August 23, 2000

Design Detailings: Permit waivers sought for new library

Another step in the permitting process has begun for the new downtown library at Fourth and Madison. The Seattle Public Library is seeking Council Concept Approval for the 11-story, 355,000-square-foot building designed by world-renowned architect Rem Koolhaas.

The Department of Design, Construction and Land Use will accept written comments on the project, No. 2005663, until Aug. 30.

The library request includes a modification or waiver of development standards for the building, uniquely designed with five platforms of "floating layers," enmeshed in steel tubes and glass.

Hoffman Construction is the general contractor/construction manager. The design team includes Koolhaas' Office for Metropolitan Architecture and its Seattle partner LMN Architects. Work is expected to begin April 2001 and finish in 2003.

Comments can be sent to 710 Second Ave., Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98104-1703, attn: Jess Harris. For more information, contact DCLU land-use planner Jess Harris at (206) 684-7744 or e-mail jess.harris@ci.seattle.wa.us.

Milbor-Pita wins Union Pacific job

Milbor-Pita & Associates has received a contract from Union Pacific Railroad for investigation, design, bid package preparation and construction monitoring services for clearance improvement work at more than 20 rail tunnels along the Interstate-5 corridor in Oregon and California.

Leading the job will be the firm's project manager, Gerald Millar, who has extensive tunnel design, rehabilitation and repair experience on rail, highway and hydroelectric tunnels throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America and South America.

Milbor-Pita geotechnical engineering firm is based in Bellevue.

New book about city parks

"Inside City Parks," a new publication sponsored by the Urban Land Institute and the Trust for Public Land profiles 25 park systems in the United States, highlighting recent efforts to revitalize municipal parks.

Written by urban park consultant Peter Harnik, the book includes profiles of park systems in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and New York. "Inside City Parks" describes innovative programs, and examines the link between park departments and other public agencies, as well as the private sector. Successful initiatives include those involving park conservancies, business improvement districts, greenway networks, waterfront parks, brownfields reuse and conversion of former federal facilities.

Copies of the book are available for sale to the general public by calling (800) 321-5011 or by visiting the Web site http://www.uli.org.

Exhibit showcases architecture by women

The Association for Women in Architecture is opening its exhibit, "Women Projects," and is holding a reception at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22 aboard the Kalakala. The exhibit will be followed by a reception at the Lake Union Cafe.

Organizers said the exhibit will feature work from various architects that is by, for or about women. Donations and project submissions are being sought. Ticket prices will be announced soon. All proceeds will go to the Kalakala Foundation. For more information, contact Tyra at (206) 971-5617, e-mail TyraS@mithun.com; or Tami Chen (206) 675-9100, e-mail tamichen@hotmail.com.

UW's new slate of PEPL courses

The University of Washington has posted its recent course lists for the Professional Engineering Practice Liaison program. For a list of complete course descriptions log onto www.engr.washington.edu/epp/Pepl/peplcal.html.

• Quaternary and engineering geology of the central and southern Puget Sound lowland; 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sept. 7-9; $425 early registration / $455

• Stormwater treatment: chemical, biological and engineering principles; Class meets in Vancouver; 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sept. 12-13; $495 early registration / $525

• Stormwater treatment by media filtration; 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Oct. 12-13; $515 early registration / $545

• Design and retrofit of culverts for fish passage in the Northwest; Class meets in Spokane; 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Oct. 18-19; $445 early registration / $475

• How to successfully use value engineering in capital projects; 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Nov. 16-17; $375 early registration / $405