Design Detailings: Entiat building named for engineer Larry Wade

Friends and co-workers of Larry Wade gathered recently to dedicate a building in his name in Entiat.

The city of Entiat recently honored civil engineer Larry Wade by dedicating the new public library and City Council chamber facilities as the Wade Building.

Wade was serving a 25-year tenure as city engineer when a plane carrying University of Washington alumni crashed over Mexico on Sept. 12, 2001, killing all passengers on board, including Wade and his wife, Judy.

Wade was also president of the Seattle-based engineering firm Hammond Collier Wade Livingstone. Entiat Mayor Wendell Black hosted the day of recognition.

Wade's expertise was instrumental in many modernization and beautification projects within the city, Black said. He added that Wade was passionate about improving community resources and infrastructure.

True North Surveying opens in Pioneer Square

True North Land Surveying is a new, certified DBE/WBE land surveying firm located in Pioneer Square, at 157 Yesler Way, Suite 301. The principals are Eileen Forrester and Tim Ingraham, who have more than 40 years of combined experience.

The firm provides services for government agencies, businesses and individuals, and looks for teaming opportunities with A/E firms and other surveying firms. Services include boundary and property surveys, ALTA/ACSM land title surveys, plats, preparation of legal descriptions, and construction, hydrographic, design, utility and roadway surveys.

The phone is (206) 332-0800, and fax is (206) 332.0802. Forrester's e-mail address is eileen_truenorth@qwest.net.

AIA to collaborate with facilities group

The American Institute of Architects' Facility Management Professional Interest Area recently announced a collaboration agreement with the International Facility Management Association.

The collaboration will allow attendees of IFMA's annual conference, World Workplace 2003, to have continuing education credits for all sessions offered at the conference, as well as open the door to a greater understanding between building owners, facility managers and the architects they hire. World Workplace 2003 will be held at the Dallas Convention Center, Oct. 19-20. This year's theme is "Pure FM, The Business of Sustainability."

Members of the AIA will be able to join IFMA members at all events, and will be eligible to receive AIA continuing education credits for all of the educational sessions offered at the conference. The AIA has created one track of educational sessions to be incorporated into the World Workplace program. The focus for the AIA-provided sessions is design and collaboration. Sessions with topics such as, "Calculating the ROI of Sustainable Design" and "What Owners Want From Architects" will be presented by architects as well as facility managers.

Zervas designs senior housing for Stanwood

Ground was broken recently for the Lincoln School Senior Apartments, located at the Stanwood Senior Center in Stanwood. Zervas Group Architects of Bellingham designed the affordable housing for seniors in affiliation with Designs Northwest Architects of Stanwood. The new building was designed to complement the architecture of the adjacent 1920s-era Lincoln School which has been converted to house the senior center’s activities as well as affordable housing.

The project is being constructed by Synergy Construction of Woodinville, and is expected to be completed in May of 2004. It is funded by grants from the HUD 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program, and Snohomish County.

Zervas Group is a 12-person firm founded in Bellingham 42 years ago, specializing in public, commercial, multi-family and custom residential projects.

Art Anderson designs Kitsap ferry prototype

Naval architecture and engineering firm Art Anderson Associates has been selected to develop the prototype for the Kitsap Transit Passenger ferry fleet. The vessels will carry 149 passengers, establish a new standard for low wake and fuel economy, and achieve high-speed transit and short headways.

Competition for the state-of-the-art vessel and docking system attracted firms from England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The Art Anderson Associates’ team drew on recent research in advanced composite dock systems; advanced hull form research including foil-assisted catamarans; and more than a decade of low-wash vessel design. Additional strength came from previous employees who are specialists in key aspects of passenger ferry systems.

Art Anderson Associates has local offices in Bremerton and Seattle, and four other office locations in the United States.

Design Detailings: Parametrix begins

$103M EPA work

Parametrix recently began work under a 10-year, $103 million architect/engineer services contract with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Under the agreement, Parametrix will provide EPA with professional architect/engineer, technical and management services to support remedial response and enforcement oversight at Superfund sites in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska.

For EPA, the AES contract plays a major role in the effective streamlining and acceleration of Superfund site cleanups and early action to reduce immediate risk to human health and the environment. This will be accomplished through integration of remedial and removal activities, with a focus on removing redundancies in the site assessment process and creating a one-step site screening and risk assessment process. Parametrix is the first company nationally to be awarded a remedial action contract under EPA’s streamlined approach.

The contract is the biggest in the firm’s history and will serve as a foundation for Parametrix to continue to increase their involvement with environmental restoration and remediation projects with the federal government.

Survey: A/E profits are bouncing back

After hitting a low in 2001, architecture, engineering, planning and environmental consulting firms' profits are on the rise again in the first half of this year.

ZweigWhite's 2003 Financial Performance Survey of A/E/P & Environmental Consulting Firms reported that the overall median net pre-tax, pre-bonus profit on net service revenue is 9.5 percent, up from 8.8 percent in the previous year.

"This was unexpected, given the still-uncertain economic conditions," said Ian Rusk, CFO at ZweigWhite and a financial consultant to the A/E/C industry. "A closer look at the data shows that the weak economy is still having an impact, as evidenced by downward pressure on the net multiplier." The net multiplier (net service revenue divided by direct labor cost) dropped from 2.92 to 2.87 over the past year.

Rusk said even with virtually stable labor utilization rates, firms still managed to increase profit margins by controlling overhead. The median overhead rate (total overhead expenses divided by direct labor cost) fell from 160 percent to 159 percent.

The survey is available from ZweigWhite for $345, plus $4 shipping and handling. Contact ZweigWhite, P.O. Box 8325, One Apple Hill Drive, Natick, MA 01760; call (508) 651-1559; or e-mail info@zweigwhite.com. The Web link is zweigwhite.com/store/svfnp03.

Joseph Greif wins Home of Year Award

Seattle's Joseph Greif Architects recently received a Home of the Year Award for the Jensen residence on Mercer Island. The award is from Seattle Homes and Lifestyles magazine.

The two-story, 4,000-square-foot house features locally quarried stone, which anchors the house to its 1-acre site and provides a framework for the stucco and timber elements. Sculpted wood columns and undulating glass walls help make the connection to nature.The contractor was Steve Williams Custom Homes; interior design was by Kate Dougherty; and the landscape architect was Greenline Services.

Saturday tour: Working Waterfront

Photo by Sam Bennett The Working Places tour on Saturday centers on the Bell Street Pier on Seattle’s waterfront, featuring buildings such as the World Trade Center and the new cruise ship terminal.

Seattle Architectural Foundation hosts "Explore Seattle's Working Waterfront Working Places: Trade and Tourism," from 9 to noon Saturday. The Working Places tour centers on the Bell Street Pier on Seattle's waterfront, featuring buildings such as the World Trade Center and the new cruise ship terminal, and discusses their impact on our area. Cost is $20.

"The City of Destiny Tacoma Renaissance" tour will be held 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. Tacoma is undergoing a face-lift in its historic warehouse district, Union Station and Foss Waterway. New developments include a mix of residential, office, retail, educational, cultural and government facilities. This full-day tour will include looks at the museums in Tacoma's new cultural center, the University of Washington Tacoma Campus, Chihuly's Bridge of Glass, and selected waterfront residences.

Following the tour will be a chance to explore either the Tacoma Art Museum, Washington State History Museum, or the Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art. Cost is $50. Call (206) 667-9184 to register for either event.

Flexible space for School of Massage

After 14 years in lower Queen Anne, Brenneke School of Massage enlisted full-service architecture firm Weber + Thompson to help consolidate their three disparate facilities into one South Lake Union location.

Running on a tight design and construction schedule to meet Brenneke's new June 1 class quarter, Weber + Thompson's interior design team created an environment that met Brenneke's need for a flexible space that served both massage clients looking to relax and a body of active students.

When planning their new space, Brenneke charged Weber + Thompson with combining the sense of calmness associated with massage with the energy and activity of student life.

"We created a design concept for the school that was flexible enough to accommodate the two distinct groups - students and massage clients," said lead interior designer Donna Shuman, a Senior Associate at Weber + Thompson. "The student spaces, such as the student lounge and study space, have lighter, brighter colors and more active flooring, while the space in the clinic - where clients receive massages from students under the supervision of an instructor - is more serene with deep color accents, sliding wood doors with bronze hardware, and lower lighting levels."

The new Brenneke school is 12,589 square feet and large enough to house their student and clinic facilities as well as the administrative offices. There are four large classrooms, designed to maximize flexibility, with built-in storage space for massage tables. Other areas include a conference room, faculty resource room, faculty lounge and a library.

The project team included S. D. Deacon, general contractor; Merit Mechanical, mechanical engineering; Evergreen Electrical Services Inc, electric engineering; and Valley Flooring, floors.

Seattle-based Weber + Thompson is a full-service, West Coast design firm specializing in architecture, interior design and planning.

Design Detailings: UW's Prakash speaks on Asian design

"Ajanta and Khajuraho: The Symbolic Role of Painting and Sculpture in South Asian Architecture," will be the topic of a lecture Saturday by Vikram Prakash. He is chair and associate professor of the University of Washington Department of Architecture. Prakash will discuss the interdependence of the arts in South Asia. The 3 p.m. event will be held at Seattle Art Museum, 100 University St., with a reception to follow.

The event is co-sponsored by People for Progress in India, in conjunction with SAM’s current exhibit, "Painted Visions from India and Pakistan, Past and Present/Intimate Worlds: Masterpieces of Indian Painting from the Alvin O. Bellak Collection." Cost is $7, and includes admission to the museum. For information, call (206) 232-8619.

Berger/ABAM makes ENR list

Berger/ABAM Engineers has been named by Engineering News-Record as one of the nation’s top 500 design firms for civil and structural engineering in the general buildings, transportation and water supply market categories. Berger/ABAM’s parent company, Louis Berger Group, Inc., in East Orange, N.J., ranked 22 of 500.

The 2003 ENR survey report was compiled by ranking design companies throughout the nation according to their revenues for professional services provided in 2002. The firms were individually classified as architect, engineer, engineer-contractor, engineer-architect, architect-engineer, environmental, geotechnical engineer, planner or other. Companies’ percentages of revenue were analyzed by market categories, including general building, manufacturing, power, water supply, sewerage/solid waste, industrial process, petroleum, transportation, hazardous waste and telecommunications.

Industra joins Portland's URS office

The URS Corp., Portland office and former employees of Industra Engineers & Consultants recently announced that they will join forces effective immediately. The former Industra employees have joined the URS team in its downtown offices at First and Southwest Columbia.

Mike Roberts, Industra's managing vice president, said several clients have already awarded new projects to URS as a result of the added resources, including the fast track design of a major new $10 million chemical manufacturing plant in Edmonton, Alberta.

Industra was most recently a wholly owned subsidiary of BE&K Engineering Company of Birmingham, Ala., and had provided engineering services in Portland since 1986. URS Corporation offers a broad range of planning, design, program and construction management services. URS has Northwest offices in Bend, Boise, Spokane, Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver, B.C.

Tours: Art Deco to adaptive re-use

Upcoming Historic Seattle tours include Art Deco Seattle Discover Tour, 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday. Cost is $12. In the upbeat period following World War I, architects combined modern structural advances with a lively catalogue of organic designs that expressed the power and rhythm of 20th century America. Visit rich interior lobbies, and see how Seattle architects incorporated distinct Pacific Northwest images into Art Deco skyscrapers, commercial building, and department stores. The tour begins at the Foundation Gallery, 1333 5th Ave.

On Tuesday, tour the Butterworth Building from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Built in the 1920s, the neo-classical gateway to the Pike/Pine corridor originally operated as the Butterworth Manning Ashmore Funeral Home. Waiting rooms and altars are now offices, and a former chapel will soon be converted into a martini bar. Tour guests will learn the difficulties of adaptive re-use projects, including how to handle "otherworldly" former tenants. Meeting place and other details will be sent with registration confirmation. Cost is $10. For both tours, contact Seattle Architectural Foundation at (206) 667-9184.

Design Detailings: Kristen Scott leads Seattle AIA

Scott

Scott was elected in 2002 for a three-year commitment to the AIA board of directors, during which she will hold the positions of first VP/president-elect, president and past-president.

Scott's first task is developing a business plan. "This plan will broaden our programming to better serve local and regional members and forge stronger connections with the allied design community," said Scott. "Having fewer, bigger events on the calendar will allow those from afar to come to Seattle for a few days, catch up with colleagues and attend the workshops we have planned."

Another item on Scott's agenda for 2004 is preparing for the 2005 Pacific Regional AIA Conference, which will be held in Seattle to honor the 111th birthday of AIA Seattle.

Scott has been a principal at Weber + Thompson since 1996. She has led the master planning team and overseen all master planned community developments. Scott is a graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in architecture.

SvR wins award for biking to work

For the second consecutive year, SvR ranked highest on the WRQ Bike to Work Challenge for mid-sized firms. Out of SvR’s 35 employees, 17 participated in the month-long challenge, posting a 49 percent ridership.

SvR participates annually for the former Bike to Work Day that was expanded this year into a month-long event from May 16 to June 15. SvR organized two teams this year -- Some Virtuous Riders and Spinning Velo Righteousness. Each participant was required to make at least eight round trips to work during the challenge. The firm's 18 riders logged 211 trips, 2,340 miles and just three crashes.

Freeman Fong's new office space honored

Freeman Fong’s new offices feature six environments, including conference and task spaces.

Freeman Fong Architecture's new office space at 505 Third Ave. W. recently received a 2003 Excellence in Remodeling Award from the Building Industry Association of Washington. The contractor was Thornberg Construction Co.

The space was selected for the award in the Commercial Under $100,000 category. The studio is located in lower Queen Anne and was a dark, cramped dot-com office before it was remodeled.

The open floor plan uses furniture layout and lighting, rather than internal structure, to create six distinct environments: reception, conference, task, library/layout, living and storage. The conference room features floating doors that are suspended from an I-beam track. The doors utilize transparent, corrugated plastic to create a private space without compromising the size of the office.

A double-decker perforated metal catwalk provides overhead storage for work stations, while plywood shelves tucked behind the conference room support product manuals and employees’ bicycles. Raw and original building materials create a natural minimalist feel in an industrial space. The stained concrete floor complements the natural wood of the workstations and furniture.

Design Detailings: Thursday talk: Skyspace construction

Photo by Laura Swimmer Skyspace visitors can see the sky through an opening in the roof.

Henry Art Gallery director Richard Andrews will lead a discussion Thursday titled "Light and Sky: Building the Henry's Skyspace." Bruce Donnally of Donnally Architects and Richard Manderbach, principal with KrekowJenningsInc, will also speak. The event will be at 7 p.m. in the Henry Art Gallery Auditorium.

This event explores the design, construction and details that went into creating James Turrell's Skyspace. Andrews initiated and directed the project, and Donnally was the architect. Richard Manderbach, project manager, will discuss the process of developing the design to Turrell's specifications, and describe the challenges of the work. Cost is $8.

Spending jumps for A/E marketing

Marketing expenses among architecture, engineering, planning and environmental consulting firms have reached an all-time high of 5.3 percent of net service revenue, an increase of 18 percent over the 4.5 percent reported in 2002.

According to ZweigWhite's 2003 Marketing Survey of A/E/P and Environmental Firms, A/E firms are investing a greater percentage of net service revenue (gross revenue minus subconsultants' fees and reimbursable expenses) than ever -- a notable statistic in light of the economic difficulties many firms have been facing over the past couple of years.

A/E firms' total marketing spending has increased by 36 percent since ZweigWhite started tracking the statistic in 1998. The survey said more than a third of firm leaders are expecting to continue to increase their spending over the next year. For more information, call (508) 651-1559.

Weber + Thompson wins marketing award

Revolutionary Marketing, a bi-monthly newsletter, honored Weber + Thompson at the recent Ideas in Action conference with a 2003 Revolutionary Marketing Award. The award was for a two-level holiday package that Weber + Thompson developed.

Designed by marketing director Courtney Rosenstein, the award-winning piece has two levels. One level, sent to vendors and colleagues, is a card that enhances the Weber + Thompson brand. The second level, sent to clients, is a gift certificate to the Bellevue's SeaStar Restaurant and Raw Bar (designed by Weber + Thompson) enclosed in a special envelope sealed with a custom cast-glass sea-star.

"We wanted our clients to have a fabulous dinner at SeaStar to thank them for working with us," said Rosenstein. "At the same time, we wanted to keep our clients thinking about how they could use Weber + Thompson in other capacities. Educating them about our restaurant design skills accomplished both."

Stormwater Plus opens in Burlington

Stormwater Plus, a Burlington-based civil engineering firm, opened in May. The company provides stormwater related services to civil engineering firms and public agencies statewide, including stormwater reviews, analyses, designs, specifications watershed studies and permitting assistance.

Although primarily a subconsultant to other firms, Stormwater Plus can also provide general civil engineering services for surveyors, architects, developers, water systems and public agencies. Staff can work either out of the Burlington office, or directly at project sites or client offices.

Stormwater Plus is owned by Robert Freers. Freers has Puget Sound area consulting engineering experience since 1990, and became a licensed engineer in 1995. Stormwater Plus can be contacted at (360) 757-0380 or P.O. Box 1055, Mount Vernon, WA 98273; or visited at 130 Sharon Ave.

R.W. Beck adds fuel market services

Management consulting and engineering firm R. W. Beck, Inc. recently launched a practice area that will focus on providing fuel market consulting services to support the natural gas and power industries.

The practice will integrate power, fuel and gas market expertise. R. W. Beck has hired a 17-year energy industry veteran, Catherine Elder, to lead these activities. She will be based in Sacramento.

Elder has been involved in helping clients understand natural gas market risk and developing gas price forecasts and fuel plans to match that risk with power market economics.

The fuel market practice will offer market outlooks, natural gas market price forecasts, fuel plans, regulatory support, strategy development and due diligence reviews/studies for project financing, divestitures and acquisitions.

Mithun takes bike-to-work honor

Mithun earned a top-tier ranking in Seattle’s first Annual WRQ Bike to Work Month. Thirty-two Mithun staff members participated in what is one of the nation's largest bicycle commuting events. The former WRQ Bike to Work Day has been expanded into a month-long event to raise awareness of bicycle commuting benefits, including increasing physical fitness, reducing stress, saving money and reducing traffic congestion

Mithun earned the top prize for the highest percentage of riders in any workplace or organization with 100 or more people, with 32 of the firm's 132 people participating. At 24 percent participation, Mithun beat second-place-finishers the Washington State Department of Transportation and the National Parks Service by 15 percentage points.

Mithun’s biking team, "Top Heavy," finished second for the most new bike commuters and trips for one team, with 10 riders logging 82 new commuter trips.

"Our offices were designed with bicyclists in mind -- we have a newly expanded bike rack and showers on-site," said Mithun's Sean Cryan. "When your company goes out of its way to make biking to work this easy, there’s no reason not to do it."

Design Detailings: Arup’s Balmond speaks Aug. 6

Cecil Balmond

Balmond is chair of the London-based European division of the engineering consortium Arup. His structural systems are known for generating innovative solutions.

Balmond has collaborated with architects Rem Koolhaas on Seattle Public Library, Daniel Libeskind on the World Trade Center proposal and Lord Norman Foster on banks in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Philip Johnson said Balmond is "changing shapes for the world."

Balmond has published three works that explore the roots of creativity from his unique perspective: "Unfolding," co-authored with Libeskind, "Number 9: The Search for The Sigma Code," and "Informal."

Advance tickets are $10, at Peter Miller Books. Remaining tickets will be available at the door for $12. For more information see www.space-city.net, contact etc@space-city.net, or call (206) 842-2283.

AIA: firms seeing modest increase

The American Institute of Architects released the results of its Work-on-the-Boards, a monthly survey that provides an up-to-date snapshot of what is happening in the architecture and construction industries.

The survey lends perspective to traditional analysis of the construction market and provides alternative data for use as economic indicators both nationally and regionally.

Highlights include:

• Business conditions continue to edge up gradually at U.S. architecture firms.

• Regional billings trends show that firms in a single region -- the Midwest -- are responsible for the monthly improvement in business conditions.

• Compensation increases are modest at firms: Overall weakness in the economy plus mixed trends in the construction sector have limited compensation increases at architecture firms so far this year.

Gensler uses open space design

Gensler’s open workspace design leaves ample room for growth.

Gensler Architecture, Design & Planning Worldwide has opened a new office in a renovated historic building in downtown Seattle.

The new design jettisons the typical formal offices and creates a single open workplace environment, inviting clients, vendors and consultants visiting the offices to view the Gensler projects at their core. Gensler’s 6,000-square-foot offices will allow for growth. The staff is now 15 designers and architects. Gensler will occupy the third floor of 1524 Fifth Ave.

"Our new office offers the opportunity of demonstrating our design capabilities and our philosophy about space usage. We are really excited about the 50-yard-line seat location in Seattle," said Linda Moriarty, Gensler Seattle’s managing principal and vice president. "By taking down the traditional closed-office design and opening up the floor it both floods the space with daylight and encourages internal knowledge-sharing and collaboration."

Luncheon on Spokane renaissance

The Aug. 14 program and luncheon meeting of Marketing Associates of Spokane will be presented by Rob Brewster, president of ConoverBond Development and ConoverBond Properties.

Brewster will discuss Spokane development projects and the overall vision for the city. Brewster will also look at how the architectural, engineering and construction industry can play a part in the city's future.

The meeting will take place at noon at the Red Lion River Inn, 700 N. Division St., Spokane. Cost is $15 for MAS members and $25 for non-members. Reservation deadline is Aug. 11. For membership information or to make a reservation, contact David Dowers at (509) 536-3853 or visit the MAS website at www.maspokane.org.

Design Detailings: Architect Ann Beha speaks Thursday

AnnBehaArchitects is redesigning Portland's Masonic Temple as part of the Portland Art Museum expansion. The design establishes a new image for the landmark.

Ann Beha, of the Boston firm AnnBehaArchitects, will speak from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday in a presentation titled "Mass Versus Glass -- Portland Art Museum." The event, part of AIA Seattle Continuing Education, will be held at AIA, 1911 First Ave. Cost is $35 for members, and $70 non-members.

Participants will take part in a discussion and presentation on the Portland Art Museum expansion. The project will be located in the 1927 Masonic Temple, adjacent to the museum. The Masonic Temple presents formal, closed facades and the new design offers access and transparency, using glass and light to contrast with the masonry mass. For information, call (206) 448-4938.

Design Center forum on garden serenity

Seattle Design Center presents two seminars on Thursday, part of its Third Thursday design seminar series. The seminars are "Water Sculpture: Add Movement and Beauty to Your Designs" and "Blending Design Styles Effectively." Both will be held at 5701 Sixth Ave. S.

From 9 to 10 a.m. water sculpture artist Archie Held presents his ideas, using Seattle Design Center's newest outdoor/leisure showroom as a background. He will show how to create wonder and serenity in both home and garden design through the use of water sculpture. Held's work includes Harrah's Resort in Nevada, Sky Tokyo Club in Japan and Sephora in San Francisco.

From 11 a.m. to noon, discover how to pair eclectic styles of rugs and furniture to create pleasing and cohesive designs. Latitudes Carpet and Rugs and Designer Furniture Galleries will join guest speaker Jennifer Wilder to share ideas.

Third Thursday seminars are free and open to members of the design trade only. Call (206) 762-1200 to RSVP. Free parking is available in front of the Atrium entrance and in the parking garage located just north of the Atrium building.

Former TAM director to run Building Museum

The Board of Trustees of the National Building Museum announced the appointment of former executive director of the Tacoma Art Museum Chase W. Rynd as president of the Washington, D.C., museum.

Between 1993 and 1998 at TAM, Rynd helped coordinate exhibits, including the only North American viewing of ceramics from the Marina Picasso Collection, comprising pieces originally in Picasso’s private collection. He was also instrumental in the museum’s campaign to build its new facility, designed by architect Antoine Predock.

From 1990 to 1993, Rynd developed and directed Seattle’s Security Pacific Gallery, a public gallery space with programs designed to enhance the city’s arts environment. Prior to that he owned his own art gallery and studied architectural photography.

From 1988 to 1992, Rynd served as chairman of the Seattle Arts Commission, a position to which he was appointed by the mayor for two consecutive terms. He started his career as a financial analyst and portfolio manager in New York City.

Most recently, he was executive director of the First Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, which is dedicated to enriching educational and cultural opportunities for diverse audiences through special exhibitions and programming.

The National Building Museum opened in 1985. The museum recently began a major strategic planning process. Rynd will lead the development of this effort and be responsible for its fulfillment.

The museum’s programs focus on architecture -- ranging from pioneer log cabins to the Victorian houses of San Francisco to contemporary green architecture -- as well as construction, engineering, design, landscape architecture, urban planning and other topics.

Design Detailings: EBDG wins Seattle small business award

Elliott Bay Design Group won a Mayor's Small Business Award for 2003. EBDG owners John Waterhouse and Ken Lane received the award at a recent luncheon hosted by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

Ten firms were recognized for their contributions to Seattle's small business community. Winners were selected for excellence in marketing, management, employee relations and community involvement.

This year, EBDG celebrates its 15-year anniversary. In 1987, Waterhouse and Lane purchased the design rights of Seattle naval architecture firm Nickum & Spaulding Associates, forming EBDG. They have steered the company to become one of the top naval architecture and marine engineering firms in the U.S. The firm recently completed contract design for the M/V Henry Island, an 81-foot landing craft for San Juan Ferry & Barge.

Other Small Business Award winners were Argosy Cruises, Asia First, Inc., Cristy Carner Salon & Spa, Family Resource Home Care, Hodge's Hair Quarters, Leschi Food Mart, Queen Anne Office Supply, Seidelhuber Iron & Bronze Works and Student Cleaning.

Design/build courses offered in Portland

The Northwest chapter of the Design Build Institute of America will sponsor two courses next week in Portland.

The first is a luncheon program, "Project Delivery Selection -- An Owner's Point of View," at noon July 16. It will be held at the Multnomah Athletic Club, 1849 S.W Salmon St.

The course addresses the question: Is there one best delivery system for a project? A panel of public and private owners will provide an overview of the issues encountered and techniques used in choosing a delivery system for a project. Determining the right delivery system for a project requires an evaluation of factors such as risk, schedule, budget, performance and owner choice can impact the success of the project.

The panel will include Larry Eisenberg, director of facilities, Washington County, Ore.; Tuck Wilson, director, New Columbia Housing Project; and Robert Burns, Oregon Department of Transportation. The panel will be moderated by Bart Eberwein, Hoffman Construction Co.

The price is $25 per person for DBIA member firms, $35 for non-members. Price includes lunch. Registration received after today is subject to a $10 additional late fee. Register online at www.acteva.com/go/dbianw. For more information, contact Darlene Septeka, septelka@wsu.edu.

The Design Build Institute, along with Washington State University's School of Architecture and Construction Management also sponsors a two-day course, "Successful Design-Build Project Delivery," July 16 and 17 at the Multnomah Athletic Club.

The two-day course will be an interactive, problem-solving course, where students can apply principles of design-build project delivery in a structured team-learning environment. Course emphasis is placed on project implementation and developing enhanced design-build services.

Speakers include Ed Wundram, principal, Design-Build Group; Robynne Thaxton Parkinson, Groff Murphy Trachtenberg & Everard; and Darlene Septelka, associate professor, Washington State University.

Cost is $525 for members and $625 for non-members. Additional course information, cost and registration can be found at www.dbia.org.

Design Detailings: Rowland to lead ACEC Washington

John Rowland, principal and co-owner of Notkin Engineering, will lead the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington as president for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.

Rowland, a mechanical engineer, has been a director for the organization and participated on various committees since 1988.

The officers and directors who will serve with Rowland include: president-elect Jim Miller of GeoEngineers; vice president Kathy Robertson of SvR Design Co.; vice president Ralph Boirum of HWA GeoSciences; directors Kurt Gahnberg of the Transpo Group, Don Graf of Berryman & Henigar; Steve Bichich of Jacobs Civil; Dan Dixon of HNTB; Jeff Shupe of D. Hittle & Associates; and returning national director Jerry Williams.

"One of our primary goals this year is to help people understand what engineers do," said Rowland. "From attracting young people to the profession to helping people comprehend engineers’ commitment to the safety and comfort of the built environment, our message is that not only is our work vital but also interesting and fun."

For more information, contact (425) 453-6655.

Artists prepare for 'Library Unbound'

The Seattle Public Library board of trustees has named four artists to complete residencies at The Seattle Public Library and present proposals for permanent artworks at the new Central Library as part of the "Library Unbound" project.

The artists are: Mandy Greer of Seattle; Renée Green of New York City and Spain; George Legrady of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and Lynne Yamamoto of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greer is a textile artist who creates soft sculptures based on imagery from children’s books. Green is a mixed-media artist who frequently combines audio work with text. Legrady addresses organizational systems through his new media work. Mixed-media artist Yamamoto uses symbolic imagery and historical and political material to examine cultural and social issues in her subtle installation work.

The artists will be invited to complete a one- or two-week residency at the Temporary Central Library in September to learn about library operations, collections and the new building, which will guide their design proposals. The library will select up to three proposals that deal with social structures, people and systems to install in the new building.

Security fears boost water work

Sixty-five percent of municipal water and wastewater systems serving the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. plan on contracting with design or construction firms to assist in projects directly related to homeland security.

This is one of several findings contained in the 2003-2006 Municipal Water & Wastewater Market For Design and Construction Firms, a new market research report by management consulting and publishing firm ZweigWhite.

Large municipal water systems have completed vulnerability assessments mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and are implementing capital projects recommended in those assessments. Large municipal wastewater systems are awaiting enactment of federal legislation that will provide them with millions of dollars to conduct vulnerability assessments of their own.

"Many systems throughout the country are spending money on design and construction services to help them with capital improvements related to homeland security," said Christopher Klein, a principal with ZweigWhite and one of the editors of the 426-page report. Klein says that most of the homeland security market opportunities for design and construction firms are with the largest systems in the country.

The 2003-2006 Municipal Water & Wastewater Market for Design and Construction Firms is available from the publisher for $495, plus $4 shipping and handling. Contact ZweigWhite, P.O. Box 8325, One Apple Hill Drive, Natick, MA 01760, or call (508) 651-1559. The e-mail address is info@zweigwhite.com, or go online to www.zweigwhite.com/store/inwas03.

How Spokane saved Fox Theatre

The July program and luncheon meeting of Marketing Associates of Spokane will look at the marketing strategies that were used to save the historic Fox Theatre. The presentation will be made by Lorna Walsh of the Spokane Symphony.

The meeting will be held a noon Thursday, July 10, at the Fox Theatre, 1005 W. Sprague Ave. The cost is $15 for MAS members and $25 for non-members. Reservation deadline is Monday.

For membership information or to make a reservation, contact MAS Vice President David Dowers at (509) 536-3853 or see the MAS Web site at www.maspokane.org.

SMPS selects student for undergrad scholarship

The Outreach Committee of the Society for Marketing Professional Services Seattle Chapter has selected civil engineering student Eben "Cole" Olsen to receive the chapter’s first undergraduate scholarship.

Presentation of the $1,000 scholarship took place SMPS Markee Awards Gala June 18. Olsen has just completed his third year at of Oregon State University, where he is majoring in civil engineering.

This year’s award was open to students currently enrolled and pursuing four-year degrees in marketing, architecture, engineering, environmental, or construction management professions. The application process required that all applicants submit information and essays on the role marketing has played in their educational and professional lives. Applicants were asked to describe honors and awards they had received, activities they were involved with, their knowledge of marketing, and even to describe a marketing project in which they had played a significant role.

"His background with an engineering consulting firm, construction company, and local agency public works department was impressive, and demonstrated commitment and comprehension of the value of marketing within the architecture, engineering, and construction industry," said Tosha Vandegrift, Seattle chapter president.

The undergraduate scholarship was funded by SMPS Seattle and Berger/ABAM Engineers Inc., who has sponsored a portion of the award.

Design Detailings: EBDG cruises to win Quick & Dirty Race

Dan Thrush, Mark Ranson and Jason Bone of Elliott Bay Design Group raced to first place in the Quick and Dirty Boatbuilding Competition.

With $15 in materials and ample determination, Elliott Bay Design Group recently won the Seattle Pacific Maritime Festival Quick & Dirty Boatbuilding Competition on Lake Union.

The Seattle-based naval architecture firm built a 19-foot, 4-inch rowboat using 1/4-inch plywood and 2x4s. With only six hours to build the craft, the team's focus was on winning the racing portion of the event.

The Quick & Dirty Race was made up of three qualifying heats, with the winner of each heat competing in the final race. The EBDG team set a new course record of 1 hour, 45 minutes. Jensen Maritime Consultants came in second and Vic Franks Boat Co. was third.

ACEC design forum tackles principal issues

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington is sponsoring an eight-part continuing education curriculum for design firm principals and new/aspiring principals. The series runs Sept. 11 through April 20.

Registration begins Tuesday, and the cost is $1,500 for ACEC Washington member firms or $2,500 for non-members. The participation fee includes: a pre-class social at Gordon Biersch in Seattle; eight, four-hour sessions; resource materials; continental breakfasts; and a final session lunch. It also includes free meeting registration for the ACEC Washington Winter Meeting on Jan. 7.

The sessions include such topics as leadership/professional development; finance and accounting; ownership transfer planning; and contracts and liabilities. Participants are asked to commit to attend all sessions. Participants are eligible for four professional development hours per session, for a total of 32.

Make checks payable to ACEC Washington, and mail along with registration to: ACEC Washington, 700 112th Ave. N.E. Suite 207, Bellevue 98004. For additional information, call ACEC Washington (425) 453-6655. Deadline for registration is Aug. 8.

Rice Fergus designs college bookstore

Bremerton's Rice Fergus Miller Architecture & Planning will work with the state of Washington and Olympic College to design the college's bookstore renovation and expansion. Keith Smith of GGLO will design the bookstore interior.

The project will include adding 3,600 square feet to the display and customer service areas, and a "convenience store" will be added to the existing space. The Bremer Student Center entrance will also be renovated along with the project.

Rice Fergus Miller is an architectural and planning firm in downtown Bremerton.

Architecture a draw at Predock's TAM

Tacoma Art Museum, which in May celebrated the grand opening of its new $22 million, Antoine Predock-designed building, recently announced that it exceeded projections for both attendance and revenues for the first month.

As of June 3, 17,683 people came to see the opening exhibitions, 118 percent of what the organization projected, compared with only 2,567 people who attended in May 2002. Admission revenues were 132 percent of projections, as well. The museum store, in its first month of operation, took in more revenues than the store did all year in the previous building: $92,000 in May 2003 versus $84,000 for the entire year of 2002.

The museum credits the response to positive reviews of the architecture, how well the architecture supports the museum's mission to connect the community to art, and interest in the inaugural exhibitions.

AIA: After 4 bad years, construction to rebound

AIA chief economist Kermit Baker recently projected a commercial construction upturn next year, reversing a four-year slide.

Baker said the bad news is that the recovery is taking longer to materialize than most expected. The consensus is that nonresidential construction will be down about 5 percent this year, the fourth straight year of decline in nonresidential contracts. Cumulatively, the decline over this period is likely to total almost 25 percent.

The good news is that there is a firm consensus that the situation will improve next year. Overall, the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel is projecting an average increase of over 4 percent in nonresidential construction, with a 6 percent gain in commercial activity and a 15 percent increase in the industrial construction market.

For the whole forecast, go to http://www.aia.org/ecomark/tw0606/0606kermit_consensus.htm.

Design Detailings: Leavengood designs SAM studio

Photo by Sam Bennett Seattle Art Museum’s conservation studio, designed by Leavengood Architects, will be used for treatment of artwork.

Seattle Art Museum's new conservation studio opened this spring. The 1,600-square-foot Neukom Conservation Studio was designed by Leavengood Architects and is located on the fifth floor of SAM. The studio will provide space for preserving and examining works of art in the collection.

Led by Nicholas Dorman, SAM’s chief painting conservator, work in the studio will range from executing structural repairs to doing research in collaboration with curators.

Illuminated with daylight, fluorescent lighting and gallery lights, the studio includes its own heating, ventilation and air-conditioning unit as well as ceiling-mounted extraction tubes, a fume cabinet and a spray room to prevent conservation-studio aromas from disturbing workers in adjacent offices or visitors in the galleries.

The first works of art to be treated in the finished studio will include a number of paintings by Kenneth Callahan, Morris Graves, Guy Anderson and Mark Tobey for the new Tacoma Art Museum’s inaugural exhibition.

Fall seminar: designing for fire

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers and the Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers will host a conference "Designing Structures for Fire," in Baltimore Sept. 30 to Oct. 1.

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, building performance under fire conditions has received significant attention from the research and engineering communities. This two-day event will serve as a forum for exchange on recent advancements in fire resistance design among researchers, fire protection engineers, structural engineers, architects and regulators.

The conference kicks off with a session analyzing the failure of the World Trade Center structure. In addition, representatives from 12 countries will present 29 papers. Other sessions include: Fire Analysis; Alternatives to U.S. Codes; Fire Resistance Evaluation of Structural Members: Concrete, Wood, and Gypsum; Analytical Approach to Design Methods for Structural Response to Fire; and Real Building Design Case Studies.

Additional information for both programs can be found at www.sfpe.org or by contacting SFPE at (301) 718-2910.

Parametrix makes 'best companies' list

For the second consecutive year, Sumner-based Parametrix has been recognized as one of Washington’s best companies to work for by Washington CEO Magazine.

The Washington CEO’s "Best Companies to Work For" list includes 50 companies in Washington who ranked by their leadership, communication, hiring, training, rewards and recognition, responsibilities, standards, benefits and work environment.

Parametrix ranked 10th overall among medium-size companies based on total score and among the Top 50 companies in the state overall.

Founded in Washington in 1969, Parametrix is an employee-owned engineering, environmental sciences, and architectural company. The firm’s 425 employees are located in 10 offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and New Mexico.

AIA survey: firms seeing a recovery

The American Institute of Architects recently released the results of its Work-on-the-Boards, a monthly survey that provides a snapshot of the architecture and construction industry. WOTB lends additional perspective to traditional analysis and provides alternative data for use as economic indicators both nationally and regionally. Highlights include:

• U.S. architecture firms reported an improvement in billings in April, continuing a recovery that began in March.

• Business absorbs principals' time. With project work scarce and budgets tight at many firms, firm principals and partners are finding that they need to spend a lot of their time on project management and business development activities.

For the Work-on-the-Boards survey results, see www.aia.org/ecomark/otb0418.pdf.

Allied Arts has a ball on solstice

Allied Arts will hold its annual summer party on Saturday at Pier 57. The Waterfront Crystal Ball, from 7 p.m. to midnight, will celebrate the longest night of the year and support the work of Allied Arts to make the waterfront Seattle a great civic space. The dinner buffet features food from Alibi Room, Campagne, Cutter's Bayhouse, Earth and Ocean, and Essential Baking Co.

Entertainment is provided by Afro-Cuban salsa music, carousel rides and Zen tarot card readings, and performances by DJ Shapeshifter, Dappin' Butoh P.A.N.

Tickets are $75 and support Allied Arts of Seattle. Call (206) 624-0432 to pay by credit card or send check to: Allied Arts of Seattle, 216 First Ave. S., Suite 253, Seattle 98104. For more information call Allied Arts at (206) 624 0432.