Going carless in Pike/Pine

The Seattle Department of Transportation has launched an informational campaign that promotes walking, bicycling and taking mass transit in the Pike/Pine neighborhood.

Beer coasters, informational flyers and a Web site are part of the city’s efforts to educate people about the issues, improve access to Seattle business districts and protect the environment. Campaign materials ask readers to examine their transportation options and visit the department’s mobile device oriented “Way to Go, Seattle!” Web page.

IIDA event tonight on Capitol Hill

TOAST! 2009, an event that hightlights the work done by the Northern Pacific IIDA chapter over the past year, is from 5:30 to 9 p.m. tonight at Capitol Hill’s Pravda Studios at 1406 10th Ave., Suite 200. The event will also include a discussion of events and work planned for next year.

Learn more and register at http://www.iida-northernpacific.org. Contact Amy Rudkin at amy@fullassoc.com or (206) 251-1700.

CityClub event: Seattle housing

Is housing still part of the social safety net? How do experts in the housing field see the challenges and opportunities of the coming decade? What new pressures will we see in the housing market due to economic conditions?

A CityClub event on Friday will take on the state of housing in Seattle. The program runs from noon to 1:30 p.m., with registration starting at 11:30 a.m., at Rainier Square’s third floor atrium at 1333 Fifth Ave.

Panelists include Linda Hall of YWCA of Seattle King County, Betsy Lieberman of Building Changes, David McCracken, a retired University of Washington professor, Adrienne Quinn of the Seattle Office of Housing and Heyward Watson of Impact Capital. Former Mayor Norm Rice will moderate.

Learn more and register at http://www.seattlecityclub.org or call (206) 682-7395.

Arts and Crafts work on display

The exhibition “beautiful necessities” opens May 30 at the Museum of History & Industry. It highlights exceptional work from the Arts and Crafts Movement in Washington and Oregon during the first quarter of the 20th century.

Buildings and interiors, furniture, glass, metalwork, ceramics, textiles, fine arts, graphics and book arts, and photography will be shown, with more than 175 objects drawn from public and private collections and more than 130 reproduced graphics.

Curators are Larry Kreisman of Historic Seattle and Glenn Mason, co-owner of Cultural Images. The exhibition is based on a book by Kreisman and Mason.

Learn more at http://www.seattlehistory.org or (206) 324-1126.

Tour Chicago with CTBUH

Will you be in Chicago in May, June or July? During those months the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is offering tours of three Chicago skyscrapers now under construction. Guided by the professionals involved, the tours will address development and construction of the newest additions to the Chicago skyline.

The tour of the Legacy at Millennium Park is scheduled for Friday. The tour of the Aqua Tower is scheduled for Friday, June 19. The tour of the Blue Cross Blue-Shield Tower is scheduled for Friday, July 17. All tours start at 2:30 p.m. and take about two hours. Participation is open to all CTBUH members and free of charge. Capacity is limited to 20 people per visit on a first come first served basis. Sign up by sending an email to Jan Klerks at jklerks@ctbuh.org.

Design discussion on Wendell Lovett

Docomomo WEWA is holding a panel discussion on the work of Seattle architect and University of Washington faculty member, Wendell Lovett from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27. The free event includes an exhibit, discussion and reception, and will be held at UW’s Gould Hall. It is open to the public.

The panel will feature Professor Grant Hildebrand, architectural historian, author, and UW professor emeritus; R. Thomas Hille, Seattle architect and author; and Charles Williams III, architect and former collaborator of Wendell Lovett. The discussion will be moderated by Alan Michelson, head of the Architecture and Urban Planning Library at UW.

To learn more, go to http://www.docomomo-wewa.org/.

Finnish architects' summer homes

The Nordic Heritage Museum is displaying the exhibit “My Paradise: 100 Years of Finnish Architects' Summer Homes” through May 31, featuring the summer homes of 20 renowned Finnish architects, including Lars Sonck, Eliel Saarinen, Alvar Aalto and Juhani Pallasmaa.

The exhibition includes new photographs by Jari Jetsonen and historical photographs from the collections of museum and architects. It is organized in collaboration with the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Alvar Aalto Museum.

The Nordic Heritage Museum is at 3014 N.W. 67th St. in Ballard. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Learn more at http://www.nordicmuseum.org/.

Greenbuild 2009 will be in Phoenix

This year, Greenbuild is heading to Phoenix, a region with unique environmental and social challenges and opportunities.

Greenbuild 2009 will focus on how to bring green to everyone, and bring everyone to green. Greenbuild 2009 is titled “Main Street Green: Connect to the Conversation” and will run from Nov. 11 to 13. Learn more about speakers and events and register online at http://www.greenbuildexpo.org.

Regional credits now part of LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council has released LEED regional credits as part of LEED 2009, the new version of the LEED Green Building Rating System. These credits encourage addressing regional environmental priorities in design, construction and operations of buildings.

With the help of USGBC's regional councils, chapters and affiliates, credits for dealing with six specific environmental issues within a region were identified from among the existing LEED credits. A project can be awarded as many as four extra points.

LEED 2009 is one of the three major components that make up LEED Version 3, the next version of the program, launched April 27. Learn more at http://www.usgbc.org/leed2009.

Entries sought for waterfront awards

The Waterfront Center is seeking entries for its 23rd annual Excellence on the Waterfront awards program until June 22. The awards honor projects, plans, citizen efforts and student work.

This year, a new category — engineering and public work — has been added. Learn more and download an entry form at http://www.waterfrontcenter.org.

The conference, Urban Waterfronts: Sustainable Solutions, will be held this year at the Seattle Waterfront Marriott from Oct. 22 to 24.

BCRA seminars will focus on air barriers

BCRA's Building Science department will present four two-day seminars to educate design-build contractors on new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requirements for air tightness of federal buildings. Contractors will learn how to identify major pitfalls that lead to a failed building enclosure, and understand the components required for pressure testing a large structure. Participants will also travel to local military installations to experience air barrier testing first hand.

The seminars will feature Alexander Zhivov, from the USACE-Construction Engineering Laboratories, and Laverne Dalgleish, with the Air Barrier Association of America. The first seminar will be in Tacoma on May 19 and 20. A seminar will also be held in Seattle on Aug. 12 and 13. Seminars will also be held in El Paso, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Learn more at http://www.airbarrierseminar.com.

Tacoma landmarks board has opening

The Tacoma City Council is seeking qualified individuals for the at-large position on the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The position is open to Tacoma residents who have a demonstrated interest and familiarity with basic historic preservation issues, either through professional practice or volunteer work.

The 11 citizen volunteers serve three-year terms. The appointee will serve the remainder of a vacant term that ends Dec. 31. Applications are due no later than May 22. Download an application at cms.cityoftacoma.org/cityclerk/Files/Documents/CBCApplication.pdf or contact Cindy Leingang at (253) 594-7848.

AIA 2030 series starts in Seattle

The AIA+2030 Professional Series, a series of 10 four-part sessions, is a national pilot program endorsed by Architecture 2030 to help design professionals create buildings that meet the ambitious energy efficiency goals of the 2030 Challenge. The series has sessions once a month and starts this week at AIA Seattle.

The sessions offer strategies to reach 50 percent reduction in fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions, giving design professionals the knowledge and leverage to create next-generation, super-efficient buildings, and provide firms with the skills that will set them apart in the marketplace. All sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn more at http://www.aiaseattle.org/node/2720.

Artist workshop on public art

A free workshop, “Public Art in Two Dimensions,” will help studio artists, including painters, printmakers and photographers gain insights into creating art for public places. The workshop runs from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, May 18, at Seattle City Hall's Bertha Knight Landes Room at 600 Fourth Ave.

The workshop, presented by the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, begins the 2009 series of public art workshops designed to offer emerging and experienced artists a chance to network and learn about the public art process. Artists Deborah Mersky, Barbara Earl Thomas and Robert Yoder will share experiences translating two-dimensional work into art for public places.

The workshop is free but advance registration is required. Contact Eleanor (Elly) Beerman at eleanor.beerman@seattle.gov or (206) 233-3930.

'Objectified' film screening at Cinerama

Tickets are on sale for a screening of "Objectified", a documentary about the relationship between manufactured objects and the people who design them. Objectified had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March.

The Seattle screening of the movie is at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10 at the Cinerama at 2100 Fourth Ave. The screening includes a post-film discussion with director Gary Hustwit. Tickets cost $15 for students, AIGA and IDSA members and $20 for everybody else. Learn more and get tickets at: http://www.objectifiedfilm.com/special-screening-in-seattle/

Shoreline recycling station wins again

Photo courtesy KPG [enlarge]

The Shoreline Transfer and Recycling Station was selected as a Public Works Project of the Year for 2009 by the American Public Works Association. The award honors management and administration of public works projects. The facility re-opened in February of 2008 following a two-year redevelopment and is certified LEED platinum.

Green features include solar panels, maximum daylighting through translucent wall panels and overhead skylights, and a natural ventilation system that pushes air through the building. The building also has low-VOC paints and adhesives, bioswales and a water harvesting system that collects rain from the one-acre roof to wash floors and equipment, and flush toilets.

The project won an Honorable Mention from AIA Seattle in last year’s What Makes it Green? awards, and earned the Northwest Construction Consumer Council’s Grand Award — Project of the Year and the Green Project of the Year awards last year.

A/E/C professionals invited to charity gala

Design professionals from around the Puget Sound are invited to take part in LEVEL’s Fashion + Forward gala from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the third floor of Pacific Place (at the former Ann Taylor space).

LEVEL is a local design industry organization that provides tangible goods to local causes. The organization chooses one cause every year. Thursday’s gala aims to engage professionals from local architecture, interior design, development, planning and construction firms, along with associated industries, to gather business clothing donations for sharing and charity.

The donations will be professionally merchandised by retail design specialists, allowing donors the ability to exchange or purchase something new, as well as simply sharing the joy of giving. All net proceeds will be donated to the YMCA’s Dress for Success and Redmond Family Village’s Working Wardrobe programs.

Both programs provide men and women in need with business attire for job interviews.

The event costs $10 and tickets can be purchased online or in person at the gala.

Clothing donations are also still being accepted. Visit LEVEL at http://www.levelhelp.org for more information.

Awards for civic design on May 14

The AIA Washington Council will hold a Civic Design Awards ceremony honoring the best state designs for public use buildings and spaces at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14 at the ACT Theater at 700 Union St. The awards ceremony will follow a hosted cocktail reception.

Tickets cost $10 and include cocktails and appetizers. Tickets may be pruchased at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/65916

To learn more about the awards or the ceremony, contact Stephanie Hon at (360) 943-6012 or go to http://www.aiawa.org.

Golder acquires Denver company

Golder Associates has acquired the assets of Engineering and Hydrosystems, a Denver-based consulting firm specializing in hydrology and hydraulics, sediment, river engineering and design, and reservoir and water supply management.

The firm has expertise in rock scour assessment and mitigation design, sediment transport modeling and fluvial geomorphology, sustainable management of raw water supply systems, and mine surface water, erosion and sedimentation management.

The six engineers and scientists will add to Golder’s capabilities in water infrastructure design, safety assurance, management and maintenance.

The group co-developed the Reservoir Conservation approach for the World Bank, used globally to identify ways to sustainably manage surface water reservoirs. E&H president and principal George W. Annandale will join Golder as a practice/program leader. Annandale, a civil engineer with 35 years of experience, is an expert on scour and reservoir sedimentation management.

Inquiries pick up for landscape architects

Though landscape architecture firms continue to struggle, small signs of improvement could be on the horizon, according to the latest quarterly survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects, released April 23. For the first time since 2007, the number of firms reporting average or above inquiries increased from one quarter to the next.

Overall, about a quarter of firms reported average or above inquiries in the first quarter of the year, up from 21.5 percent last quarter. This represents the first quarter-to-quarter increase in inquiries since the survey launched in November of 2007.

However, firms reporting average or above hours continued to drop, moving from 31.2 percent last quarter to 25.2 percent currently. In addition, 11.2 percent of firms plan to hire in the upcoming quarter, down slightly from 12.8 percent last quarter.

The survey also asked firms about potential work from economic stimulus funds in their markets. Nearly six in 10 reported stimulus funds in their markets, and 7.8 percent of all firms said they received project assignments as a result. More than 56 percent of firms said they believed that stimulus finds tied to green initiatives would result in additional work for landscape architects.