July 2, 2003

Design Detailings: Rowland to lead ACEC Washington

John Rowland, principal and co-owner of Notkin Engineering, will lead the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington as president for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.

Rowland, a mechanical engineer, has been a director for the organization and participated on various committees since 1988.

The officers and directors who will serve with Rowland include: president-elect Jim Miller of GeoEngineers; vice president Kathy Robertson of SvR Design Co.; vice president Ralph Boirum of HWA GeoSciences; directors Kurt Gahnberg of the Transpo Group, Don Graf of Berryman & Henigar; Steve Bichich of Jacobs Civil; Dan Dixon of HNTB; Jeff Shupe of D. Hittle & Associates; and returning national director Jerry Williams.

"One of our primary goals this year is to help people understand what engineers do," said Rowland. "From attracting young people to the profession to helping people comprehend engineers’ commitment to the safety and comfort of the built environment, our message is that not only is our work vital but also interesting and fun."

For more information, contact (425) 453-6655.

Artists prepare for 'Library Unbound'

The Seattle Public Library board of trustees has named four artists to complete residencies at The Seattle Public Library and present proposals for permanent artworks at the new Central Library as part of the "Library Unbound" project.

The artists are: Mandy Greer of Seattle; Renée Green of New York City and Spain; George Legrady of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and Lynne Yamamoto of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greer is a textile artist who creates soft sculptures based on imagery from children’s books. Green is a mixed-media artist who frequently combines audio work with text. Legrady addresses organizational systems through his new media work. Mixed-media artist Yamamoto uses symbolic imagery and historical and political material to examine cultural and social issues in her subtle installation work.

The artists will be invited to complete a one- or two-week residency at the Temporary Central Library in September to learn about library operations, collections and the new building, which will guide their design proposals. The library will select up to three proposals that deal with social structures, people and systems to install in the new building.

Security fears boost water work

Sixty-five percent of municipal water and wastewater systems serving the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. plan on contracting with design or construction firms to assist in projects directly related to homeland security.

This is one of several findings contained in the 2003-2006 Municipal Water & Wastewater Market For Design and Construction Firms, a new market research report by management consulting and publishing firm ZweigWhite.

Large municipal water systems have completed vulnerability assessments mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and are implementing capital projects recommended in those assessments. Large municipal wastewater systems are awaiting enactment of federal legislation that will provide them with millions of dollars to conduct vulnerability assessments of their own.

"Many systems throughout the country are spending money on design and construction services to help them with capital improvements related to homeland security," said Christopher Klein, a principal with ZweigWhite and one of the editors of the 426-page report. Klein says that most of the homeland security market opportunities for design and construction firms are with the largest systems in the country.

The 2003-2006 Municipal Water & Wastewater Market for Design and Construction Firms is available from the publisher for $495, plus $4 shipping and handling. Contact ZweigWhite, P.O. Box 8325, One Apple Hill Drive, Natick, MA 01760, or call (508) 651-1559. The e-mail address is info@zweigwhite.com, or go online to www.zweigwhite.com/store/inwas03.

How Spokane saved Fox Theatre

The July program and luncheon meeting of Marketing Associates of Spokane will look at the marketing strategies that were used to save the historic Fox Theatre. The presentation will be made by Lorna Walsh of the Spokane Symphony.

The meeting will be held a noon Thursday, July 10, at the Fox Theatre, 1005 W. Sprague Ave. The cost is $15 for MAS members and $25 for non-members. Reservation deadline is Monday.

For membership information or to make a reservation, contact MAS Vice President David Dowers at (509) 536-3853 or see the MAS Web site at www.maspokane.org.

SMPS selects student for undergrad scholarship

The Outreach Committee of the Society for Marketing Professional Services Seattle Chapter has selected civil engineering student Eben "Cole" Olsen to receive the chapter’s first undergraduate scholarship.

Presentation of the $1,000 scholarship took place SMPS Markee Awards Gala June 18. Olsen has just completed his third year at of Oregon State University, where he is majoring in civil engineering.

This year’s award was open to students currently enrolled and pursuing four-year degrees in marketing, architecture, engineering, environmental, or construction management professions. The application process required that all applicants submit information and essays on the role marketing has played in their educational and professional lives. Applicants were asked to describe honors and awards they had received, activities they were involved with, their knowledge of marketing, and even to describe a marketing project in which they had played a significant role.

"His background with an engineering consulting firm, construction company, and local agency public works department was impressive, and demonstrated commitment and comprehension of the value of marketing within the architecture, engineering, and construction industry," said Tosha Vandegrift, Seattle chapter president.

The undergraduate scholarship was funded by SMPS Seattle and Berger/ABAM Engineers Inc., who has sponsored a portion of the award.