AIA index shows growth softening

Billings growth at architecture firms softened in December but remained positive for the 15th consecutive month, according to the American Institute of Architects.

AIA's Architecture Billings Index score for December was 50.4 compared to 54.7 in November, with any score over 50 representing growth.

Growth softened in several regions and sectors, and in project inquiries and design contracts, the AIA said in a press release.

AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker said that, given concerns over tariffs, it is not surprising to see a bit of a slowdown on current projects. “Growing anxiety over unstable business conditions and the partial shutdown of the government may lead to further softening in the coming months,” he said.

In December, the Midwest scored 56.3, followed by the Northeast at 51.6, the South at 49.4 and the West at 49.2.

The institutional sector scored 53.1, followed by commercial/industrial at 51.2, mixed practice at 50.2 and multifamily at 49.8.

AIA program on learning landscapes

AIA Seattle's Committee on Architecture for Education will hold a free program titled “Learning Landscapes” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at 1010 Western Ave. in Seattle.

The discussion will focus on alternate learning environments.

Panelists are Tess Schiavone of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, Jonathon Morley of the Berger Partnership, Vinita Sidhu of Site Workshop and Mark Tilbe of Murase Associates. The moderator is Kas Kinkead of Cascade Design Collaborative.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/ya3df2xm/.

Tour of Seattle's first ‘gayborhood'

Historic Seattle will hold a tour titled “Pioneer Square: The Making of Queer Seattle” from 10 a.m. to noon April 20.

Tour leader, geographer and researcher Julian Barr will talk about Pioneer Square's history as the city's first “gayborhood.” He will point out important locations — including bars, nightclubs and bathhouses — tell stories and share historic images of Seattle's “queer” community dating back to the 1890s.

Meet at South Washington Street and Second Avenue South.

Cost is $15, or $10 for members. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y7ol7mvh/.

New episode of Tacoma's ‘artTown'

The city of Tacoma has released a new episode of “artTown,” a documentary-style TV show exploring Tacoma's emergence as a creative hub in the Pacific Northwest.

The episode spotlights public art at the People's Community Center, and how the Artist in Residence program worked to engage the community about homelessness through “In Our Backyard.”

Launched in 2013, the series is produced by the city's Media and Communications Office, and the Office of Arts and Cultural Vitality.

In a press release, the city said “artTown” explores creative areas such as fashion, innovative education and socially engaged work.

Episodes are online at cityoftacoma.org/artTown and the City's YouTube account, and it's also available on TV Tacoma. More information is at http://www.cityoftacoma.org

SAF tour Feb. 23 on Art Deco design

Seattle Architecture Foundation is offering a tour at 10 a.m. Feb. 23 about how technology, archeology and French design influences 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 in the lobby of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, at 411 University St.

Cost is $18, or $12 for members. Buy tickets at https://tinyurl.com/ybce9cjk/.

SMPS boot camp set for Feb. 20

Raduziner

The Seattle chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services will hold a business development boot camp from noon to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at Sellen Construction, 227 Westlake Ave. N. in Seattle.

The workshop will focus on how the right plan can help you succeed. Attendees will be taught skills and tools to develop and maintain a BD program for architecture, engineering and construction firms. The program will look at which structures are best depending on firm size and market type, and how to recession-proof firms.

The speaker is Allison Raduziner, who owns Pilchuck Business Consulting and has been a business development professional for over 30 years.

Cost is $99 for members and $120 for non-members. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y8jksacw/.

Seattle Planning Commission openings

The city of Seattle is seeking three people to serve on the planning commission.

The commission advises the mayor, city council and staff on citywide planning goals, policies and plans, as well as land use, zoning, transportation and housing issues. It also is the steward of the city's comprehensive plan.

The positions will open in April. Two are city council appointments and one is a mayoral appointment.

Send a letter of interest and resume by Feb. 15 to Vanessa Murdock, Executive Director, Seattle Planning Commission, P.O. Box 94788, Seattle WA 98124-7088, or to Vanessa.Murdock@seattle.gov. Her phone number is (206) 233-7911.

AIA event focuses on embodied carbon

AIA Seattle will hold a free program on embodied carbon and its shifting relationship to architecture from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at 1010 Western Ave. in Seattle.

AIA says the upcoming state legislative agenda is beginning to identify ways in which embodied carbon in building materials might be regulated. Also, new heavy timber code allowances are coming, allowing for increased sequestration capacity.

Kate Simonen of the University of Washington will present her team's research on the proposed Buy Clean Act, which considers setting embodied energy caps on building materials purchased in Washington. Similar measures may be considered for all building materials, the AIA notes.

The panelists are Simonen, an associate professor; Kjell Anderson, director of sustainable design at LMN Architects; and David Walsh, director of sustainability and design integration at Sellen Construction.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/y95d8ga4/.

SDA program on Bluebeam Revu

David Campbell will demonstrate features of Bluebeam Revu's document management capabilities, including Automark and slipsheeting, at a Society for Design Administration program from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Crowne Plaza Seattle, 1113 Sixth Ave.

Campbell will also talk about digital signatures and form creation.

He is building and architecture|application specialist with TopCon Solutions Store. He gained experience with Autodesk Revit while with an Indiana architectural firm.

Cost is $35 for members, $40 for member firms and $50 for non-members, including dinner.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/y9kxu64s/.

ASCE award entries are due March 15

The American Society of Civil Engineers Seattle Section is accepting entries until March 15 for the Local Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Awards.

Here are the categories: geotechnical, transportation and development, water resources, structures, ports and waterways, small project and non-construction study.

Work must have been substantially completed in 2018, and located in King, Snohomish, Kitsap, Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, Island, Clallam or Jefferson counties.

More information is at https://tinyurl.com/y6u4xfse/.

‘Greatest Hits' tour with SAF Feb. 2

Photo by Wendi Walsh [enlarge]

Seattle Central Library is on the tour.

A Seattle Architecture Foundation tour at 10 a.m. Feb. 2 will look at how social forces have shaped Seattle buildings.

“Greatest Hits: Chart Toppers and Heart-Stoppers” explores popular favorites, from the Rainier Club to the cantilevered Central Library, along with the Fifth & Madison Condominium/901 Fifth Avenue Plaza and Seattle City Hall.

The two-hour tour begins in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel lobby at 411 University St. in Seattle.

Cost is $18, or $12 for members. Buy tickets at https://tinyurl.com/ybdv8rqd/.

Blueline expands in Mill Creek

Blueline, a Kirkland-based civil engineering, land use planning and landscape architecture firm, said it has opened an office at 16000 Bothell-Everett Highway, Suite 150, in Mill Creek.

Blueline said the office will allow it to continue to grow, reduce employees' commute time, and offer walkable amenities, such as shops and restaurants. Six people are based at the office, which has space for 15.

The firm said the 2,755-square-foot space has large windows and an open floor plan that encourages collaboration and communication, and offers flexibility for the future. Traditional closed offices are also an option.

Blueline also has an office in Tukwila. The firm's staff of over 50 work on commercial, multifamily, residential subdivision and public works projects.

EBDG opens new East Coast office

Elliott Bay Design Group opened an office in New York to provide engineering, naval architecture and waterfront development services on the East Coast. The company said it is a springboard for growth in the region.

EBDG provides naval architecture, marine engineering and production support, with offices also in Seattle, New Orleans and Ketchikan.

In a press release, Christina Villiott, vice president of sales and marketing, said the New York office marks a major milestone in EBDG's 30-year history and “sets the stage for increased client support across the U.S. and includes new markets for the firm.”

The company hired Catherine (Kate) Hale to head up the office at 181 Westchester Ave., Suite 409 in Port Chester. Hale is a systems engineer, and is qualified to manage port initiatives and aid in developing port master plans. Her experience includes project management and engineering oversight on urban ferry systems. She has assisted in design and permitting for ferry landings on the East Coast.

Hale holds a master's in maritime systems environmental engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and a bachelor's from Simmons College.

Seminar May 10 on eminent domain

The Seminar Group will hold its ninth annual “Eminent Domain in Washington” program May 10 at Washington Athletic Club at 1325 Sixth Ave. in Seattle.

Program co-chairs are Bart J. Freedman of K&L Gates and Kinnon W. Williams of Inslee Best Doezie & Ryder.

The special presenter is Nicholas P. Laurent of the Austin office of Baron Adler Clough & Oddo. Presenters include Martyn L. Daniel of Martyn Daniel LLC, Anthony Gibbons of Re-Solve, Keith A. Kemper of Ellis Li & McKinstry, Russell S. King of the Seattle Office of the City Attorney, Bates McKee of McKee Appraisal, Faith A. Roland of Contract Land Staff, Judge John R. Ruhl of King County Superior Court, Jessica A. Skelton of Pacifica Law Group, Stephen P. VanDerhoef of Cairncross & Hempelmann and David S. Steele and R. Gerard Lutz of Perkins Coie.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/ycazf9v2/.

SAF open house set for Feb. 13

The Seattle Architecture Foundation will hold its 2019 annual open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Center for Architecture & Design at 1010 Western Ave. in Seattle.

The program will showcase what SAF does and celebrate its volunteers, including the winner of the annual Bill Strong Award for Volunteer Excellence.

Food, refreshment and activities will be provided. R.S.V.P. for the free event at https://tinyurl.com/y8xk9eht/.

ASHRAE updates housing standards

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers released an updated edition of the energy performance standards for low-rise energy-efficient residential buildings.

ASHRAE said the 2018 revision of Standard 90.2 outlines cost-effective performance measures that are at least 50 percent more efficient than those defined by the 2006 International Energy Construction Code.

ASHRAE Standard 90.2-2018 is $94 for members and $110 for non-members at https://tinyurl.com/ybodakns/.

AIA 2019 forum on medical design

The Seattle chapter of the American Institute of Architects will hold the 2019 Medical Design Forum Feb. 7 and 8 at The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way N.E.

It includes presentations, case studies, and conversations on the theme of “embracing and innovating change.” Among the topics are changes in health care environments, and how to measure the social and economic value of innovation, manage risk and keep humans at the center of design. There will be “lightning” talks on research and design innovation, and a virtual tour of St. Charles Bend's patient tower, now under construction.

Speakers include Gary M. Schindele of Paladin Healthcare LLC, Randal Brand of Med Space Innovations, Steve Tatge of UW Facilities, Lowell Tong of Weill Institute for Neurosciences University of California, Carl Tully of NBBJ, John Williamson of Skanska, Jan Willemse of ZGF Architects, Michael Great and Mariah Kiersey of Ankrom Moisan Architects, and Anne Stevens and Victoria Cleator of Seattle Children's.

Cost is $403 for members and $700 for non-members by Jan. 28, and 15 percent more after that. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y8jnvgp7/.

Free talks on making design more equitable

AIA Seattle's Women in Design and Diversity Roundtable committees will hold a series of free group discussions on building a more equitable architecture industry in Seattle and beyond at 1010 Western Ave. in Seattle.

Each discussion is from 5 to 7 p.m. Here are the dates and topics: Jan. 28, workplace culture; Feb. 25, intercultural competence; March 25, compensation and negotiation; April 29, recruitment and retention; May 20, managing a career; and June 24, engaging communities.

The event announcement says architecture remains a remarkably homogeneous profession despite increasing diversity in students and young people in the field. The series will use topics and resources from the new AIA “Guides for Equitable Practice,” at https://tinyurl.com/yc3yzr22/.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/ycgo5zsq/.

SAF tour Jan. 26 on Art Deco design

Seattle Architecture Foundation is offering a tour at 10 a.m. Jan. 26 about how technology, archeology and French design influences 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 in the lobby of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, at 411 University St.

Cost is $18, or $12 for members. Buy tickets at https://tinyurl.com/y8jfzv8u/.

AIA COTE toolkit: deep-green design

The American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment released a new tool to help firms design high-performance buildings.

The AIA COTE Top Ten Toolkit presents strategies for sustainable design and criteria for evaluating completed projects. The toolkit is at https://tinyurl.com/yabuw4km/.

“The COTE Top Ten Toolkit is a resource, accessible to all architects, that closes the information gap to designing high performing, equitable, beautiful buildings,” said Angela Brooks, COTE chair and principal at Brooks + Scarpa Architects. “The toolkit is designed to provide relevant, general guidance to architects incorporating deep green principles from the beginning of every project.”

AIA said the kit applies to all building projects.