October 1, 2003

Design Detailings: City seeks urban planner

The city of Seattle is looking for an urban planner with transportation planning expertise to serve on the Seattle Design Commission, beginning in late fall. Design Commission members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council to serve renewable, two-year terms.

"I urge urban planners with a passion for keeping Seattle a great city to consider this important work," said Mayor Greg Nickels.

The Design Commission was established in 1968 to consult and advise city officials on the design and environmental aspects of capital improvements. The commission reviews projects at each design phase. Members also sit on the consultant selection panels convened by various departments for city projects. The commission consists of nine members: two registered architects, one artist and one member-at-large; and at least one of each of the following positions: urban planner, licensed engineer, landscape architect and urban or environmental designer.

Send a letter of interest and resume by Oct. 24 to Mayor Greg Nickels c/o: Layne Cubell, coordinator, Seattle Design Commission, City of Seattle, 700 Fifth Ave., Suite 2000, Seattle 98104-5070. For more information, contact Cubell at (206) 233-7911 or via e-mail at layne.cubell@seattle.gov.

Chico's taps Callison for retail concept

Chico’s FAS, Inc. has selected Seattle's Callison Architecture to develop the retail environment for its new intimate apparel and active wear concept. In addition, Callison will be working with Chico’s to refresh its existing store concept. Launch of the new concept is scheduled for 2004.

Callison provides planning and design services to retail, hospitality, residential, health care and corporate clients worldwide, and was ranked as the top retail design firm by World Architecture in January.

Oct. 2 lecture on rebuilding communities

Town Hall and CityClub present "Seattle 360: Better Together," an evening with authors Robert Putnam and Lewis Feldstein, at 7 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall. Putnam, a Harvard professor and author of "Bowling Alone," will discuss success restoring the American community. He co-authored, with Louis Feldstein, "Better Together," which studies how citizens rebuild communities by working together, bridging social divides and making space for new leadership.

Tickets are $5 in advance at Elliott Bay Book Co. Town Hall is at 1119 Eighth Ave. Call (206) 682-7395 or go to http://www.seattlecityclub.org.

O'Connor, Kriegh form Bainbridge firm

O'Connor

Kriegh

Architect Peter O'Connor, principal and owner of O'Connor Associates, and Julie Kriegh, owner of Loci Architects, have merged their Bainbridge Island-based practices to form O'Connor Kriegh Architects.

O’Connor has practiced architecture for 35 years, the past 23 years on Bainbridge. He has managed projects ranging from commercial, educational, religious, civic and municipal facilities to high-end single-family and multi-family residences.

Kriegh, who has practiced architecture for 23 years, worked for NBBJ, Miller/Hull Partnership and Weinstein Copeland Architects before founding her own firm three years ago. Her experience includes commercial, religious and medical projects, as well as single and multi-family residential construction. Kriegh currently serves on the Bainbridge Planning Commission.

Current projects include the Mammoth Hospital Orthopedic and Physical Therapy Building in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; The Winery, a 42-unit housing project on Bainbridge; the University of Washington Bothell Donor Wall; and several new residences in the area.

Pyatok joins housing consortium

Pyatok Architects has joined the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County as an associate member. The addition brings the nonprofit trade association’s membership to 29 nonprofit members and 34 associate members. All share an interest in affordable housing.

HDC's nonprofit members have developed nearly 15,000 units of affordable housing, primarily in the Seattle-King County area. Associate members include architects, contractors, financial institutions, law firms, consultants and government agencies.

"Most of our clients belong to HDC," said Tom Eanes, principal at Pyatok Architects' Seattle office. "Our firm focuses on affordable and market-rate multi-family housing, community planning, student housing and mixed-use development within inner cities and suburbs. We specialize in providing architectural services to nonprofit housing development organizations and nonprofit social service providers in Washington, California and other western states."

Pyatok Architects has offices in Seattle and Oakland, with a staff of 25 architects. The firm's most recent projects include the Refugee Women's Alliance Center in south Seattle and the Eliza B. McCabe Townhomes in Tacoma.

Oct. 9 meeting on the art of etiquette

The Oct. 9 program and luncheon meeting of Marketing Associates of Spokane will be presented by etiquette consultant Merrily Bjerkestrand. She will speak about the skills needed to make a positive impression on clients and others. Bjerkestrand will present a refresher course in business etiquette and dining skills to help increase confidence and authority.

The meeting will be held at noon at the Red Lion River Inn, 700 N. Division St. Cost is $15 for MAS members and $25 for non-members. Reservation deadline is Oct. 6. For membership information or to make a reservation, contact MAS vice president Greg Sofio at (509) 534-0451 or visit the MAS Web site at http://www.maspokane.org.