harbor Steps East: Harbor Steps LP, owner/developer; ABKJ, structural engineer; McCarthy, general and concrete contractor; Hewitt Isley, architect; and Lone Star Northwest, concrete supplier.

Riverpoint Higher Education Park Academic Building Phase I: Riverpoint Center for Higher Education, owner/developer; Integrus Architecture, structural engineer and architect; Bouten Construction Inc., general and concrete contractor; and Central PreMix, concrete supplier.

Cle Elum Hatchery: Bonneville Power Administration, owner/developer; CH2M Hill, structural engineer and architect; Natt McDougall Co., general and concrete contractor; and Ellensburg Cement, concrete supplier.

Wafer Tech: Wafer Tech LLC, owner/developer; ADP-Tucsan, structural engineer and architect; Fluor Constructors International, general contractor; LaRusso Concrete Co. Inc., concrete contractor; and Lone Star Northwest/Aphis, concrete supplier.

Lake Washington School District Resource Center: Lake Washington School District, owner/developer; KPFF Consulting Engineers, structural engineer; Crownover Construction, general contractor; Miller Hull Partnership, architect; Ceco Concrete Construction, concrete contractor; and Lone Star Northwest, concrete supplier.

Gateway Parking Structure: EFA Northwest, owner/developer; NG Jacobson & Associates Inc., structural engineer and architect; Drake Construction Co., general contractor; LaRusso Concrete Co., concrete contractor; and Fred Hill Materials Inc., concrete supplier.