April 24, 2002

Design Detailings: Local firm revamps Florida ship design

Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group recently completed contract design for a fourth passenger-vehicle ferry for Fisher Island, Fla. EBDG was contacted about an upgrade to the initial vessel design, which was completed by its predecessor firm, Nickum & Spaulding, in 1980. Two vessels were built in 1981, the M/V Eagle & M/V Pelican, and a third vessel, the M/V Flamingo, was constructed in 1987.

The fourth vessel to join the Fisher Island fleet will vary from the original 1980 vessel design. According to EBDG project manager Will Nickum, design changes include an aluminum superstructure and bulwarks, enclosed sponsons, revised engine room and pilothouse access, and an enlarged pilothouse. The vessel will feature a revised stack and mast configuration as well as relocated engine air intake. The 120-foot vessel can take 100 passengers and has 450 horsepower.

With the design package complete, EBDG will act as construction liaison on behalf of the owner. In December 2001, Fisher Island Community Association signed a contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., to construct the new vessel. Vessel construction should take about eight months.

WSU professor named design-build 'professional'

Darlene Septelka, a Washington State University Spokane faculty member, has been named a charter professional in the new Design-Build Institute of America designated design-build professional certification program.

Septelka, associate professor of construction management and coordinator of the graduate design-build management track, is one of only 85 charter members named out of 1,082 institute members reviewed for nomination. Charter members will be honored tomorrow at a convocation ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Septelka created the design-build track within the master of science in architecture program at WSU Spokane in 2000 to fill a need in the industry. Since then, the program -- which is geared toward working professionals -- has grown from three students to a dozen. The field of study is housed within WSU Spokane's Interdisciplinary Design Institute, which brings together design and construction students to study in an atmosphere that encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The institute established the designation to serve as an accepted and recognized educational standard for practitioners who possess a qualified and quantified level of expertise in design-build. An individual who successfully completes the requirements is recognized as a Designated Design-Build Professional and earns the right to display "DBIA" after his or her name.

The designation indicates that the individual is a professional in the design-build field.

Septelka previously received DBIA's Special Recognition Award at its annual conference in October 2001. She received the award in part because of her research in alternative delivery and promotion of design-build, and her establishment of the design-build management track within WSU Spokane's master of science architecture program.

For more information, contact Septelka at (509) 358-7910, septelka@wsu.edu, or see www.designbuild.spokane.wsu.edu.