SDA: How to profit from your projects

Rowland

Stacy Rowland will give a talk on “Understanding Project Profitability in Architecture” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at a Society for Design Administration dinner program at Crowne Plaza Hotel Seattle.

Rowland is accounting manager at Berger Partnership. She will explore common methods of billing and the pitfalls of each for profitability.

Cost is $35 for members, $40 for member firms and $50 for non-members. Register at http://tiny.cc/94nkpy/.

‘Parti' on Jan. 25 with AIA Seattle

AIA Seattle will hold its annual member Parti, a celebration of the past year and a look to the year ahead, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at 1010 Western Ave.

AIA members, corporate allied partners and allied members are invited to the event, which will have light hors d'oeuvres and drinks. R.S.V.P. at http://tiny.cc/cm5hpy/.

Art Deco design tour is Jan. 13

Photo from Seattle Architecture Foundation

Seattle Tower is one of the city’s most prominent Art Deco buildings.

Seattle Architecture Foundation is offering a tour at 10 a.m. Jan. 13 about how technology, archeology, French design and Northwest imagery influence some of Seattle's most impressive Art Deco buildings.

Stops on the two-hour tour include the Exchange Building, Seattle Tower and Washington Athletic Club. Meet at the lobby of Fairmont Olympic Hotel, at 411 University St.

Cost is $18, or $10 for members. Buy tickets at http://tiny.cc/gymcpy/.

MOHAI event on Central District

The Museum of History & Industry will hold a free program titled “Preserving Neighborhood Stories through Oral History” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at 860 Terry Ave N. in Seattle.

MOHAI said that throughout most of the 20th century the Central District was the only Seattle neighborhood where African Americans were allowed to own or rent property. Today the neighborhood is rapidly transforming.

The program will focus on two oral history projects that are helping to preserve this legacy — and how these stories may influence the way we imagine the city's future.

The program is part of the museum's History Cafe series.

Diversity scholarship for design students

The Architects Foundation will select an additional scholar for its 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarship thanks to a $20,000 donation by the Custom Residential Architects Network.

The scholarship is for people from a minority race or ethnicity, or who are “diversely-abled,” and pursuing an accredited architecture degree. The foundation said scholarships may be renewed for up to five years, up to a $20,000 award.

Applications are being accepted through Jan. 17 from high school seniors planning to study architecture, first-year college students enrolled in an architecture program, and students intending to transfer to an architecture program from a technical school or community college.

Apply at http://tiny.cc/2l3hpy/.

AIA: Architecture billings still rising

The American Institute of Architects said demand for design is high, even with uncertainty about the impact of tax reform on the construction industry.

The November Architecture Billings Index was 55, up from 51.7 the previous month, the AIA said in a press release.

The index reflects the approximate nine to 12 month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings.

AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker said, “Not only are design billings overall seeing their strongest growth of the year, the strength is reflected in all major regions and construction sectors. The construction industry continues to show surprising momentum heading into 2018.”

The West scored the highest, at 54.8, followed by the Northeast and South at 52.8 and the Midwest at 50.4. The multifamily sector scored 53.9, followed by mixed practice at 53.6, commercial/industrial at 53.3 and institutional at 52.4.

SMPS Seattle offers networking Jan. 11

The Society for Marketing Professional Services Seattle Chapter will host a free networking event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Elysian Bar & Kitchen, 1516 Second Ave. in Seattle.

Leverage Your Beverage will have drinks and appetizers, and conversation with SMPS members and other A/E/C industry professionals.

It is open to members and non-members. Register at http://tiny.cc/4u0hpy/.

Image from atelierjones and ORO Editions

Susan Jones writes mass timber book

Image from atelierjones and ORO Editions

Susan Jones, owner of atelierjones in Seattle, has written a book titled “Mass Timber: Design and Research,” presenting new research and design with mass timber. It was published by ORO Editions.

Mass timber construction is well-known in Europe, but new in the United States. Jones, an architect, looks at Pacific Northwest forestry and cross-laminated timber manufacturing. She compares the carbon impacts of CLT and standard building materials, and shows designs by her firm and University of Washington students.

Jones built her family's house with cross-laminated timber in 2015, and her firm designed a project that turned an office building into a new home for Bellevue First Congregational Church. That new sanctuary is steel-framed, but the north wall consists of 39-foot-high cross-laminated timber folded plates.

The book is available at http://tiny.cc/dg0jpy/ and at Amazon.com and Peter Miller Books in Seattle.

Herrera studying Lake Whatcom

Herrera's Bellingham office has partnered with Huxley College at Western Washington University to do stormwater research to help address water quality concerns in Lake Whatcom.

In a press release, Herrera said that as part of the partnership, it relocated its stormwater research facility from Seattle University to Huxley College at WWU. The firm's lead researcher for the project, Curtis Hinman, recently relocated to its Bellingham office.

The research focuses on phosphorus treatment. Huxley College's Institute for Watershed Studies has been studying Lake Whatcom's health for decades, and phosphorus is the primary pollutant, Herrera said.

The research facility will develop and test different types of soil for cleaning stormwater before it is released into local waterways and develop a new specification for bioretention media that would be applied in Washington for use in watersheds sensitive to phosphorus.

Herrera has added new staff in the Bellingham office. They are Hinman, a senior scientist, project engineer Neil Schaner and environmental scientist Shelby Giltner. Hinman established Washington State University's LID Research Center in Puyallup.

Holt Services opens Vancouver office

Holt Services, an environmental, geotechnical and clean water drilling contractor, said it opened an office at 9213 N.E. 72nd Ave. in Vancouver to better serve the Portland/Southwest Washington area.

Four drill rigs and nine employees will be based in the office, and more rigs and crews will be added as the market dictates, Holt said in a press release.

Paul Smith manages the Vancouver operations. He has worked in the geotechnical and environmental drilling and construction management field since 2000. He is a driller whose work includes projects in a number of states, including Alaska's North Slope.

Bassetti Architects turns 70

Photo by Jeff Amram [enlarge]

Bassetti Architects turns 70 this year, with a staff of 61 in Seattle and Portland.

The firm was founded in 1947 by Fred Bassetti FAIA, and designed many local landmarks including the renovation of Pike Place Sanitary Public Market, the Jackson Federal Building, Seattle Aquarium and the Woodland Park Children's Petting Zoo.

The firm focuses on architecture, planning and interior design. Clients include academic, civic, and cultural institutions as well as public, private and nonprofit organizations.

It has designed schools, churches, transportation projects, housing, offices, U.S. embassies and historic fire station restorations. Recent Seattle projects have included Fran's Chocolates Factory in the Rainier Brewery Brew House.

This year the firm completed the renovation of Stewart Middle School's 1920s landmark building in Tacoma, shown here. The 133,000-square-foot project includes a library, new classrooms, labs, a plaza overlooking the athletic fields and a reception area that maximizes student safety. The historic auditorium was converted into a commons, and flex areas were created to connect groups of classrooms for small group study.

Skanska USA was the general contractor.

Ron Klemencic elected to NAC

Klemencic

The National Academy of Construction elected Ron Klemencic of Magnusson Klemencic Associates to its 2017 class for his career and contributions to engineering and construction.

The class includes 28 new inductees. More than 300 people were considered.

Klemencic is chairman and CEO of Seattle-based Magnusson Klemencic Associates. The academy cited his leadership in performance-based seismic design and his work as a structural engineer worldwide.

Klemencic joined MKA in 1992 as a senior engineer. He was awarded the 2016 Fazlur Khan Lifetime Achievement Medal from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, and also received the 2016 ASCE Ernest E. Howard Award for leadership on PBSD methods for tall buildings.

Klemencic holds a bachelor's in civil engineering from Purdue University and a master's in engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a founder of the Magnusson Klemencic Associates Foundation.

New digs for Coffman Engineers

Coffman Engineers moved to 1101 Second Ave., Suite 400, in Seattle.

The firm provides civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and fire protection engineering, commissioning, corrosion control and land surveying.

It has more than 400 employees in offices in the United States and Guam, and recently opened an office in Fulton, Maryland.

AIASWW honors Ron Thomas

Thomas

Ron Thomas, president of Olympia-based Thomas Architecture Studios, received the 2017 Charles T. Pearson Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects Southwest Washington Chapter.

Pearson was a Tacoma architect who founded the chapter and was known for his community service.

In a press release, Thomas' firm said his architectural career began in Olympia in 1975. He practiced in Boston and Tacoma before returning to Olympia in 2011. TAS projects in downtown Olympia include the Thurston First Bank mixed-use building and Campus Lofts, along with Annie's Artist Studios, slated for completion in 2018.

Olympia Mayor Cheryl Selby said, “I've had a front row seat watching Ron and his firm repurpose existing buildings as well as design inspiring new projects that have spurred a virtual renaissance of our historic main-street downtown.”

TAS received a merit award for Campus Lofts from AIASWW. Walker John developed the adaptive reuse of a former office building into campus-style apartments and townhomes. Project partners include 3rd Gen Investment Group, LLC; PCS Structural Solutions; Landau Associates; Parametrix; Bailey General Contractors; and Doug Walker Photography.

Pedestrian board has two openings

The city of Seattle is accepting applications until Jan. 26 for two positions on the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board, which helps implement the Pedestrian Master Plan.

The board advises the mayor and city council, participates in planning and project development, evaluates policies, and makes recommendations to city departments.

Seattle residents may apply by submitting a resume and cover letter to Howard Wu at howard.wu@seattle.gov. Wu is at (206) 684-3902.

IA opens third office in Texas

IA Interior Architects has opened an office at 600 Congress Ave. in Austin — its third office in Texas and 20th globally.

Stephanie Long recently joined the firm as managing director, with a focus on expanding IA's presence in the Austin market. Long has over 20 years of experience on workplace and retail projects.

IA said it wants to grow in Austin, which is a digital-savvy, diverse city.

The global architectural firm focuses exclusively on interior architecture and workplace strategies.

Schacht Aslani turns 20 in 2017

Photo by Kevin Scott Photography [enlarge]

Seattle-based Schacht Aslani Architects is celebrating two decades in business.

Walter Schacht established the firm in 1997, and Cima Malek-Aslani joined the practice in 1999.

Eric Aman and Jean-Claude Letourneau became principals in 2014 and shareholders in 2016, as part of the evolution of the firm's leadership.

The staff of 20 primarily works on cultural, civic and public higher education projects. The portfolio includes Douglass-Truth Library for the Seattle Public Library, Maier Hall at Peninsula College and Seattle Fire Station 30. The firm is working with Seattle Public Utilities on the Cedar River Watershed Headquarters, which will be ready for net-zero energy use.

Schacht Aslani designed Peninsula College's Allied Health and Early Childhood Development Center, shown here, at 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd. in Port Angeles. Neeley Construction completed it in July.

The 41,650-square-foot project houses allied health and early childhood programs, including childcare facilities for toddlers and preschoolers.

Allied Health spans part of the ground level and the second floor, connected by an open stair that also provides spaces for study and informal interactions.

Early Childhood Development is on the first floor. Each child care classroom has access to an outdoor play yard.

SDCI permits will go all-electronic

Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections will launch new permitting software in early 2018.

All permitting, licensing, inspections and complaints functions will be available in the new system, which is 100 percent electronic. That means customers will submit all applications and plans via the Seattle Services Portal.

If you are a current applicant who uses the department's Project Portal, SDCI will convert your account to the new Seattle Services Portal.

SDCI said it will send an email around the time of the launch date with new account information and instructions on resetting passwords.

Transpo forum is set for tomorrow

Transportation Choices Coalition will hold a free forum on transportation ideas for Seattle's new mayor from 5 to 6:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Bertha Knight Landes Room at Seattle City Hall.

Presenters include Alex Hudson of First Hill Improvement Association, Beau Morton of Transit Riders Union, Jon Scholes of Downtown Seattle Association, Kelsey Mesher of Cascade Bicycle Club, Kristen Ramirez of Seattle Department of Transportation, Mike Harbour of Sound Transit, Rob Gannon of King County Metro, and Ubax Gardheere of Seattle Planning & Community Development.

R.S.V.P. at http://tiny.cc/f15bpy/.

Transportation Choices is a statewide nonprofit that works to expand travel by buses, trains, walking and biking.

PCS opens new Portland office

PCS Structural Solutions has opened an office at One Main Place, 101 S.W. Main St., Suite 280, in Portland.

PCS said this will better serve clients in Oregon, including with seismic work on education and health care facilities.

Luke Heath will manage the office, and a number of staff members will relocate there.

PCS Structural Solutions is based in Tacoma, and also has a Seattle office.

The firm said it has provided structural consulting on over 700 Northwest projects this year.