Feb 13, 1996

W.G. Clark

Hal Ferris has been promoted to vice president and Greg Schroeder has joined as project manager at W.G. Clark Construction in Seattle. Ferris joined W.G. Clark in 1990 as a senior project manager. He also oversees the company's marketing program. Ferris holds a civil engineering degree from the University of Washington and an MBA from the University of Portland. Schroeder was previously employed by Edifice Construction of Seattle. He was graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in construction management.

South Park trail to be dedicated

A new nature trail that promises to benefit area residents and local wildlife will be dedicated Feb. 14, the Seattle Engineering Department has announced. Dedication ceremonies will take place at noon at the Meyers Way Park and Ride lot at Olson Place in South Park. The 3/4-mile path winds beside a series of water purification ponds, presenting numerous hands-on opportunities for local students and residents to learn about the importance of clean water in protecting the environment. Interpretive signs along the trail give the history of the site and describes the numerous types of indigenous plants and animals found there. Four sedimentation ponds help filter the water and provide an excellent natural habitat for local wildlife. The trail is the result of cooperation between the Seattle Engineering Department's Drainage and Wastewater Utility through its stewardship Through Environmental Partnerships along with several other community groups.

Pollution prevention design tool developed

Pacific Northwest National Laboratories will begin work on a new software tool to help chemical engineers incorporate pollution prevention into the design of new and retrofit processes. Through a partnership involving the Center for Clean and Industrial Treatment Technologies at Michigan Technological University and the Center for Waste Reduction Technologies under the auspices of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, PNNL will expand its software to include design guidelines for chemical processes. The chemical processes include reactor design, separations design, and other unit operations common to the chemical process industry. The software will be developed as part of the Clean Process Advisory System. Funding for the project is provide by the EPA. For more information contact Scott Butner at 528-3290. This information is provided by Pollution Prevention Northwest, published by the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Research Center.

Foster acquires license

CLINTON, N.J. -- (BW) Foster Wheeler Environmental Corp. has acquired the exclusive license in the United States and Taiwan for the Modular Vault Dry Storage (MVDS) system for spent nuclear fuel, high-level nuclear waste and special nuclear material, it was announced by Sam Box, president and CEO. "As a full-service provider in the environmental restoration, decontamination-and-decommissioning and waste management fields, we look upon the MVDS as another major step in expanding our base to provide enhanced services to both the U.S. Department of Energy and the nuclear utility industry," Box said. Licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the MVDS system has been in use for more than 25 years in the United Kingdom and successfully operated in the United States for more than five years by Public Service Company of Colorado. The exclusive license acquired by Foster Wheeler Environmental Corp. was formerly held by Foster Wheeler Energy Corp. and GEC Alsthom, the United Kingdom-based company which designed the system. The MVDS facility was designed, NRC licensed and constructed in 24 months and continues in service today. The Modular Vault Dry Storage system offers a number of advantages over cask storage, including enhanced security and lower costs. Foster Wheeler Environmental Corp. is an international environmental consulting, engineering, and construction firm employing over 1,800 experts in a comprehensive range of environmental sciences and engineering disciplines.

Feb 09, 1996

Lyon receives SIOR Award

Jeffrey S. Lyon, vice president and associate broker with Kidder Mathews & Segner, Inc.-ONCOR International has been awarded the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) designation. Currently, only 28 commercial real estate agents in the state hold the SIOR designation.

Northwest Landing names fourth builder

Rush Construction Co. will build homes at Northwest Landing, a 3,000-arce, mixed-use development at DuPont. The Gig Harbor builder joins three other companies already selling homes in the community. Rush Construction will build 30 homes in a newly opened division on Palisade Boulevard, Northwest Landing's main residential arterial. The homes will be detached single-family residences designed in the Craftsman style. Ramblers and two-story styles will include neotraditional elements like garages behind homes and porches in front. Preliminary plans show a range of sizes from 1,300 to 2,000 square feet, priced from $130,000 to $170,000.

Feb 06, 1996

Graphic Associates

Graphic Associates, an Eastside graphic design firm, has added Rachael Colbo to its team of designers. Colbo was most recently a designer at Southern University's Office of Publications and Graphic Design in Baton Rouge, La. She joins Graphic Associates with experience in the design of publications, brochure, and annual reports.

Construction cost estimating, bidding

University of California Berkeley Extension is offering a two-day seminar in Seattle on construction cost estimating and bidding. The Feb. 12-13 program will include: how to quantify elements of risk; how to use proven bidding strategies; how to factor uncertainty into profit forecasts; how and where to include overhead in cost estimates; how to plan for productivity variables; how to deal with adjustments to estimates; and how to optimize crew size and structure. The course has been approved for credit by the American Association of Cost Engineers Certification Board. It will be held at the Mayflower Park Hotel (405 Olive Way). Cost is $945 per person, or $845 per person for three or more. To register, call (510) 643-1492. For further program information, call (510) 642-6117.

CSI meeting

The monthly meeting of the Construction Specifications Institute is scheduled for Feb. 15 at the Meany Tower Hotel in Seattle's University District. This month's topic will be specifications for the West Point treatment plant. Speakers will include Judy Cochran, West Point project manager; Henry Cody, engineering manager; and Jim Benedict, construction manager. The event will run from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Cost of dinner is $20. To make reservations, call (206) 382-3393.

Improving storm water quality

"Use of Constructed Wetlands for Improving Stormwater Quality" will be offered Feb. 20-21 by the University of Washington College of Engineering Professional Programs. Class will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both days. It will be held at the Shoreline Conference Center in North Seattle. Course topics will include project planning considerations, capabilities of constructed wetlands, design and installation criteria and guidelines, operation and maintenance criteria, and case studies and exercises. The course will also include a field trip. It will be taught by Dr. Richard Horner, an environmental engineering and science researcher and consultant. Cost of the course is $345 (or $315 if postmarked, faxed or telephoned by today). For further information, or to register, contact Engineering Professional Programs, University of Washington, 3201 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103, (206) 543-5539, fax (206) 543-2352.

DBE workshops

The state Department of Transportation has scheduled several DBE workshops for February at 6770 E. Marginal Way S. in Seattle. "Project Management" will be presented Feb. 8 by Mike Myette of INCA Engineers; "Construction Management" will be presented Feb. 15 by Karen Harmes of BACE Company; "Contract Law" will be presented Feb. 22 by Chuck Greenberg of the Triad Law Group; and "Doing Business with Primes" will be presented by Janiece Thoresen of David A. Mowat Company. All will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. For further information, contact WSDOT DBE Support Services, South Seattle Community College, Caryn Johnson, (206) 768-6857; or Mary Brown-Mason, (206) 768-6856.

Public works construction project management

TRANSPEED is offering a two-day course on public works construction project management in Seattle. Topics of the Feb. 15-16 class include design/construction process; responsibilities and authorities; records, reports and documentation; analysis and function of specifications; laws and public agency contracts; construction safety; preconstruction operations; construction planning and scheduling; measurement for payment; construction materials/workmanship; changes and extra work; claims, disputes and arbitration; risk allocation; project closeout; lien protection; self-assessment as a project representative; and construction operations. Class will be held both days 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $180 for public agency staff and $330 for others. For further information, contact Engineering Professional Programs at (206) 543-5539 or Jim McManus, TRANSPEED program manager, at (206) 543-3747.

Energy management in government buildings

The Association of Energy Engineers is holding a two-day seminar on energy management in federal, state and local government buildings. The event will be held Feb. 22-23 in Atlanta. Participants will improve their understanding of how building systems utilize energy and how to pinpoint where potential savings may be found. Registration fee is $595 for AEE members and government and nonprofit agencies. Non-members pay $695. For further information, contact AEE, 4025 Pleasantdale Road, Suite 420, Atlanta, GA 30340, (770) 447-5083, ext. 210, fax (770) 446-3969.

Housing market trends

The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties is presenting "Market Trends 2000, Housing Trends Today and Tomorrow." Participants will learn how to: target the potential of their markets, recognize demographic changes and key buyer profiles; advertise, promote and merchandise; use the right model home presentations and selling approaches; and identify product design, features and detailing that add value and generate high-impact. Seminar presenters will be Evan Barrington, Clark Rector and Bill Webb. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 15. It will be held at the Doubletree Suites Hotel (16500 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila). Cost is $95 for Master Builders members and $125 for non-members. For further information, contact MBA at (206) 451-7920 or (800) 522-2209.

Stormwater runoff manual

As a result of a two-year study of residential stormwater runoff, the University of Washington's Center for Water Resources Management has created a manual for on-site stormwater management. The manual provides information about the value of such management plus practical tips on site evaluation and system design. Entitled "On-site Residential Stormwater Runoff Alternatives," the report covers infiltration systems, multipurpose detention systems, modular pavement, soil amendment and landscaped areas. Stormwater issues have become more important in the lower Puget Sound region as natural forests and ground cover are converted to lawns, paved streets and buildings -- all of which increase runoff.

Ecology grant for Cowlitz composting

The state Department of Ecology has awarded a grant of $233,438 to Cowlitz County to build a yard waste composting site at the Cowlitz County Landfill. The facility is designed to improve the county's existing wood waste diversion efforts by providing a composting site for grass clippings and leaves. To encourage residents to use the composting facility, fees will be only half of the usual dumping charges at the landfill.