September 3, 2003

Design Detailings: AIA seeks nominations for 2003 Honor Awards

The Seattle AIA is calling on design professionals in Washington to submit nominations to the 2003 Honor Awards. The awards will be titled "Idea Realized," a consideration of design as it originates and manifests. Categories include residential, commercial, adaptive re-use, industrial/institutional, historic preservation, urban planning, interior and miscellaneous.

The jury will include Shigeru Ban, Enrique Norten and Brigitte Shim, with moderator Matthew Stadler of Nest Magazine. The entry application/fee deadline is Sept. 18, and the submission deadline is Oct. 16. Entrants should submit materials for jury review and public communication in digital format (8-12 images, including text elements, in jpeg format. The Honor Awards will be held Nov. 10 at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. For more information, go to http://www.aiaseattle.

New Arcade issue: Portland architecture

On Thursday, Arcade will release its autumn issue, entitled "Portland: The Architecture of Connection," edited by Randy Gragg, independent curator and journalist for The Oregonian. The event will be held at the new offices of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen.

The open house will take place from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at 159 S. Jackson St., Sixth Floor. For additional information, call (206) 971-5596.

Jones & Jones hosts first Field School here

Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects, Ltd., recently wrapped up its first summer Field School in Seattle with design students from the University of Oregon School of Architecture, Allied Arts and the University of Washington College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

The purpose of the field school was to share the firm’s approach to design practice -- a hands-on process of working as activists with communities to make their places healthy through landscape intervention. The four-week studio was taught by Grant Jones, Nathaniel Cormier and Mark Johnson of Jones & Jones.

The focus of the Field School was to join the Duwamish River communities of Georgetown and South Park. "We wanted to elevate landscape leadership to the level of civic duty," said Grant Jones. The students explored how green infrastructure could help neighborhoods realize their relationship to the river and how a shared experience of the river could strengthen ties between them.

The studio was broken into three parts. Part 1: Spirit of Place; Part 2: Place, Health, and Connections; and Part 3: Get Down To It!

Professors from both universities, as well as practicing architects and landscape architects, provided critiques of each phase of the studio. The students were introduced to citizen activists, government officials and business owners in Georgetown and South Park to get to know the neighborhoods intimately.

R.W. Beck wins for Idylwood Creek

The American Society of Civil Engineers recently honored management consulting and engineering firm R. W. Beck with the 2002 Outstanding Water Resource Project Award for the Idylwood Creek restoration project in Redmond.

The Idylwood Creek watershed drains a neighborhood developed with few detention facilities to control the increased runoff from streets and homes. High flows in the creek and a steep channel gradient had created a wide, incised channel with degraded aquatic habitat and high vertical banks. The high banks were threatening property and structures, and creating a safety hazard for people who used nearby Idylwood Beach Park for recreation.

The restoration diverts high flows around a backyard ravine into a 4,150-foot-long, 36-inch bypass pipeline. The project also included major modifications to the creek in the park to change hydraulics, improve safety and rehabilitate aquatic habitat. The corridor for the creek was further protected by a wooden fence and re-vegetated with 9,000 native plants.

'Creative class' author speaks here Thursday

Richard Florida, professor of economic development at Carnegie Mellon, and best-selling author of "The Rise of the Creative Class, And How It's Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life," will speak at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The event will be held at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave.

Florida contends cities that attract, embrace and encourage creative people and diverse ethnic communities, are also the centers of economic prosperity. Areas rich with artisans, street musicians, integrated diversity and a lively cultural scene are the ones that flourish, he said.

"The Rise of the Creative Class" offers a look at how companies, communities and people can survive and prosper. Florida is the winner of the 2003 Political Book Award by the Washington Monthly, and head of the Software Industry Center.

Cost is $5. For information, call (206) 684-7372 or go to http://www.seattle.gov/arts.

Mithun's William Kreager inducted as AIA Fellow

Mithun recently announced the induction of William Kreager into the American Institute of Architect’s College of Fellows in a ceremony at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Calif. The event was a highlight of the 2003 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in San Diego.

Fellowship is an honor awarded to AIA members who have made substantial contributions to the architecture profession.

Kreager earned the distinction of Fellow through more than 20 years of leadership in the AIA and other professional organizations such as the Urban Land Institute and National Association of Home Builders.