Jan 29, 2013

AAA Washington Board of Trustees

AAA Washington announced new officers to the board of trustees: Marilyn Batt Dunn, retired senior counsel of UW Medicine Advancement, as chairman; Robert Flowers as elected vice chairman; David Madeira as treasurer and Kirk Nelson as re-elected president and CEO.

Foster Pepper

Seattle-based law firm Foster Pepper promoted Michael Schechter to member in its Seattle office. Schechter practices municipal governance, open government, eminent domain, land use, the environment and is a lecturer at the University of Washington College of Built Environments.

State Attorney General's Office

Attorney general-elect Bob Ferguson announced Seattle attorney Noah Guzzo Purcell as solicitor general for the Washington State Attorney General's Office, replacing retiring solicitor general Maureen Hart. Purcell is an attorney in Perkins Coie's litigation and appellate practice.

Express Construction Co.

Clegern

Chuck Clegern joined Express Construction Co. as manager of the Special Projects Division. Clegern has many years of experience with office, health-care, industrial, education, religious, retail and tenant-improvement projects.

ABC of Western Washington

Burman

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington hired Ashley Burman as government affairs and education manager. Burman is increasing communication with members as well as developing management classes, beginning with superintendent training. She previously worked for the Rob McKenna campaign. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from the University of Washington, where she made the dean's list and was a Golden Key International Honor Society member.

Goldfinch Bros.

Dan Bagger joined Everett-based Goldfinch Bros. as business development manager in the Residential Division, where he is focusing on architects and builders. Bagger has nearly 28 years of experience, the last 12 years at Reeb Millwork, where he oversaw Marvin and Integrity window and door sales. Prior to that, he was international sales manager for Marvin Windows and Doors, and started his career at The Evergreen Partnership wood products trade association. Goldfinch may expand its sales team as the residential construction market improves.

Washington Patriot Construction

Gig Harbor-based Washington Patriot Construction named Stirrett Johnsen as its 2012 Subcontractor of the Year. Washington Patriot says Stirrett Johnsen employees have good attitudes and high levels of integrity, plus they are opportunistic, professional, responsible, trustworthy and team players.

DPD OKs Vulcan building plans

SEATTLE — The Department of Planning and Development approved Vulcan Real Estate's plans for two six-story office buildings for Amazon.com at 500 Ninth Ave. N. and 515 Westlake Ave. N.

Vulcan representatives said earlier this month that constructed was expected to begin in the first quarter of the year, and the space would be ready for Amazon to move in by 2015.

The two buildings will have a total of 377,000 feet of space with 534 underground parking spaces. There will be 15,000 square feet of retail space, and a connection between the two buildings between the third and fourth levels.

Vulcan will use an alley the city vacated as a 50-foot-wide pedestrian plaza in between the two buildings.

ZGF is the architect on the two-building project. GLY Construction is the general contractor.

Northgate hotel to fly Hampton flag

SEATTLE — Gramor Development Washington's proposed Northgate hotel will be operated by Hilton as a Hampton Inn & Suites, according to an industry source.

The 174-room hotel will be built at 9538 First Ave. N.E., where Marie Callender's restaurant once operated. It was the subject of an early design review meeting last night.

Barnes & Noble closing more stores

NEW YORK (AP) — Barnes & Noble plans to continue to shrink its store base.

The head of Barnes & Noble's retail group, Mitchel Klipper, said in an interview published Monday in The Wall Street Journal that the company will have 450 to 500 stores in a decade. That's down from about 689 currently.

Klipper said the chain plans to close about 20 stores a year over the period.

The largest traditional U.S. bookstore has been facing tough competition from online retailers and discounters that sell books and has been focusing on its Nook tablet, e-book reader and e-book business for growth.

Sand Creek Byway wins ACEC award

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — The American Council of Engineering Companies of Idaho has selected the U.S. Highway 95 realignment project in northern Idaho as the winner of the 2013 Engineering Excellence Awards competition for transportation.

The $112 million Sand Creek Byway was completed in July. It was designed by URS Corporation, and Parsons RCI served as the project's general contractor.

Parsons Group President Todd Wagner tells the Bonner County Daily Bee in a story published Saturday that he's proud the council recognized the Sand Creek Byway, and he also congratulated the Idaho Transportation Department and the entire project team.

Parsons built the 2.1-mile-long project around the city of Sandpoint.

Caldwell may build new high school

CALDWELL, Idaho (AP) — Officials with the Caldwell School District say they expect a bump of about 100 students a year for the foreseeable future, and they're looking at building a new high school to accommodate the increase.

The Idaho Press-Tribune reports that the district's only existing high school, Vallivue High, is already at capacity.

Superintendent Pat Charlton says the district is in the preliminary stage of pursuing a $50 million bond election resolution to fund a 1,800-student school. If the school board approves the plan and the bond election is successful, the new high school could open as soon as the fall of 2016.

Oregon Research gets new home

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Research Institute in Eugene has settled into a new headquarters after a decade-long quest.

The Register-Guard reports the non-profit behavioral research firm and its roughly 200 employees have moved into a $17 million, four-story building at Riverfront Research Park.

The institute looked into several properties before choosing the Riverfront Research Park five years ago. But the firm and its developer became embroiled in a land use dispute with University of Oregon faculty, students and activists over the proposed development site.

The developer agreed in 2011 to use the present site between two existing buildings farther from the Willamette River. The office was constructed in the past year.

The institute, founded in Eugene 53 years ago, conducts behavioral studies funded mainly by the federal National Institutes of Health.

Rare-earth elements mine eyed in Alaska

KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska company has set its sights on developing a rare-earth element mine by 2016 on southeast Prince of Wales Island.

The Ketchikan Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/WDQkbe ) Ucore Rare Metals' proposed Bokan Mountain Project could begin construction in 2014 with the proper permits.

CEO Jim McKenzie says China has dominated the rare-earth elements market, and the Alaska project gives the U.S. a chance to keep up.

Critical minerals, which include rare-earth elements, are those that are needed for use but subject to possible supply restrictions.

Alaska is billing itself as an excellent place to explore, with geology conducive to deposits.

There are 70 known occurrences of rare-earth elements in the state. And Alaska boasts what is believed to be one of the most significant rare-earth prospects in North America.