Design Detailings: More Samis apartments opening

Samis Land Co. has just opened its newest development, the Corona Lofts, located one block north of the Smith Tower at 606 Second Ave.

The Corona consists of 20 units with rent ranging from $1,000-$1,100 for studios that are 640-850 square feet. Rent for one-bedroom units is $1,700-$2,200 for one-bedroom units that are 1,050-1,330 square feet. Five units are still available.

Stickney Murphy Romine Architects of Seattle designed the restoration work; Spaces, also a Seattle firm, did the interior design. The building has been restored to retain many of its circa 1903 characteristics, such as original millwork and wood floors, high ceilings, exposed brick walls and a refurbished lobby with a marble staircase. The Corona is also equipped with high-speed Internet access and cable television access.

For information on tours or leasing, contact Tamara Hahn at (206) 854-4400.

Architects push for ADA clarity

With the 10-year anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act approaching on July 26, the American Institute of Architects this week urged the U.S. Department of Justice to provide greater clarity and certainty in the ADA.

"Architects have been striving to meet the intent of the ADA since its adoption 10 years ago, but can never be certain they've met the requirements unless they get sued," said R.K. Stewart, a member of the AIA Accessibility Task Force and an architect with Gensler in San Francisco. He cited a recent case in which the defendant was found by a district court to be non-compliant with the ADA even though the design and building was pronounced in compliance with the Texas Accessibility Standard -- which had been certified by DOJ as meeting ADA accessibility requirements. Another complaint: While architects are, on one hand, required to design ADA-compliant facilities, the DOJ will not certify beforehand that a design meets those requirements, he said. He added that current discussions between the AIA and DOJ to bring about improved clarity in the requirements have been well received.

Creative Capital director visits Seattle

Ruby Lerner, founding executive director of Creative Capital, a national organization that provides funding to individual artists, visited Seattle last week to introduce herself and her foundation to the arts community. The event was co-sponsored by SAM/Open Studio, Seattle Arts Commission, King Co. Arts Commission, Artist Trust, and the Seattle Independent Film & Video Coalition. Founded in 1999, Creative Capital is committed to working with artists in long-term partnerships, providing advisory services and professional development assistance along with financial support.

For more information on Creative Capital's schedule and upcoming events, visit the website at www.creative-capital.org.

Artists needed for 15 library projects

The Seattle Public Library and the Seattle Arts Commission are seeking artists to complete up to 15 projects in branch libraries over the next three years. Artists are sought in all media, including permanent materials such as metal or glass, surface treatments including etching or mosaic, and new media such as video or digital work. The Library is particularly interested in finding artists who want to explore, through their work, the meaning of a library as a repository of information and an icon of community identity. Branches for which work will be commissioned from roster artists include: Ballard, Beacon Hill, Broadview, Capitol Hill, Columbia, Douglass-Truth, Greenwood, High Point, Lake City, Montlake, North East, Northgate, Rainier Beach, and Southwest.

The artists selected will become part of a roster of no more than 30 artists pre-qualified for library projects. When public art commissions become available at branch libraries, a panel of library and community representatives will be assembled to select an artist for each project.

Chosen artists will work with the architectural design team, representatives from the branch library, and the community to discuss the appropriate integration of art into the building, to develop an art concept and design, and to fabricate and install the work.

The Library, as part of its art plan, has developed a collaboration program called Art Partners. For some of the branch library projects, the Library will pair artists from a roster with an artist from the local library community who will have excellent artistic skills but little or no experience working in the public realm. The experienced roster public artist will help select his or her teammate. This program is being established to encourage participation by local artists working in traditional or non-visual art forms, such as Chinese papercutters or community storytellers, whose work historically has not been articulated as permanent public work.

The program is open to established professional visual artists living in the Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia). The library projects vary in budget size from $12,000 to $50,000 or more. For more information, please call Seattle Arts Commission project manager Lisa Richmond at 684-0998.

Methodologie, Traver merge

Local brand and design firms Methodologie and The Traver Co. are merging. The combined company will be the city's fourth largest brand and design firm with total billings of over $6 million.

Since its inception in 1988, Methodologie has grown from five employees to 35, with over 50 clients including Microsoft, Immunex and Primus. Methodologie is led by two high-tech industry veterans, Janet DeDonato and Bob Grindeland. The husband-and-wife team have over 40 years of combined experience: Grindeland in technology, multimedia and online communication, and DeDonato with primary expertise in investor communications and identity.

The Traver Co.'s 20 years of experience in brand strategy and design has focused on high-profile local and national companies including Vulcan Northwest, Chateau Ste. Michelle and the Seattle Times. Led by Anne Traver, the 14-person firm has had significant involvement in the arts, including local art museums and theatre companies, as well as the tourism and hospitality industry. The combined firm, now totaling 49 employees, will work out of Methodologie's current offices at 808 Howell St.

Aviation expert to address CECW

John Nance, air safety analyst and advocate, will be the keynote speaker at the fall conference of the Consulting Engineers Council of Washington, Sept. 14-16, at Sun Mountain Lodge, Winthrop. Nance is best known to television audiences as aviation analyst for the ABC network and as the aviation editor for Good Morning America.

"Learning to break down the barriers that prevent need information from flowing to those who need it and learning to identify and change those barriers to teamwork and collaboration that hamstring every organization are the focus of this presentation," Nance said. The theme of the conference is "A 21st Century Model for Real Time Leadership."

For more information about the conference or to register, call Loy Young at CECW, (206) 623-5936.

Design Detailings: Callison/TVS to design two retail centers

Callison Architecture and Atlanta-based Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates will jointly design two retail centers for the Richard E. Jacobs Group of Cleveland.

One is the Triangle Town Center, a 1.2 million-square-foot super-regional retail property located in Raleigh, N.C. The the design partnership is based on Callison's market orientation and the contextual and planning resources of TVS. Construction will begin in this fall for completion in the spring of 2002.

The same design team will also work on the renovation and reconfiguration of Vallco Fashion Park, a 2-level regional mall located in Cupertino, Calif. Construction on the Cupertino center will begin in January of 2001, with completion expected the following November.

The Richard E. Jacobs Group is a private developer, owner and manager of regional shopping malls, with over 45 million square feet of retail space located in 16 states, including 37 malls.

Safeco Field, bridge, library win design awards

Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire has won the Grand Award in the American Consulting Engineers Council Engineering Excellence Award competition for its role in the design of Safeco Field. As the structural engineer for the 47,000-seat stadium, SWMB designed the 8.8 acre, 24-million-pound roof retractable roof that consists of three moving panels. To design the roof, the project team conducted extensive analyses to predict the loads of the moving roof as well as the stability of the supporting trusses. While typical stadiums can be analyzed using approximately 100 load cases, Safeco Field required 1,500 cases. A computer simulation to predict damper performance needed 400 times more calculations than conventional analysis, and the stadium design was subjected to 30 major computer-simulated earthquakes. Ultimately, the engineering ideas reduced the cost of the stadium by an estimated $30 million.

The design team of Parsons Brinckerhoff Douglas & Quade and Kaiser Engineers has won an Honor Award in the ACEC award program for the First Avenue South Bridge. The two firms assisted the Seattle Engineering Department and the Washington State Department of Transportation in an eight-year effort to make the bridge into a safe, free-flowing transportation route. Improvements include separating two-way traffic and eliminating narrow lane widths, reversible lane operation, high traffic flow and substandard weave and merge distances. Adding lanes and switching to one-way operations significantly reduced accidents and traffic congestion. Along with developing complex intersections and approaches to make the bridge safer, the design team also integrated pedestrian and bicycle lanes into the roadway, and created the Puget Sound region's only urban saltwater estuary.

KPFF Consulting Engineers of Portland has also won an Honor Award through the ACEC for its role in the restoration of the Oregon State Library in Salem. The firm addressed the special needs of the historic structure through and innovative design that uses thin steel plates in shear walls in combination with other non-invasive renovation methods. A system of pin piles were installed at strategic locations within the basement for additional footing capacity and to support the overturning forces of the new steel plate shear walls. The entire system helped the meet the requirements of current seismic codes, which have changed drastically since the building was constructed.

Earth Tech acquires Kaiser engineering units

Earth Tech Holdings, a unit of Tyco International, has acquired the infrastructure and facilities businesses of Kaiser Group International. The acquisition is expected to help Earth Tech expand in the fields of transportation, water/wastewater, facilities design and construction and microelectronics and clean technology. The sale is expected to be completed before the end of the month. Earth Tech is based in Long Beach, Calif., and employs 7,000 in 130 offices around the world. Tyco is a diversified manufacturing and service company operating in more than 80 countries, with 1999 revenues of $22.5 billion.

Merger and acquisition activity high, says survey

Almost nine out of ten design firms are currently considering some type of merger or acquisition activity, according to a survey conducted by Zweig White & Associates. The 86 percent positive response is up from 74 percent in a similar 1999 survey. At the same time, actual mergers and acquisitions are up 40 percent from last year, according to the same source. In a breakdown of survey responses, 73 percent are considering an acquisition, while 36 percent are considering sale of the firm. The number considering a sale has doubled since last year. For the fifth year in a row, potential buyers consider the Southeast as the top location in which to make an acquisition.

The 2000 Merger & Acquisition Survey of A/E/P & Environmental Consulting Firms is available from the publisher free of charge. Contact Zweig White & Associates, P.O. Box 8325, One Apple Hill Drive, Natick, Maine 01760, (508) 651-1559, fax (508) 653-6522, info@zweigwhite.com.

Engineering, construction firms form B2B exchange

Five engineering and construction companies--AMEC, Bovis Lend Lease, Hochtief and Turner, and Skanska--have formed and an Internet portal, http://www.aecventure, that links global and regional portals for business-to-business information exchange and online collaboration. The portal, open to the entire industry, is also intended assist in marketing and procurement. The founding companies are in negotiation with several other partners and actively seeking new global and regional alliances around the world.

Hazard Institute at CAUP

The Institute for Hazard Mitigation Planning and Research has been established within the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Washington to research ways to make Washington more disaster resistant. The institute will conduct research, offer mitigation planning courses and provide community outreach opportunities for students and faculty. There are plans to offer a certificate program in mitigation planning in the near future. The institute director, Bob Freitag, was appointed this past October and has 23 years of experience with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a variety of management positions.

New educational research center

BJSS Duarte Bryant has joined several other firms throughout the country in a partnership with San Diego State University's College of Education to establish the national Center for the 21st Century Schoolhouse. The new academic center, located in San Diego on the SDSU campus, will be a resource for school administrators, policy makers and design professionals. Programs will address the interrelationship between educational programming and school design according to Frank Smith of BJSS Duarte Bryant. Areas of discussion will include the need for greater flexibility in classroom design to facilitate participatory learning and new educational delivery systems.

Center staff report an estimated $300 billion will be available from local, state and federal sources for school construction over the next five to ten years.

More Samis apartments opening

Samis Land Co. has just opened its newest development, the Corona Lofts, located one block north of the Smith Tower at 606 Second Ave.

The Corona consists of 20 units with rent ranging from $1,000-$1,100 for studios that are 640-850 square feet. Rent for one-bedroom units is $1,700-$2,200 for one-bedroom units that are 1,050-1,330 square feet. Five units are still available.

Stickney Murphy Romine Architects of Seattle designed the restoration work; Spaces, also a Seattle firm, did the interior design. The building has been restored to retain many if its circa 1903 characteristics, such as original millwork and wood floors, high ceilings, exposed brick walls and a refurbished lobby with a marble staircase. The Corona is also equipped with high-speed Internet access and cable television access.

For information on tours or leasing, contact Tamara Hahn at (206) 854-4400.

Architects push for ADA clarity

With the 10-year anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act approaching on July 26, the American Institute of Architects this week urged the U.S. Department of Justice to provide greater clarity and certainty in the ADA.

"Architects have been striving to meet the intent of the ADA since its adoption 10 years ago, but can never be certain they've met the requirements unless they get sued," said R.K. Stewart, a member of the AIA Accessibility Task Force and an architect with Gensler in San Francisco. He cited a recent case in which the defendant was found by a district court to be non-compliant with the ADA even though the design and building was pronounced in compliance with the Texas Accessibility Standard--which had been certified by DOJ as meeting ADA accessibility requirements. Another complaint: While architects are, on one hand, required to design ADA-compliant facilities, the DOJ will not certify beforehand that a design meets those requirements, he said. He added that current discussions between the AIA and DOJ to bring about improved clarity in the requirements have been well received.

Arts foundation head to visit Seattle

Ruby Lerner, founding executive director of Creative Capital, a national organization that provides funding to individual artists, will visit Seattle to introduce herself and her foundation to the arts community on Thursday, July 13, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Seattle Asian Art Museum Auditorium in Volunteer Park. The event is co-sponsored by SAM/Open Studio, Seattle Arts Commission, King Co. Arts Commission, Artist Trust, and the Seattle Independent Film & Video Coalition. Prior to becoming Executive Director of Creative Capital, Ruby Lerner was previously executive director of the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers in New York and publisher of The Independent Film and Video Monthly. She was also director of Alternate ROOTS, a coalition of performing artists in the Southeast. Founded in 1999, Creative Capital is committed to working with artists in long-term partnerships, providing advisory services and professional development assistance along with financial support.

For more information on Creative Capital's schedule and upcoming events, visit the website at www.creative-capital.org.

Arts Commission seeks artists for Seattle Libraries

The Seattle Public Library and the Seattle Arts Commission are seeking artists to complete up to 15 projects in branch libraries over the next three years. Artists are sought in all media, including permanent materials such as metal or glass, surface treatments including etching or mosaic, and new media such as video or digital work. The Library is particularly interested in finding artists who want to explore, through their work, the meaning of a library as a repository of information and an icon of community identity. Branches for which work will be commissioned from roster artists include: Ballard, Beacon Hill, Broadview, Capitol Hill, Columbia, Douglass-Truth, Greenwood, High Point, Lake City, Montlake, North East, Northgate, Rainier Beach, and Southwest.

The artists selected will become part of a roster of no more than 30 artists pre-qualified for library projects. When public art commissions become available at branch libraries, a panel of library and community representatives will be assembled to select an artist for each project.

Chosen artists will work with the architectural design team, representatives from the branch library, and the community to discuss the appropriate integration of art into the building, to develop an art concept and design, and to fabricate and install the work.

The Library, as part of its art plan, has developed a collaboration program called Art Partners. For some of the branch library projects, the Library will pair artists from a roster with an artist from the local library community who will have excellent artistic skills but little or no experience working in the public realm. The experienced roster public artist will help select his or her teammate. This program is being established to encourage participation by local artists working in traditional or non-visual art forms, such as Chinese papercutters or community storytellers, whose work historically has not been articulated as permanent public work.

The program is open to established professional visual artists living in the Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia). The library projects vary in budget size from $12,000 to $50,000 or more. For more information, please call Seattle Arts Commission project manager Lisa Richmond at 684-0998.

Methodologie and The Traver Company merge

SEATTLE - June 30, 2000 - Local brand and design firms Methodologie and The Traver Company announced that they are merging. The combined company will be the city's fourth largest brand and design firm with total billings of over $6 million. Since its inception in 1988, Methodologie has grown from five employees to 35, with over 50 clients including Microsoft, Immunex and Primus. Methodologie is lead by two high-tech industry veterans, Janet DeDonato and Bob Grindeland. The

husband-and-wife team have over 40 years of combined experience, Grindeland in technology, multimedia and online communication, and DeDonato with primary expertise in investor communications and identity. The Traver Company's 20 years of experience in brand strategy and design has focused on high-profile local and national companies including Vulcan Northwest, Chateau Ste. Michelle and the Seattle Times. Lead by Anne Traver, the 14-person firm has had significant involvement in the arts, including local art museums and theatre companies, as well as the tourism and hospitality industry. The combined firm, now totaling 49 employees, will work out of Methodologie's current offices at 808 Howell Street.

Design Detailings: Seattle Arts Commission compiling artist roster

The Seattle Arts Commission is establishing a new roster of no more than 60 pre-qualified artists to develop site-integrated art projects. SAC will use the roster to select artists for many neighborhood-based projects, which require site-integrated work.

Artists for most projects with budgets under $50,000 (up to 10 projects in 2001-2002) automatically will be selected from the roster, and some larger projects will be selected this way, as well. The roster also will be made available to other public agencies, neighborhood groups and private developers, with the artist's permission.

Artists who apply for the roster should have specific skills in designing, fabricating and installing artwork elements in metal, glass, stone, concrete, ceramic, textile, wood, light, surfaces, murals, mosaics, product design, water, sound, or mixed media/environmental design. Artists should have the ability to understand architectural plans, but they will not be expected to participate on an architectural design team.

The program is open to established professional artists living in the Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. Artists applying as a team must have a history of working together. For more information, contact Seattle Arts Commission project manager Ruri Yampolsky at (206) 684-7309 or Barbara Goldstein at (206) 684-7311.

CERF signs on with AECdirect's Partnerdirect program

AECdirect, an Internet company delivering productivity tools and services for design and building professionals, recently announced a strategic partnership with the Civil Engineering Research Foundation, a non-profit organization that fosters research for the civil engineering profession.

The PartnerDirect program provides design and construction industry associations with an opportunity to showcase their knowledge, education and productivity tools to the industry on the AECdirect work site.

Under the agreement, AECdirect will highlight CERF content and resources on the AECdirect work site. In addition, AECdirect will showcase CERF's training seminars through its AEC Seminars distance education program and explore opportunities to utilize AECdirect technologies within CERF's infrastructure.

CERF members will receive benefits from the partnership, including free access to Viecon.com on AECdirect, a new project extranet hosting service from Bentley Systems, Incorporated, and a co-branded version of DirectNews, a free information delivery system that will deliver engineering-specific news, features, product information and project leads to CERF members.

Design Detailings: ASCE examines local water supply issues

The Seattle section of the American Society of Civil Engineers is holding a dinner discussion tonight about the municipal water supply in the Puget Sound.

Richard Palmer, University of Washington professor of water resources management, will provide a historical perspective on major municipal water supplies in the Northwest with special emphasis on Seattle. He will discuss the roles that key design engineers such as Arthur Denny, R.H. Thomson, W.C. Morse and Hiram M. Chittenden had in our current water supply system.

The Endangered Species Act, the Habitat Conservation Plan for the Cedar and Green Rivers, the Tacoma-Seattle Intertie, the Cascade Water Alliance and computer models for managing water resource conflicts will be discussed.

The event will be held at the Ballard Yankee Grill, 5300 24th Avenue N.W., Seattle. It starts at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The talk is scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call (206) 632-2667.

Portland light rail gets national awards

The design of the $963.5 million Westside Max light rail in Portland, Ore., garnered three national awards in competitions sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Designed for Tri-Met, the regional transit agency, the Westside Max extends the Eastside line 18 miles from downtown Portland to Hillsboro.

The project was completed in September 1998. The design team included Parsons Brinkerhoff Quade & Douglas; Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership; Otak; BRW; and LTK Engineering Services.

The project was one of 11 Honor Award winners in the U.S. DOT's Design for Transportation National Awards 2000 contest. There were more than 260 entries for this competition.

The Main Street Overpass in Hillsboro, completed as part of the project, received a Merit Award from DOT as well. This overcrossing, designed by BRW, is believed to be one of the first applications of a reinforced concrete arch that supports a major transportation facility.

Designer furnishings hit the Net

The San Francisco Design Center and Seattle Design Center recently entered into a promotional agreement with UrbanDesign Online, a new e-tailer of high-end, custom-designed furnishings.

The design centers and UrbanDesign Online, http://www.urbandesign.com, will jointly develop marketing programs and activities to sell services to designers and high-end showrooms. One of the first joint marketing activities will be Design Online, an Internet forum that will be hosted by the San Francisco Design Center in July.

UrbanDesign Online expects to launch a beta version of its Web site this month, with services available to Seattle and San Francisco users.

CWU offers master's in engineering technology

Beginning this fall, Central Washington University will offer a new master of science degree in engineering technology (MSET). Administered by the university's industrial and engineering technology department, the program will be available on the Ellensburg campus, CWU Steilacoom Center in Puyallup and at The Boeing Co.'s Auburn plant.

This is the first time CWU has offered a course at a Boeing facility. All of the course work may be completed at the Auburn facility in an after-work program. Classes will be limited to 25 students.

The new program is multidisciplinary in nature and designed to broaden the technology backgrounds of those holding bachelor's degrees in engineering technology, industrial technology, or industrial or engineering education.

The program will include 30 credit hours of required course work, with students selecting an additional 15 credit hours from a list of technical electives. That list includes classes in alternative energy systems, emerging technologies, engineering project cost analysis, ceramics and composites.

To earn their degree, candidates will be required to pass a final oral examination on their thesis project and supporting course work.

To register for the new MSET program or for more information, call (509)-963-1477 or visit the Web site.

Design Detailings: Contractors sought for temporary Central Library

The Seattle Public Library is seeking general contractors to pre-qualify for a bid on the $6.5 million temporary Central Library project.

The facility will serve as a temporary library while the new $159 Central Library is being constructed. The project consists of tenant improvements built concurrently with the shell and core construction of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center expansion.

The library will conduct a pre-submittal conference at 2 p.m. Monday, June 12, 2000 in the third floor auditorium of the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave.

A complete copy of the bid package may be picked up in person during business hours or requested from Lorig Associates via fax at (206) 728-5847 or e-mail. Pre-qualification proposals are due on 4 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2000.

For more information, contact Sue Partridge, project manager, Seattle Public Library, via fax at (206) 386-4108 or e-mail.

ARC Architects to design Lake City Library

Seattle Public Library board of trustees has selected ARC Architects to design the expansion of the Lake City Library.

Fifteen firms competed to design the $2.9 million expansion project.

Seattle-based ARC Architects, founded in 1976, has experience in public sector work, particularly in the design of community and senior centers. It designed the New Holly Community facilities for the Seattle Housing Authority, which includes the New Holly Library. The firm's portfolio also includes the Tukwila Community Center, Eckstein Community Center, Northshore Senior Center and South Park Community Center.

The expansion, which will add nearly 6,000 square feet to the 9,000-square-foot library, will feature a multipurpose room, as well as enhanced study areas and more space for books. It is scheduled for completion in 2002.

Book signing for Roland Terry book

A reception and book signing to celebrate the publication of "Roland Terry: Master Northwest Architect," by Justin Henderson will be held Wednesday, June 14. The reception will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Marco Polo bookstore, 713 Broadway E., Seattle. Both Terry and Justin will be present to sign copies of the book, published by the University of Washington Press. Free parking and shuttle service are available for the event at the Lowell School, 1058 E. Mercer St. Reservations for the reception are required; call Marco Polo at (206) 860-3736.

Sundberg named national AIA juror

Rick Sundberg, principal of Olson Sundberg Architects in Seattle, recently served as the national juror for the American Institute of Architects' Austin Design Competition in Texas.

Chairperson of the Seattle Design Commission and a Fellow of the College of the AIA, Sundberg noted similarities between Texas and Washington architecture: "Both Texas and Washington are western states, with powerful environments that inspire well-crafted, creative architectural responses. It seems to me that serious architects seek to understand the environment in which they work, to draw from the regional experience -- yet respond to the subtlety of the local context, often reinventing local tradition to inspire a modern adaptation."

Sundberg is lead architect on an upcoming project in Texas, the Art Center of Waco.

The firm is expanding its presence in the Southwest, as Jim Olson, principal, was a member of the federal government's "design excellence" team charged with selected the architect for the new Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

Portland light rail gets national awards

The design of the $963.5 million Westside Max light rail in Portland, Ore., garnered three national awards in competitions sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Designed for Tri-Met, the regional transit agency, the Westside Max extends the Eastside line 18 miles from downtown Portland to Hillsboro.

The project was completed in September 1998. The design team included Parsons Brinkerhoff Quade & Douglas; Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership; Otak; BRW; and LTK Engineering Services.

The project was one of 11 Honor Award winners in the U.S. DOT's Design for Transportation National Awards 2000 contest. There were more than 260 entries for this competition.

The Main Street Overpass in Hillsboro, completed as part of the project, received a Merit Award from DOT as well. This overcrossing, designed by BRW, is believed to be one of the first applications of a reinforced concrete arch that supports a major transportation facility.

The project also received a 2000 Federal Design Achievement Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. This award is the highest level of design achievement for projects in the federal sector. It was one of 35 winning projects.

Design Detailings: SDC holds urban design forum

An urban design forum sponsored by the Seattle Design Commission will be held from June 1-3 at the U.S. Naval Reserve Station, 860 Terry Avenue N. Keynote speakers include Bob Kroin, chief architect for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, and Ray Gastil, executive director of the Van Alen Institute in New York. For more information, call Denni Shefrin (206) 233-7223.

New building to open at Children's Theatre

Seattle Children's Theatre will unveil its new facility, The Allen Family Pavilion, on Saturday, June 10. The event will be held from 12 to 2:30 p.m. The three-story technical pavilion will house scene, prop, costume and paint ships and an entire floor of rehearsal studios and classroom space. The opening event is free to the public and will include tours of the facility. LMN Architects designed the pavilion; Sellen Construction Co. was the general contractor.

East Coast firm buys W&H Pacific

The IT Group, a Pennsylvania-based, publicly traded engineering and construction corporation, has acquired W&H Pacific, a 300-person engineering firm headquartered in Bothell.The combined annual revenue both firms is reported to be about $1.3 billion. The IT Group has about 1,700 employees nationwide.With the acquisition, the IT Group, which specializes in environmental management, will diversify into new infrastructure markets, such as transportation, land development and energy/telecommunications, and will further its presence in the Northwest.Senior management, project teams and offices for W&H will remain the same, company executives said.

Vancouver firm and Mahlum team up

Henriquez Architects of Vancouver, B.C., and Mahlum Architects of Seattle have established a specialized studio in Seattle to work on residential, mixed-use and commercial projects.Henriquez is known for its mixed-use and residential projects that span the market from affordable housing to luxury high rises. Among its portfolio is The Presidio Residential Tower, a high rise in Vancouver. Mahlum does a variety of educational, medical and commercial buildings, such as the Washington Mutual Tower in Seattle.

ZGF gets Duke University job

Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, with Northwest offices in Seattle and Portland, has been awarded a contract to study feasibility and site options for a new biomedical engineering research center at Duke University in North Carolina.The goal of the project is to provide interdisciplinary research for biomedical, electrical and computer, mechanical science, and civil and environmental engineering.ZGF has won numerous awards for its work, and recently received accolades for its design of Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland.

Architect chosen for library renovations

The Seattle Public Library board of trustees has selected Snyder Hartung Kane Strauss Architects to design the renovations of both the Green Lake and West Seattle branch libraries.The libraries, which opened in 1910, are Carnegie-funded branches designed by W. Marbury Somervell and Joseph S. Cote. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The Seattle-based firm was one of six firms competing for the contract. Founded in 1997, Snyder Hartung Kane Strauss Architects specializes in the restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings. Its principals have worked on the Burien Library, the Everett Public Library, the Green Lake Library and the Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington.Seattle voters approved spending $602,000 to renovate the 8,690-square-foot Green Lake Library and $778,000 to renovate the 7,670-square-foot West Seattle Library.

School facility planners hold conference

The Council of Educational Facilities Planners International will be holding its regional conference from July 21-24 in Bellevue.Attendees registering by May 31 receive a discount.The keynote speaker is Gene Sharratt, superintendent of North Central Educational Service District in Wenatchee. He will discuss how student diversity affects facilities design. Other topics include sustainable design, the effect of the Endangered Species Act on school construction and school safety.For information about the conference schedule and cost, call Phyllis Keithly at (360) 871-7552.

New software helps select paint

A new software program that helps architects and interior designers select paint will be introduced at a free luncheon on Thursday, June 1. Called RoddaVision, the program allows designers to choose colors from the Rodda Paint company. A spokesperson from the company said the program will cost under $40 and will be sold at all Rodda Paint's retail stores and on the Web site www.hardware.com beginning June 1.Darren Alexander of Autech Research, the company that developed the software program in Australia for Rodda Paints, will be the keynote speaker.

The luncheon will be held at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle.

Kubota Kato Chin moves

The office of Architects Kubota Kato Chin has moved to 6201 Roosevelt Way N.E., Seattle. The new telephone number is (206) 985-5800. The firm specializes in community design and works in both public and private sectors. The prior office at 307 Sixth Ave. S. will be retained as a temporary project office for the International District Village Square Phase Two project, a mixed-use facility that includes a public community center, public library branch, office space, retail space and parking. Kovalenko Hale Architects is the joint venture partner on the project.

AIA elects officers

At the AIA Seattle annual meeting May 17, members elected officers and directors for terms beginning September 2000. Norm Strong is the new president. Joining him on the executive committee are First Vice President/President-elect Steven Arai; Secretary Randy Everett; and Treasurer Kristen Scott.Three newly elected directors will also begin their terms in September: Douglas Bailey, S. Keli Hagen and Carol Simpson. They will join incumbent directors whose terms continue: Carolyn Graves, Rena Klein and Wolf Saar. Current President Donald Carlson will continue on the board for another year.

Film series on design

The Northwest Film Forum and the American Institute of Graphic Arts are sponsoring a series of films on design at the Little Theater on Capitol Hill, 608 19th Ave E. The series, which starts today and runs through Sunday, June 18, includes films by Ray and Charles Eames.

Design Detailings: Public hearing on Sea-Tac flight tracks

The Port of Seattle is holding a public hearing on Thursday, May 18 about staffers' recommendations on flight track changes at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The flight track changes are being proposed to mitigate aircraft noise.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the large auditorium at the airport.

Copies of the staff recommendations will be available at the meeting or may be obtained prior to the meeting by calling (206) 248-4805.

The Port Commission will not take any formal action at this meeting.

Interior designers go green

The Greenworld 2000 Environmental Forum, organized by the Washington chapter of the International Interior Design Association, will be held Thursday, May 18.

The forum, which aims to bring together designers, architects, manufacturers and suppliers, will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. in the Dome Room of the Arctic Building, 700 Third Ave.

Paul Hawken will be the keynote speaker. Other presenters include David Gottfried, founder of the U.S. Green Building Council, Judith Heerwagen, an environmental psychologist who focuses on the interplay of workplace productivity and building design, and Joyce Lavelle, senior Vice President of marketing for Interface.

Pre-paid admission at the door is $10 for students, $20 for IIDA members and $30 for nonmembers. Call (206) 223-5114 for more information.

Technical presentation on Fauntleroy Fish Passage

Tom MacBriar, engineering manager for RoseWater Engineering, on Tuesday, May 23 will present a technical presentation about the $1.3 million project to construct a new culvert and fish ladder at Fauntleroy Creek, across from the Vashon Ferry in West Seattle.

The presentation will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Rock Salt Steakhouse, 1232 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle. The cost, which includes lunch, ranges from $15 to $25. Fax reservations to the Consulting Engineers Council of Washington, the event sponsor, at (206) 224-0815.

In October 1998, after the project was completed, cutthroat trout returned to spawn in the creek for the first time in more than 80 years. The city of Seattle undertook the culvert and fish passage project as part of its urban creek drainage and restoration efforts.

The project was a merit award winner in the CECW Engineering Excellence Awards competition this year.

Public may comment on new High Point Library

The Seattle Public Library invites residents to speak with architects for the new $3 million High Point Library at a meeting on Monday, May 22.

The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Holly Hall, 3204 S.W. Holly St. For more information, call Douglas Bailey, project manager, at (206) 386-4173.

The library's board of trustees, representatives from its capital program office and designers from Selkirk Miller Hayashi Architects will talk with residents about the kinds of services, collections and programs they would like to see in the new 7,000-square-foot library, which is scheduled to open in 2001.

The library is negotiating to buy a 23,000-square-foot parcel at 35th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Graham Street for the new facility. A mini-mart, automotive repair and a former grocery store currently occupy the site.

Kubota Kato Chin moves

The office of Architects Kubota Kato Chin has moved to 6201 Roosevelt Way N.E., Seattle 98115-6614. The new telephone number is (206) 985-5800.

The firm specializes in community design and works in both public and private sectors. Current projects include the Richmond Beach community center renovation for the city of Shoreline; the Mercer Island Thrift Shop, Henderson LINK Light Rail Station for Sound Transit with Arai/Jackson; Library Square Condominiums in Bellevue; and NC Enterprises condominiums in Seattle.

The prior office location at 307 Sixth Ave. S. will be retained as a temporary project office for the International District Village Square Phase Two project. Kubota Kato Chin is working as a joint venture partner with Kovalenko Hale Architects on the project. It is a mixed-use facility, which includes a public community center, public library branch, office space, retail space and parking.

Design Detailings: A look at Link's design and construction

Sound Transit official Joe Gildner on Wednesday, May 17, will discuss the design and construction of the Link Light Rail system, focusing on how Sound Transit has dealt with the challenges involved in the $1.9 billion project to provide rail service from Sea-Tac to the University District.

The event will be held at the Rock Salt Steakhouse, 1232 Westlake Ave. N. in Seattle. It begins at 6 p.m. with a no-host social. The discussion starts at 6:30 p.m.; dinner will be held at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $23. Reservations are requested by Friday, May 12. Call reservations into Shannon & Wilson at (206) 695-6670 or e-mail lkd@shanwil.com. The event is jointly sponsored by the American Society for Engineering Management and the American Society of Civil Engineers' management in engineering committee.

WASLA holds expo and conference

The Washington Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects is holding its spring expo and continuing education conference on Friday, May 12. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Seattle Center in the Northwest rooms.

Seminar speakers include Bob Callans, American Society of Landscape Architects vice president; John Fulford, president of Turnstone Construction; James Sipes, senior associate with Jones & Jones Architects & Landscape Architects; Randy Anderson, engineering manager with David Evans and Associates; and D. Daniel Chandler, an attorney specializing in land use, wetland and environmental issues.

The ticket price includes a breakfast buffet, lunch and chance at a raffle for cash and prizes. The cost is $50 for professionals, $25 for students. To make reservations, call Margaret Hayes of WASLA at (206) 283-7090.

Capitol Hill library topic of meeting May 16

The Seattle Public Library is holding a public meeting on Tuesday, May 16, to discuss the kinds of services, collections and programs residents would like to see in the new $4.4 million Capitol Hill library.

The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Daughters of American Revolution Hall, 800 E. Roy St., drawing room. For more information, call Douglas Bailey, project manager, at (206) 386-4173.

Library representatives and designers from Johnston Architects and Cutler Architects will attend to solicit comment and answer questions about the project.

The new 10,000-square-foot library is scheduled to open in 2001. It will be constructed on the current site at 425 Harvard Ave. E.

SMPS seminar features Ford Harding

The Seattle chapter of the Society of Marketing Professional Services invites architecture and engineering professionals to share an afternoon on Thursday, May 25, with Ford Harding, one of the best- known sales and marketing professionals in the industry.

An alumnus of Northwestern and Harvard, Harding is the author of two books, "Creating Rainmakers" and "Rainmaking," and is well published in trade journals. He will lead a luncheon program from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., sign books from 1:30 to 2 p.m. and lead a workshop, "What Rainmakers Do," from 2 to 5 p.m.

The event will be held in the Noble Room, first floor of the Washington Athletic Club. The pricing options for this limited-seating venue include lunch only, workshop only or a lunch/workshop combination. For more information, go to the SMPS Seattle Web site http://www.smpsseattle.org or contact Kim Hinckley at (206) 431-2300.

A chance to comment on civic plaza design

On Friday, May 12, the landscape design team of Kathryn Gustafson and Barbara Swift will be presenting and taking public comment on the schematic design concept for Seattle's new civic plaza. This is the 2 1/2-block open space that will connect the new Justice Center on Sixth Avenue, the new City Hall on Fifth and the current Public Safety Building block between Third and Fourth avenues. The space will be created when the Municipal and Public Safety buildings are demolished.

The discussion runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 11th floor of the Municipal Building, 600 Fourth Ave. Comments expressed at the workshop will help the design team prepare the final schematic design, which is due in the summer. For more information, call (206) 233-3905.

Women in Architecture holds social

The Association for Women in Architecture is holding a social at 6 p.m. on May 16 at the new office of Mithun Partners on Pier 56, 1201 Alaskan Way, suite 200, Seattle.

AWA invites women who are new architects, as well as those in related professions, such as art and marketing, to attend. Food and refreshments will be provided. The event will also include discussion of the AWA's participation in the Summer Solstice Festival, the Denise Hunt Fellowship at the University of Washington, membership expansion and the organization's goals for the future. To make reservations, call Debbie McCauley at (425) 259-0868 or e-mail Debbie@bnharch.com.

5 firms designing San Francisco runways

Peratrovich, Nottingham & Drage and Parsons Brinckerhoff were among the five engineering firms recently awarded contracts to develop concepts for proposed new runways at San Francisco International Airport. The airport's plan calls for new runways to be placed in San Francisco Bay as a way to end chronic bad-weather delays, accommodate larger jets, improve safety and reduce noise in surrounding communities.

The other finalists are AGS, Dutra Group of the Netherlands, and T.Y. Lin International of China with Ben C. Gerwick and Han-Padron Associates.

Each firm has been awarded a $250,000 contract to further develop initial design concepts. Each firm will present its completed design concept to the airport in August. The airport will render a decision on these concepts in September.

NBBJ designer becomes honorary AIA member

Rysia Suchecka, director of NBBJ's interior design studio, has been declared an honorary member of the Seattle chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The AIA extends honorary membership to a person "of esteemed character who has rendered to the profession of architecture a valuable service ... and has conspicuously upheld the aims of the profession."

Suchecka, who was recently made a partner at NBBJ, has received national and international recognition for her work, including her 1998 induction into the Interior Design magazine's Hall of Fame.

She and other designers receiving awards will be celebrated at the AIA Seattle 2000 Honors Gala on Saturday, May 20.

Benefit dinner for CAUP students

On Friday, May 12, the University of Washington's School of Architecture will host a dinner and auction event to benefit students in their Rome program. The Italian dinner, which will be catered by the Wild Thyme Catering Co., will be held at Gould Hall Court at the UW. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Friends of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning pay $40 to attend; students pay $20. All proceeds benefit students in CAUP's Italian studies program. For reservations, call Caroline Orr at (206) 685-8406

"Tangible media" topic of UW lectures

On Monday, May 15, the University of Washington hosts a discussion of "tangible media projects," a research effort at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that seeks to give physical form to digital information -- "seamlessly coupling the dual worlds of bits and atoms." The talk will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Gould 208J, the architecture department office.

On Tuesday, May 16, the discussion focuses on "computational expressionism, a model for drawing with computation." The talk will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Gould 100, ground floor.

Joanna Berzowska, a former researcher with MIT Media Lab's Tangible Media Group, is the speaker for both events. She is currently the director of design for a high-tech startup.