October 22, 2003

Design Detailings: UW series looks at engineering future

University of Washington engineering faculty members will speak on a range of technology topics at a series titled "Engineering the Future."

The fall lecture series begins tonight with UW engineering dean Denice Denton, who will discuss "Crossing Boundaries, Forging Connections." Denton will explore how UW Engineering is working to unravel the mysteries of the genome, explore nanotechnology and microsystems, develop alternative energy sources and tackle the challenges of homeland security.

On Nov. 5, Yongmin Kim, chair of the Department of Bioengineering, will present "House Calls: High-tech Medicine on Your Doorstep." Futurists project that people will, for example, be able to use a portable ultrasound to gauge the health of one's arteries or the status of a high-risk pregnancy at home by sending the images to a doctor for evaluation.

On Nov. 19, Steve Kramer, professor of geotechnical engineering, will present "Shake, Rattle and Roll: Are We Prepared for the Big One?" An expert on soil behavior during major temblors and the effect on structures, Kramer will explore the causes, risks and consequences of big earthquakes, focusing on the Pacific Northwest.

Each lecture have a reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering. Lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. in the adjacent Electrical Engineering Building, room 125. Cost of single lectures is $15, and admittance to the entire series is $40. For more information or to register, go to www.uwalum.com, or call the alumni association at (206) 543-0540.

Norten and Shim speak Nov. 7 at UW

Enrique Norten and Brigitte Shim, internationally known designers and jury members for this year's AIA Seattle Honor Awards, present their award-winning work at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7, at UW's Kane Hall 130.

The presentation is part of the 2003 AIA Honor Awards, this year titled "Idea Realized," to be held Nov. 10.

Norten is founder of TEN Arquitectos in Mexico City. The firm uses a contemporary vocabulary that unites modern and local traditions. TEN's work includes furniture design; single-family apartments and houses; residential, commercial, and cultural buildings; as well as international parks, urban design and redevelopment projects.

Shim is a principal of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in Toronto, a design firm focused on the integration of furniture, architecture and landscape. Her work has been honored with six Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Governor General's Medals and Awards for Architecture along with AIA, American Wood Council, Canadian Wood Council, Architectural Record Interiors and I.D. Magazine Design Review awards. Recent projects include Ledbury Park, Toronto, and the Moorelands Camp Dining Hall, Haliburton, Ontario.

Advance tickets are $10, available at Peter Miller Books, 1930 First Ave. For information, call (206) 441-4114. Tickets at the door will be $15.

Exhibit focuses on light and architecture

The Henry Art Gallery's new exhibit, "Architecture and Light," is a selection of photographs showing the ways shadow and light animate the surfaces of varied structures -- from church interiors to tents.

The exhibition was inspired by the James Turrell Skyspace in the Henry's sculpture court, and features a newly acquired sculpture by local artist Victoria Haven. The piece, "Supermodelcity," is a three-dimensional exploration of architecture and light.

Examples include works by Frederick H. Evans, who sought to capture the soul of cathedrals spending weeks living in a church studying the way light and shadow defined forms and created a spiritual atmosphere. Hiroshi Sugimoto's images of ornate movie theaters built in the 1920s and 1930s are lit purely by cinematic light, as the length of exposure for each photograph is the precise length of the film being screened.

"Architecture and Light" runs through Jan. 11. Cost is $8. For information, call (206) 543-2280, or go to www.henryart.org.

SMPS conference: post-boom marketing

The Society for Marketing Professional Services' regional conference: "Elevation -- Reaching New Heights in Marketing," will be held Thursday and Friday, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Portland.

The conference will feature "Life After the Boom," an economic panel moderated by John Mitchell of M&H Economic Consultants. The panel, which will address the direction of the industry in the face of the economy, will include Marty Brantley, director of the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department; Dick Larman, acting assistant director of the state of Washington's Office of Trade and Economic Development; and Ron Adams, dean of engineering at Oregon State University.

Additional programs offered throughout the conference include: "Communication Training," with Denise Harrington of Harrington & Associates; "Motivating Technical Staff to Market," with Sally Handley of The Marketing Partnership; and "Marketing for Tomorrow's Built Environment," with Kelly Coller of NBBJ.

Registration costs are $300 for SMPS Members and $375 for non-members. Individual sessions are available at $50 for members and $65 for non-members. Register online at smpsoregon.org/autumn.html or contact Sally Cox of Perteet Engineering at (425) 252-7700. For individual program registration, contact Janice Westcott of Lease Crutcher Lewis at (503) 223-0500.

Pyatok firm 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."

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.