March 10, 2004

Design Detailings: The art of napkin sketching

Artist James R. Williamson will give a talk on "Napkin Sketching," the creative process of illustrating ideas quickly and clearly.

The talk is sponsored by the Seattle chapter of the American Institute of Architects and takes place at Allen Elliott's Barn, 12636 Chillberg Road, LaConner, on March 11, 6 p.m. Free to members, $10 non-members. Contact (360) 671-9555 or director@nwaia.org to reserve space.

Allied Arts meeting Friday

The Allied Arts Beer and Culture Discussion Friday night will focus on how well city plans can work as urban areas continue to develop. Architects and planners will be guests at the 7 p.m. open meeting at 80 Vine St.

Guests will include David Spiker, architect and chair of the Seattle Design Commission; Diane Sugimura, director, Department of Planning and Development; and Marty Curry, executive director, Seattle Planning Commission. Donations are suggested. Contact (206) 624-0432 or aarts@speakeasy.net.

Lighting talk by David DiLaura

David DiLaura, a professor in the College of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado in Boulder, will make a presentation on lighting March 18 at 6 p.m. at the World Trade Center executive dining room at 2200 Alaskan Way, fourth floor.

The Puget Sound Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society is hosting the event. Cost is $40 for society members, $45 for non-members. Reserve a spot by March 15 to Andrew Pultorak of Seattle Lighting at andrew@seattlelighting.com.

Mahlum designs green med center

Photo courtesy of Mahlum Architects

The $41.7 million Providence Newberg Medical Center in Newberg, Ore., is to be built to U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design sustainable building guidelines. The 186,000-square-foot complex will have a 39-bed hospital, medical office building and conference center.

Mechanical systems using 100 percent outside air will meet both LEED guidelines and hospital requirements for infection control.

Construction is set to begin this summer, with completion targeted for December 2005. Skanska Building USA is the general contractor. WGS Interiors of Portland and Mahlum is consulting on interior design.

Renovation begins on lighting lab

Renovation is underway at the 9,000-square-foot Seattle Lighting Design Lab at 400 E. Pine St. The 1917 building needed structural refitting.

The lab promotes quality design and energy-efficient technologies, so it's being renovated according to sustainable building methods. Architects are Mithun Architects+Designers+Planners and the contractor is Bellevue-based Rafn. Costs have not been determined.

Galloping Gertie Web site

The Washington State Department of Transportation recently launched a Web site on crossings of the Narrows and the history of Galloping Gertie, the Tacoma Narrows bridge that collapsed in 1940. Visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/TNBhistory.

DKA relocates in Belltown

DKA recently moved its Seattle architectural offices to Belltown. DKA designed its 7,200-square-foot space within a 1920 brick and timber structure at 106 Lenora St. DKA's former address was 2107 Elliott Ave. The phone is (206) 443-9939, and Web site is www.dkarch.com.

Parametrix among Best Companies

Parametrix ranked second in the large companies category on a survey of Oregon's 100 best companies to work for. Oregon Business Magazine ranked companies according to employee recruitment, work environment, career development and employee benefits.

Parametrix is a planning, environmental sciences and architecture company with 500 employees in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado and New Mexico.