Seminar explores housing boom

The Seminar Group is holding “Housing and Mixed-Use Development in Washington: Cashing in on the Boom and Avoiding Litigation” March 17 and 18 at Hilton Seattle.

Program co-chairs are Gregory A.V. Clark of Foster Pepper and Samuel Jacobs of Helsell Fetterman.

Presenters include Erich Armbruster of Ashworth Homes, Robert Bombino of RDH Building Sciences, Kevin Desmond of King County Metro Transit, Gary M. Fallon of Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson, Henry G. Liebman of American Life, Brian R. O'Connor of O'Connor Consulting Group, Robert Pantley of Natural and Built Environments, Faith Pettis of Pacifica Law Group, Thomas R. Pozarycki of Washington Federal, Jon Scholes of the Downtown Seattle Association, Roger Valdez of Smart Growth Seattle, Sol Villarreal of Windermere Real Estate, David M. Wertheimer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, John E. Zipper of Zipper Geo Associates, Brandon Gribben and Michael Spence of Helsell Fetterman, and Max Hanley and Suzanne Lewis of Propel Insurance.

Register at http://tinyurl.com/jxw9kz3/.

Eckhardt of ZGF wins travel funds

AIA Seattle awarded the 2016 Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship to Derik Eckhardt of ZGF Architects for his proposal called “Smarter Buildings.”

Eckhardt will travel to Boston, Amsterdam, London, Abu Dhabi and Portland to research buildings with smart technologies, from environmental controls and wastewater systems to unique user interfaces and advanced construction methods.

The goal of the $5,000 scholarship is to expand opportunities for young professionals, encourage cross-cultural dialogue and share knowledge around the globe. It is funded by Seattle-area AIA fellows and members.

Members sought for Sand Point board

The Landmarks Preservation Board is seeking three members to review applications to the Sand Point Naval Air Station Landmark District.

The committee makes recommendations to the board about requests to alter controlled features of the district. One position is for a community member, and two are for property owners, residents or tenants in the district.

To apply, send a letter of interest and a resume by March 18 to Erin.Doherty@seattle.gov or to Erin Doherty, SPNAS District Coordinator, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, P.O. Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649.

SMPS event on future of visuals

SMPS Seattle will hold a breakfast program titled “The Future of Visual Communication” at 7:30 a.m. March 22 at Washington Athletic Club in Seattle.

The speaker is Amy Balliett, CEO and co-founder of Killer Infographics, a Seattle-based visual communication company.

Cost is $45 for members, $55 for member firms and $65 for non-members before March 16. After that, it is $10 more. Register at http://tiny.cc/1xu98x/.

Learn about AIA contracts March 17

“AIA Contracts for Architects and Engineers: Provisions that can keep you out of hot water” is the title of a presentation at 5:30 p.m. March 17 at Crowne Plaza Seattle.

The Seattle Society for Design Administration is sponsoring the event.

Speakers are Sommer B. Clement, a partner at Lorber, Greenfield & Polito, and Randy Hart, a partner at OAC Services.

Tickets start at $35, and include dinner. Register at http://tinyurl.com/z6tobm7/.

Tour focuses on Art Deco design

Seattle Architecture Foundation is offering a tour at 10 a.m. Saturday to look at how technology, archeology, French design and Northwest imagery influenced some of Seattle's most impressive Art Deco buildings.

Stops on the two-hour tour include the Exchange Building, Seattle Tower and Washington Athletic Club.

Meet at Dilettante Mocha Cafe in Rainier Square at 1310 Fourth Ave.

Cost is $15. Buy tickets at http://tiny.cc/14rr8x/.

Town Hall topic: Seattle transpo

Janette Sadik-Khan and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray will talk about tackling Seattle's transportation issues at 7:30 p.m. March 21 at Town Hall Seattle at 1119 Eighth Ave.

Sadik-Khan is a former New York City transportation commissioner who has written a handbook for cities undertaking major infrastructure improvements. She'll talk with Murray about lessons learned in New York, including why adding 400 miles of bike lanes was a good idea, how to revamp streets and what a pedestrian-friendly city looks like.

University Book Store is presenting the talk.

Tickets are $32 at http://tiny.cc/a7t98x/. Each ticket admits up to two people and includes a copy of “Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution,” written by Sadik-Khan and Seth Solomonow.

How carbon pricing will affect buildings

AIA Seattle will hold a free program titled “How Carbon Pricing Will Affect the Building Industry” from 5 to 7 p.m. March 8 at 1010 Western Ave. in Seattle.

The discussion will include perspectives from Carbon Washington and Michael Mann of Cyan Strategies. Brad Boswell, AIA Washington Council's lobbyist, will moderate.

The program is organized by AIA Seattle's Public Policy Board and Committee on the Environment.

R.S.V.P. at http://tiny.cc/aju98x/.

Free talk here on deep foundations

Engineer Frank Rausche will give a free talk on “Tools for Achieving Structural and Geotechnical Quality in Deep Foundation Construction” at 5:30 p.m. March 17 in Kane Hall at the University of Washington.

Rausche, Ph.D., is the former president of GRL Engineers, and principal of Pile Dynamics. He was on a research team that developed the Case Method, Pile Driving Analyzer, Pile Integrity Tester and the APPLE load test system.

Shannon & Wilson and the UW Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering are presenting the 2016 Stanley D. Wilson Memorial Lecture, which is intended to foster thoughtful and practical engineering solutions.

A reception will follow Rausche's talk. R.S.V.P. at rsvpsea@shanwil.com or (206) 695-6743.

Arup tech talk on Gaudi's church

Tristram Carfrae, deputy chairman of Arup, will talk about the high-tech methods being used to complete Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, at 6:30 p.m. March 9 at Seattle Central Library.

The church was designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Carfrae is helping to complete the remaining 30 percent of the project.

Carfrae has also helped to design the Water Cube for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Helix Bridge in Singapore.

The talk is being presented by Space.City and is sponsored by Arup. Cost is $12 in advance, at http://tristamcarfrae.brownpapertickets.com/.

Update March 17 on building codes

A seminar on the 2015 International Building Code update will be held March 17 at Skagit Station, 105 E. Kincaid St., in Mount Vernon.

The Northwest Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and West Coast Code Consultants are hosting the event.

The speaker is Todd Snider, who has over 10 years of plan review and structural engineering design experience.

Cost is $115 for members and $155 for non-members, and includes lunch and refreshments. Register at http://tiny.cc/75ws8x/.

Tips for managing small design firms

AIA Seattle will hold a workshop on managing small design firms titled “Making Chaos Work for You,” from 1 to 5 p.m. March 16 at 1010 Western Ave.

Participants will learn tools for handling unpredictable situations that are derived from chaos theory and systems thinking. Case studies of emerging practice models will show how firms have adapted to new economic and technological realities.

The speaker is Rena M. Klein, author of “The Architect's Guide to Small Firm Management” and principal of RM Klein Consulting.

Cost is $112 to $208. Register at http://tiny.cc/e8fc8x/.

‘Greatest hits' tour set for Saturday

Seattle Architecture Foundation's tour at 10 a.m. Saturday will look at the social forces that have shaped Seattle buildings.

“Greatest Hits: Chart Toppers and Heart-Stoppers” explores some popular favorites, from the Rainier Club to the cantilevered Central Library.

The two-hour tour begins at Dilettante Mocha Cafe in Rainier Square at 1310 Fourth Ave.

Cost is $15. Register at http://tiny.cc/1asr8x/.

New design center opens on Western

The grand opening for the Center for Architecture & Design at 1010 Western Ave. is March 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It houses space for exhibitions, discussions and professional events about architecture and design, and was created by AIA Seattle, Seattle Architecture Foundation, Design in Public and AIA Washington Council.

The free celebration will include an AIA Seattle interactive exhibit titled “Experience FitNation,” which explores spaces that encourage physical activity.

Seattle Architecture Foundation will hold a workshop on “Bikeable Seattle” at 10 a.m. Ribbon cutting is at noon, and talks by Suyama Peterson Deguchi are at 1 and 3 p.m.

Kids' activities, geocaching, and food and drink will be included.

AIA: Slight dip in architecture work

Demand for design slipped in January. The architecture billings index was 49.6 in January, down from 51.3 the previous month, according to the American Institute of Architects.

The index reflects the approximate nine to 12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings.

In a press release, AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker said nonresidential design and construction market fundamentals are mostly sound but falling oil and stock prices and economic concerns may have affected projects.

The West scored the highest at 50.8, followed by the Northeast at 50.4, the South at 50.3 and the Midwest at 48.9.

SMPS forum on power of sharing

SMPS will hold a fellows forum titled “Why should the old adage ‘Knowledge is Power' become ‘Sharing is Power'?” at 4 p.m. March 10 at DCI Engineers, 818 Stewart St. in Seattle.

The SMPS fellows are Carla Thompson of NAC Architecture, Victoria Cooper of Cooper Architects, Karleen Belmont of Pace Engineers, Ted Sive of Ted Sive Consulting and Bill Strong of Bill Strong Consulting.

Cost is $30 for members, $40 for member firms and $45 for non-members.

City wants advice on First Hill projects

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is seeking volunteers to serve on committees that provide feedback about development projects at Harborview and Virginia Mason medical centers on First Hill.

The Standing Advisory Committees offer input on projects that are planned and under development to ensure they comply with master plans, which cover zoning, long-range planning and transportation.

Apply by March 7 by sending a letter of interest to maureen.sheehan@seattle.gov or to P.O. Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649.

Claiborn leaving WSU dean's job

Candis Claiborn, dean of Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture at Washington State University, will step down at the end of her term in August.

She will return to her position as a professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering.

Claiborn has been with WSU since 1991, and led the college for a decade that included the 2008 recession and the growth that followed, WSU said in a press release. Since 2009, WSU said enrollment in the college has increased by 65 percent and research expenditures by 75 percent.

Claiborn does air quality research, and has developed a research program in atmospheric aerosols, working with other institutions. She holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University.

Tour focuses on Art Deco design

A Seattle Architecture Foundation tour at 10 a.m. Saturday will look at how technology, archeology, French design and Northwest imagery influenced some of Seattle's most impressive Art Deco buildings.

Stops on the two-hour tour include the Exchange Building, Seattle Tower and Washington Athletic Club.

Meet at Dilettante Mocha Cafe in Rainier Square at 1310 Fourth Ave.

Cost is $15. Buy tickets at http://tiny.cc/y1rr8x/.

AIA meeting on women in design

“Women working with women, collaboration and mentorship” will be the topic at a meeting Friday of the AIA Seattle Women in Design committee.

The meeting is from noon to 1 p.m. at the AIA Seattle office at 1010 Western Ave.

The committee meets the last Friday of every month at the office.