June 26, 2002

Design Detailings: Landmarks board seeks A/E members

The city of Seattle is looking for applicants to serve on the Landmarks Preservation Board in the following positions: architect, historian, real estate, structural engineer and at-large.

The 11-member Landmarks Preservation Board makes recommendations to the City Council for landmark designation and reviews all proposed physical alterations to designated features of landmark properties.

The board is composed of two architects, two historians, one structural engineer, one representative each from the fields of real estate and finance, one member from the City Planning Commission, and three members at-large. All appointments are made by the mayor, subject to city council confirmation.

Board meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 3:30 p.m. The architect members also serve on the Board’s Architectural Review Committee. Board members generally must commit approximately 10 hours per month to board business.

Interested applicants must be Seattle residents. Board members serve without compensation. Those interested in being considered should send a letter of interest and resume by July 8 to Alex Field, Mayor's Office, 600 Fourth Ave., Seattle 98104-1873.

Engineers institute honors Ahmed

Mujib Ahmed, managing principal of Parametrix, received the 2002 Outstanding Service Award from the Washington state section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Ahmed has been a member of ITE since 1981 and served on various committees and in section officer positions including president in 1989/90. During his tenure, the ITE section grew as new members joined and popular technical programs were introduced.

Ahmed is responsible for Parametrix operations in Boise and business development in the Pacific Northwest.

How to win state GA contracts

Find out what it takes to win contracts with the Division of Engineering and Architectural Services of the Washington State Department of General Administration. The July program and luncheon meeting of Marketing Associates of Spokane will include a presentation by John Lynch, assistant director for E&A Services.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, July 11, at noon at the Kress Gallery on the third level of River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave., Spokane. The cost is $15 for MAS members and $25 for non-members. Reservation deadline is July 8. For membership information or to make a reservation, contact MAS President Richard Myracle at (509) 459-9220 or see the MAS Web site at http://www.maspokane.org.

Delridge Library opens Saturday

Stickney Murphy Romine Architects' new $3 million Delridge Library, at 5423 Delridge Way S.W., opens its doors at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 29.

The 5,600-square-foot library anchors the first floor of a three-story building. Walsh Construction Co. was the contractor. This mixed-use project was developed in conjunction with the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. Nineteen apartments are located above the library.

The library features a collection of 20,000 books and materials, reading and study areas, modern technology services and equipment, special areas for children and young adults, a meeting room and computer work stations.

CPL seeks bookshelf designers

Coughlin Porter Lundeen invites architects and designers to rise to a creative challenge -- designing bookshelves -- to help this year’s Page Ahead book drive. Page Ahead is a statewide children’s literacy non-profit based in Seattle. Founded as Books for Kids in 1990, Page Ahead helps at-risk children reach their full potential by providing them with the inspiration to read. To achieve this, Page Ahead provides new books to at-risk children to choose; encourages parents, caregivers, and community volunteers to read with children; helps schools & social service agencies to run successful literacy programs; and holds reading motivation events to inspire children's love of reading. Since 1990, Page Ahead has placed 725,000 new books into the hands of 265,000 at risk children in Washington State who would otherwise have no books at home.

The project is to create a series of unique bookshelves to display books from book drives and raise funds through their sale to support Page Ahead. The bookshelves will be placed in selected Starbucks stores, then auctioned to buy more books. Bookcases will be featured on Amazon.com Auctions.

The bookshelves should be durable and contain no toxic materials. There is no restriction on theme although designers are encouraged to think of ideas that might inspire children to explore, discover and read. There is no cost associated with entry other than time and materials to complete the design. Final designs must be ready for transportation Aug. 28. On Sept. 1-30, the bookcases on display in major Starbucks stores in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. For information, contact Jill Jago at Coughlin Porter Lundeen, (206) 343-0460.