January 30, 2002

Design Detailings: Weber + Thompson's recipe for chic dining

SeaStar Restaurant will have rich woods combined with sophisticated fabrics and wall coverings.

Weber + Thompson has teamed with chef John Howie III to create a new seafood restaurant in downtown Bellevue. SeaStar Restaurant and Raw Bar will be located in the Civica Office Commons on the corner of Second Avenue and 108th.

The team developed a vision for the restaurant combining the elements of water and earth. Specialty lighting, custom glasswork, commissioned artwork and curved walls blend to capture the energy and transparency of the sea.

Weber + Thompson has created three dining experiences within one restaurant. The design of each area takes advantage of windows that wrap 270 degrees around the space.

The main dining room features a lighted, communal chef’s table and custom art glass wall. The textured wall screens the exhibition cooking area, while allowing patrons to experience the activity of the kitchen. The SeaStar Restaurant and Raw Bar is expected to open in spring. The project team consists of Bargreen Elllingson, kitchen design and equipment; Lease Crutcher Lewis, contractor; Hermanson Corp., mechanical engineer; SME Electric, electrical engineer; Specialty Wood, millwork contractor; and Schnitzer Northwest, building owner.

How will we handle the next quake?

An earthquake symposium, "Return to Long Beach: Origins, Development and Future of Earthquake Engineering," will be held Feb. 6-9 at the Westin Hotel, Long Beach, Calif.

There will be about 400 attendees, including earthquake professionals, seismologists and geologists, earthquake researchers, geotechnical, structural and lifeline engineers -- along with students, government officials, emergency response managers and seismic safety advocates They will ask: Are we ready for a significant earthquake? The event is sponsored by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.

Seismologists and engineers will review knowledge gained and progress made since 1933 in research, building performance, laws and codes. There will be updates on "real time" ground motion sensors that enable rapid response during an earthquake, and FEMA’s Hazus software for projecting earthquake vulnerabilities and potential losses. A full meeting program is available online at eeri.org/news/Meetings/02am. For information, contact Victoria Costello prior to Feb. 6 at (510)451-0905 or by e-mail at victoria@eeri.org.

2 sites eyed for Northgate library

The Seattle Public Library board of trustees has narrowed to two the potential sites for the new Northgate Library. At its Jan. 22 meeting, the board agreed to focus on: the Bon Tire Center site at Fifth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 105th Street, and the commercial site a block north; and the south parking lot of the Northgate Mall at Fifth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 103rd Street.

The vote clears the way for the library to negotiate and buy the Fifth Avenue parcels, while retaining the south lot as a possible library site. In recent months, library staff members have pursued options to buy the Fifth Avenue properties. The next step is for the library to negotiate a purchase and sale agreement with the owner.

The Fifth Avenue sites are in the heart of the retail and commercial core of Northgate and also are close to residential areas. They have good access to transit and are highly visible. The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department also is exploring locating a community center and park adjacent to the library. The $5.1 million branch is scheduled to open in 2004.

The 10,000-square-foot branch will have a new collection of 40,200 books and materials, reading and homework areas for children and youth, computer work stations and instruction areas and a meeting room.

42-volt expert speaks Tuesday

Norman Traub, director of the Society of Automotive Engineers Strategic Alliance 42-volt Initiative, will speak Tuesday evening about new vehicles that offer greater safety, better fuel efficiency and environmental controls. The event, at 7:30 in Seattle University's Room Bannon 102, is sponsored by the Northwest Section of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

New automotive systems are quickly approaching the maximum capacity of traditional 14-volt power systems. To solve this problem, engineers from around the world are busy developing 42-volt electrical systems. Traub will discuss the challenges and benefits in developing, and implementing the new technology.

According to Traub, transition to 42-volt systems will take an unprecedented, collaborative effort by the global vehicle industry. "Hundreds of components will need to be re-engineered to become 42-volt adaptable," he said. "Batteries, circuit protection devices, switches, wiring harness -- you name it -- will need to be redesigned."

Vehicle manufacturers worldwide have been working for over five years to develop a cost-effective process to provide the higher amounts of energy being demanded. They have agreed on a global standardized 42-volt system. As a member of several 42-volt groups, Traub will speak on the different aspects regarding the new power system.

For information, call (206) 365-7513.