Aug 19, 1997

Lugo Construction

Lugo Construction Inc. recently named Robert Salem and Jerry Oetgen principals and vice presidents. Salem holds a construction management degree from Central Washington University and an architectural degree from Oregon School of Design. Oetgen has over 19 years of experience in estimating construction projects.

Hermanson Corp.

A new president has been appointed at HVAC contractor Hermanson Corp. The new leader is Richard L. Hermanson, son of company founder and CEO Jerry Hermanson. The company also announced Kevin Almon has been promoted to operations manager, Bob Ledford is the new chief financial officer, Knut Nicolaisen has joined as engineering manager, and William C. Nolan has been appointed chief information officer.

Congressional staff takes Hanford tour

RICHLAND (AP) -- A group of congressional aides has toured the Hanford nuclear reservation to learn about plans to convert some of the deadliest radioactive waste into glass. Much of the briefing last week focused on how the $4 billion project will be funded. The U.S. Department of Energy wants to hire two corporate teams to build plants to convert at least 6 percent of Hanford's 55 million gallons of highly radioactive liquid wastes into glass by 2007. The new wrinkle over conventional government contracts is that neither team would be paid a cent until the wastes are glassified, beginning in 2002. But Mike Jarvis, aide to U.S. Rep. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., complained DOE's estimates of how much it needs for the project appear to change constantly. A major problem is a similar privatization effort at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory's Pit 9. Lockheed Martin Advanced Environmental Systems was hired to clean a waste-filled acre at the Idaho site under a $179 million privatization contract. But the price nearly doubled to $337 million, spooking Congress on the privatization concept. That left Hanford official Bill Taylor, head of the Department of Energy's tank waste privatization effort, with some tough questions from 16 congressional aides who toured the nuclear site Thursday and Friday. Taylor outlined what DOE believes are the differences between the Hanford and Pit 9 projects. These include:

• Pit 9 was set up so Lockheed received payments as the project was built and tested. The Hanford contract won't pay anything until glass logs are produced.
• DOE financed Pit 9. The Hanford projects would be privately funded, to be eventually reimbursed by DOE. Taylor said that means Wall Street investors would bring extra pressure to keep costs down.
• Hanford's wastes are supposedly better analyzed and understood than Pit 9's wastes.

"We have learned some very serious lessons (at Pit 9), and so has DOE," said Bill Dixon, director of regulatory affairs for Lockheed's Hanford team. The challenge at Hanford will be on the business side, Dixon added. "The business and financing aspects of this are what's going to make or break it," he said. Hanford for more than four decades made plutonium for nuclear weapons and now contains the nation's highest volume of radioactive defense wastes.

Aug 15, 1997

Michael Courtney Design

Michael Courtney Design, a Seattle graphic design firm specializing in environmental graphics and signage, has received an award of merit from the American Corporate Identity for its part in the ACT Theatre renovation project. The project consisted of a comprehensive communication graphics program for ACT Theatre, including interior signage for three theatres and all public and administrative areas, a wayfinding program, and entrance signs.

Resort Two

Joey Rodolfo, sportswear designer and co-founder of Cutter & Buck, a golf-related sportwear compay, announced the end of a seven-year partnership. Rodolfo has launched a new company, Resort Two, a women's golf and sportswear company. Seattle-based Resort Two will debut the new line of upsacle women's apparel at the 1997 PGA International Golf Show in Las Vegas, September 8 - 10. Rodolfo worked as design director for Cataline Swimwear, Union Bay and Bench Company before forming Cutter & Buck in 1989.

Aug 13, 1997

Entranco

Hillary Stibbord-Terrell has joined Entranco as a senior structural engineer. Specializing in bridge design, Stibbard-Terrell has prepared plans for several bridge and bridge-widening projects at the Washington State Department of Transportation. She was most recently a bridge engineer at HDR Engineering for five years.

Brumbaugh

William "Corky" Brown and Darwin Webb have recently been promoted to associate status with Brumbaugh & Associates. Both are registered landscape architects and senior project managers with over 13 years of local experience. Brown joined Brumbaugh & Associates in 1990 and has managed numerous projects for Microsoft, Boeing and Intel. He is currently working on design for the next phase of Intel's Dupont facility, and managing construction administration for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Microsoft Troon projects. Webb joined the firm last year after spending eight years with the Berger Partnership. He is currently working on design of the ATL expansion in Bothell, the Issaquah Highlands residential community and Safeco's corporate campus in Redmond. He is also managing residential projects throughout the Northwest.

Chalker Putnam Collins & Scott

Jack Pinkard has been promoted to the position of senior associate with Chalker Putnam Collins & Scott Inc. of Tacoma. He has been with the firm since graduating form the University of Idaho in 1987. His current projects include Mercer Island High School and renovation and addition, Pierce College Science/Library Building, and the new Kent High School. Rick Oehmcke has also been promoted to the position of senior associate. He has been with the firm for 10 years, managing projects such as the new Issaquah Middle and High School, Larch and Cedar Creek correctional facilities and upgrades and additions to the Tacoma City Light administration building. Gareth Floyd has been promoted to the position of associate. He has been with the firm for nearly 10 years as comptroller. Brigette Enger recently joined the firm after graduating with a degree in architectural engineering from the University of Wyoming. She has been working on Sequim Middle School along with several residential and commercial projects.

BOORA

John Sanford has been promoted to associate at BOORA Architects, Inc. in Portland. Sanford, who joined the firm in 1996, is director of information services for the 80-person firm.

Weber + Thompson

Ted Panton has joined Weber + Thompson Architects as project architect. He is currently working on a retail building for Trader Joe's at Pickering Place in Issaquah, First Tech Credit Union building in Portland and a 24-unit multi-family building in Bellevue's Central Business District.

Mackie Designs Inc.

Mackie Designs Inc. of Woodinville, a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of professional audio equipment, plans to open inventory reload centers in the company's major international markets, including Europe, Asia and South America. The company intends to use professional storage warehouses to supply distributors and dealers with audio mixers, mixer systems, power amplifiers and related audio equipment.