November 22, 2000

Design Detailings: Library seeks A/E teams for 5 projects

The Seattle Public Library is seeking architect and engineering teams to provide design services for five neighborhood library projects. Architect/engineering teams are being sought for expansions of the existing North East, Rainier Beach, Columbia City and Douglass-Truth libraries, as well as for the design of interior space at the new International District library, which will be located in a mixed-use project.

Interested firms can get more information from the Library's Web site at www.spl.org or by calling the capital program office at (206) 386-4164.

Proposals of qualification must be delivered by 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Moon Creek reclamation discussed

Bruno Ridolfi, principal engineer with Ridolfi Engineers in Seattle, will offer a technical presentation about his firm's rehabilitation of a portion of Moon Creek, a Coeur D'Alene waterway polluted by years of mining.

The talk will be held at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Rock Salt Steakhouse in Seattle. The cost, which includes lunch, is $20 for members of the Consulting Engineers Council of Washington, $25 for nonmembers and $15 for retired engineers. Fax reservations to (206) 224-0815. For more information, call the CECW at (206) 623-5936.

New home for Gig Harbor Historical Society

The Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society and Museum has selected a design-build team consisting of Wade Perrow Construction, Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, BOE Architects and AHBL Engineering to work on the design development of the society's new Heritage Center. The estimated cost of the project is $7 million.

The historical society purchased 4.3 acres in downtown Gig Harbor for the new center and recently completed a facility master plan outlining program requirements.

"Our goal is to create a permanent home for the society and museum, so that we can continue our work preserving and interpreting local history," said historical society executive director Chris Erlich. A main feature of the facility will be the 65-foot fishing vessel Shenandoah accompanied by exhibits about the history of fishing on Puget Sound.

Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen of Seattle is the lead designer. The firm has been involved in several major museum projects in the area, including the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, the Frye Art Museum and the Seattle Asian Art Museum. They have also been involved in plans for the Tacoma Art Museum, the Henry Art Gallery and the Bellevue Art Museum.

Hart Crowser lands big DOT contract

Hart Crowser, an environmental and engineering firm based in Seattle, was chosen out of 14 submittals as the on-call geotechnical services consultant for the Washington State Department of Transportation. The $300,000, two-year contract includes complete geotechnical services at the scoping and conceptual levels.

The firm's Portland office also added two multiyear Oregon DOT contracts -- one focusing on natural resources and the other emphasizing hazardous wastes and materials environmental services.

Engineers learn how to add value

"Adding value: Leveraging engineering services through decision support," is the topic of an upcoming dinner meeting of the American Society of Civil Engineer and the American Society for Engineering Management. David Ginsberg, managing director of mining for Agra Simons' enterprise services division, is the keynote speaker for the event, which will be held from 6-9 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Rock Salt Steakhouse in Seattle. The cost is $23. Call reservations into Shannon & Wilson at (206) 695-6670 or e-mail lkd@sshanwil.com.

ECS on the move

ECS Engineering, which has grown from two to 19 employees over the last five years, is moving to accommodate its expansion. The new office address is 18311 Bothell Everett Highway., Suite 260, Mill Creek, WA 98012. The firm's new telephone is (425) 402-6029, and the new fax is (425) 483-3989. The post office box number is unchanged, and the Web site www.ecs-engineering.com remains the same.

UW seminar on project management

A daylong seminar about effective project management for architects, engineers and other building industry professionals will be held Monday, Dec. 11.

Hugh Hochberg, partner with The Coxe Group, is the presenter for the class, which will take place at The Mountaineers Building, 300 Third Ave. W. The cost is $300, which includes tuition, handouts and lunch.

The University of Washington's College of Architecture and Urban Planning is offering the seminar. Registration information is posted on the Web site www.caup.washington.edu/cpe/.

Affordable housing advocates honored

Six affordable housing advocates were honored with a "Friend of Housing" award, presented by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, which develops and administers financing programs that promote home ownership, encourage community development and help produce affordable housing throughout the state. The commission is a public agency but is not funded with tax dollars.

Among the recipients of this year's awards were:

• Siobhan Ring of the Tenants Union Statewide Advocate, for her advocacy for the rights of low-income, disabled and elderly tenants of Washington state

• Jack Gallagher, vice president of finance at Fannie Mae, for developing specialized financial investment products to expand affordable housing opportunities

• The Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing in Yakima, for working to see that farmworkers have access to safe, decent and affordable housing

• Don Hines, assistant director of the Tacoma Economic Development Department, for his advocacy for the creation and preservation of quality, affordable housing for Tacoma's low-income residents

• Washington Trust Bank of Spokane for providing homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income, first-time homebuyers

• Majken Ryherd, chief of staff for state Rep. Frank Chopp, for her achievements in passing housing legislation