May 14, 2003

Design Detailings: MulvannyG2 acquires Cornerstone

MulvannyG2 Architecture recently acquired Cornerstone Architecture, a north Seattle design company specializing in health care.

Cornerstone Architecture was founded in 1993. The main focus of the firm has been senior care and housing facilities, as well as health care projects for clients such as Overlake Hospital and Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center and Providence St. Peter Hospital.

"The addition of Cornerstone to our firm is a strategic business decision to expand our health care capabilities," said Mitch Smith, MulvannyG2 president. "Cornerstone’s expertise will be an immediate and invaluable resource to our health care clients."

Phil Case, president of Cornerstone, will be the principal-in-charge of MulvannyG2’s Healthcare Studio. The new studio will operate within the company’s Community Studio, led by William Turner.

"Health care architecture is a very specific field and he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge critical to our clients and their patients," said Turner.

Case worked on several projects, including Overlake Hospital’s Emergency Department remodel and Behavioral Health Services relocation and remodel, and a retirement housing project for LifeStyles in Vancouver, among others.

Bell speaks on Design Corps

Architect and author Bryan Bell, who has spent the last decade working to make architectural services available to a greater part of the general public, will speak at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. There is no charge for the speech, to be held in Room 147 of University of Washington's Architecture Hall.

Bell will speak about his upcoming book, "Designing for the 98 Percent: Good Deeds, Good Design," to be published in August by Princeton Architectural Press.

With degrees from Princeton and Yale, Bell worked briefly for Stephen Holl. He worked with non-profit agencies that specialized in serving the very low-income. In 1991, he founded a non-profit agency, Design Corps, whose mission was to provide the benefits of architecture to those typically unserved by the profession.

From 1998 to 2000, Bell taught at the Auburn Rural Studio, teaching 22 thesis students for 12 design/build projects, including the Greensboro Children’s Center and the Mason’s Bend Community Center. Work by Design Corps will be included in 2003 in the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt Design Triennial exhibit.

SAME hosts Student Paper Night

Tonight's meeting of the Seattle Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers will feature Student Paper Night, at the Ballard Yankee Grill, 5300 24th Ave. N.W.

The program will feature two finalists from a student paper competition held May 7. The Seattle University presentation will concern the Fremont Bridge expansion and the University of Washington presentation will discuss state Route 520.

Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7:30 p.m. Cost: $23 per person, with dinner. For information, call (206) 926-0482, or e-mail house@seattleasce.org.

Seattle: Venice of the Pacific?

"Vancouver and Seattle: Which of these cities will become the Venice of the Pacific?" is the topic of the May 21 Allied Arts Beer and Culture meeting.

Does Vancouver have a head start? The discussion will explore how Seattle compares with Vancouver, the mix of activities on their waterfronts and what forms of housing, retail and public amenities each has.

Former Vancouver City Commissioner Gordon Price and Seattle City Council member Heidi Wills will be among the guests on the panel. The meeting will be held at 7 to 9:30 p.m. at 1041 Summit E. Suggested donations is $25, $15 for members of Allied Arts. For information, call (206) 624-0432.

Seminars on interior/outdoor design

Seattle Design Center's Third Thursday Seminar Series continues at 9 a.m. Thursday. Third Thursday seminars are free and open to members of the design trade only.

There are two seminars being offered in May. "The Business of Interior Design," will be held From 9 to 10 a.m. Faith Sheridan, president elect of the Oregon state chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, will discuss the business aspects of interior design including tools for building profit into invoices and different approaches to purchasing and resale.

"Creating Outdoor Living Spaces" will be held 11 a.m. to noon. Award-winning interior designer Steven Hensel of Hensel Design Studios will discuss how to design and specify outdoor living areas so they are true extensions of the home. Hensel will also offer tips for entertaining outdoors and designing an outdoor space that feels like an indoor retreat. Seattle Design Center is located at 5701 Sixth Ave. S. Contact (206) 282-3371 or reneegas@qwest.net to reserve a space or for information.

ECS's Ziesmer Engineer of the Year

Brian Ziesmer of ECS Engineering has been named 2003 Engineer of the Year by the Wenatchee Chapter of the National Society of Professional Engineers. Ziesmer, an electrical engineer, is the managing engineer for ECS's Wenatchee office. The honor was awarded as part of the recent National Engineer’s Week.

Ziesmer, an electrical and control systems engineer, specializes in municipal and industrial control system projects. He most recently worked on replacing monitoring and controls equipment at three central Washington fish hatcheries for Chelan County PUD, and upgrade of the Brewster and Leavenworth waste water treatment plants. Ziesmer is currently starting control system upgrades at several Wenatchee area water pump stations and reservoirs.