2019 Honor Awards Winners

2019 Honor Award Winners - Big Mouth House and National Nordic Heritage Museum

SEATTLE, November 5, 2019—The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Seattle chapter hosted the 69th annual Honor Awards for Washington Architecture on November 4 to celebrate excellence in design.

The distinguished jury included Bryan C. Lee Jr.  (New Orleans), Lisa Matthiessen FAIA (Santa Monica), and Jonathan Tate (New Orleans). The event was moderated by Elizabeth Golden, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Washington. Co-Chairs for the 2019 AIA Seattle Honor Awards were Susan McNabb AIA (The Miller Hull Partnership) and Kevin Snook AIA (ZGF Architects).

From 131 submittals, the jury chose 13 award winners from three categories – built, conceptual, and research & innovation. This was the second year of the Research & Innovation category, recognizing strides in research and innovation coming out of our region, elevating our communities’ awareness of advancement in architectural practice. This was the fourth year of the Energy in Design Award to commend projects that have made quantifiably significant strides in energy reduction while also maintaining the highest qualitative design caliber.

In addition to the awards, it was the second year of the Young Voices Selection (YVS), a program with the aim to engage and elevate the voices of young designers through direct participation and representation in AIA Seattle’s Honor Awards for Washington Architecture. The three YVS panelists were Sarah Burk Assoc. AIA (JW Architects), Kyle Francis Assoc. AIA (Neiman Taber Architects), and Will Crothers AIA (Integrus Architecture).

Across the spectrum of project types, the jury acknowledged the strong design culture represented in our region, and applauded projects that went further than just beautiful design and thoughtful conceptual understanding – thinking about larger themes of justice, equity, density, and how buildings perform. The jury thought a lot about the social and environmental impact, context and influence of these projects in making their selections, and celebrated projects that dealt with larger social issues beyond the building’s scope. “We are celebrating what we want to see more of. Continue your willingness to take risks answering the problems we face and contribute with our work and skills for future generations” said juror, Matthiessen FAIA.

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to our esteemed jury and Honor Awards Committee!

AWARD OF HONOR

Big Mouth House by Best Practice Architecture and Hybrid Architecture

 

Big Mouth House by Best Practice Architecture & Hybrid Architecture is a townhouse project comprised of 3 homes and 3 Accessory Dwelling Units. The jury appreciated the thoughtful and inventive approach to adding density to our neighborhoods. The careful attention to scale and relationships within the project and to the neighborhood are what made this project an Award of Honor, as well as how smart the spaces were organized and detailed.

 

 

Big Mouth House - Honor Award 2019, by Best Practice Architecture and Hybrid Architecture
National Nordic Museum by Mithun is a museum and cultural center celebrating the Nordic and Nordic American experience. The jury appreciated the way in which this building was both successful  museum and community center, and how integral the exhibit design is to the design of the whole building. The spatialization of a migration timeline combined with the subtle fjord concept, along with the seamless weaving in and celebrating of the community were what made this an Award of Honor for the jury.    

 

ENERGY IN DESIGN AWARD

 

Hazel Wolf K-8 ESTEM School by NAC Architecture is an environmentally ambitious K-8 school in the Seattle Public School System. The jury was impressed by the proven energy data of this complex building type that maximized a small site and incorporated nature while also being daylight-filled, playful, and embodying the environmental curriculum, using the building as a teaching tool.

 

AWARD OF MERIT

Discovery High School by DLR Group
Seattle Resource Hub by Sundberg Kennedy Ly Au Young Architects (Conceptual)
Softbox by KOArchitecture & Ed Sozhino
The Shea by Public47 Architects
University of Washington, Life Sciences Building by Perkins + Will

HONORABLE MENTION

ADUniverse by Rick Mohler AIA & Nick Welch (Research & Innovation)
ARTS at King Street Station by Schacht Aslani Architects & Olson Kundig
Denny Dimin Gallery Installation by Montgomery Townsend LLC
Living Upon the History by Vlanka Catalan, Siyu Qu, Peipei Sun (Conceptual)
Whidbey Island Residence by The Miller Hull Partnership LLP

YOUNG VOICES SELECTION

ARTS at King Street Station by Schacht Aslani Architects & Olson Kundig

To view all of the 2019 submissions, visit the:

Click here for online gallery


Special thanks to our 2019 Honor Awards Sponsors:

honor awards list of sponsor logos

Posted in For the Profession, For the Public, Honor Awards, Uncategorized

2019 NWW Design Awards Winners Announced

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Northwest Washington Section hosted its Design Awards on October 3 in Bellingham to celebrate excellence in Design.

The jury included Chrysanthe Broikos (DC, National Building Museum), John Janicki (Sedro Woolley, Janicki Industries), and Al Zimmerman (Bellingham, ZimGroup). The jury worked with AIA Northwest Washington members Dave Christensen AIA (Christensen Design Managment), Julie Blazek AIA (HKP Architects),, and Sharon Robinson AIA (Zervas Group), who guided the Design Awards process, with support from Dave Pelletier AIA (Pelletier & Schaar).

From 26 submissions, the jury chose 9 projects for recognition of Citation, Merit, and Honor, across commercial and residential design. The jury remarked that the process on the whole was filled with difficult decisions, and they were impressed with the quality of projects submitted. In particular, execution and detailing were strong, and the jury chose those whose projects had concerns or parameters which the final design addressed.

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to our esteemed jury and Design Awards committee!

HONOR AWARD

View up the stairway to the award-winning Beach Drive Studio, described in text at rightBeach Drive Studio by Designs Northwest Architects was awarded for its “hideaway” residential studio on Camano Island, Washington. In particular, the jurors remarked on its coherent incorporation of all its materials, and use of light and views to water. Its design directly responded to the challenge of its location in a floodplain.
Dan Nelson
, Principal Architect
Wayne Lovegrove, Designs Northwest Architects, Project Manager
Garrett Kuhlman, Designs Northwest Architects, Interior Design
Impel Construction, General Contractor
Equilibria, Structural Engineer
Photo credit: Swift Studio

Diagonal view of metal and concrete D&D Building, brown over gray first floor. Described at rightD&D Building by Designs Northwest Architects was awarded for its multiuse commercial design in the historic west end of Stanwood, Washington. The jury zeroed in on its development of cost-effective solutions to the challenges posed by the site, in particular associated with its location in a floodplain.
Dan Nelson
, Principal Architect
Tom Rochon, Designs Northwest Architects, Senior Project Designer
Jayme Zold, Designs Northwest Architects, Project Manager
Garrett Kuhlman, Designs Northwest Architects, Interior Design
Impel Construction, General Contractor
Equilibria, Structural Engineer; Alpine Welding, Metalwork
Photo credit: S. Brousseau Photography

MERIT AWARD

Mazama Meadow House by Designs Northwest Architects
Eleanor Apartments by RMC Architects
North Shore Road Residence by Zervas Architects
Options High School by Zervas Architects

CITATION AWARD

Mouse Ranch House by Christensen Design Management
Twin Lakes Landing by HKP Architects & Designs Northwest Architects
Unity Care NW, North Whatcom Health Center by RMC Architects

 


AIA NWW 2019 Design Awards sponsor list

Posted in For the Profession, For the Public

Advocacy Update – October 2019

october advocacy update - activated street graphic

NATIONAL NEWS

ICC vote on AIA’s Zero Code Renewable Energy Appendix
AIA National submitted a Zero Code Renewable Energy Appendix to become part of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). If approved by the International Code Council (ICC) voting members in Las Vegas on October 30 and via online vote in late November, local jurisdictions would be allowed to voluntarily adopt a zero-net-carbon building code. This Appendix to the model energy code allows for a multiple-pathway approach to achieve better energy efficiency and carbon reduction outcomes for the built environment. It provides jurisdictions with a powerful tool to accelerate the transition to a 100% clean building design as part of their codes.

AIA is asking its members who are ICC voting members to vote to add the Appendix to the IECC. AIA members are also asked to contact their state and local government energy, sustainability, and code officials to ask them to vote for approval of the Appendix.


STATE NEWS

Join Colleagues from Across the State at AIA|WA’s Annual Advocacy Summit
AIA Washington Council will hold its annual Advocacy Summit on Oct. 24th in Seattle from 1-5 pm. This is your chance to help shape architects’ agenda for the 2020 state legislative session and learn how to shape policy issues impacting your work. The Summit will kick off with a deep dive panel on homelessness policy, design strategies, and the legislative response.  Following this session, attendees will engage with one or more policy committees to review agendas for 2020 and specific policies AIA|WA will want to address. A reception will follow the event. CE credits are available for both sessions.


LOCAL NEWS

Pre-approved Plans for DADUs
Seattle has released its initial plan for pre-approved DADUs, one of Mayor Durkan’s top housing priorities. You may find the summary document here and SDCI’s blog about the program here. SDCI has launched a survey to help guide its effort to select designs for pre-approved plans; we encourage architects to offer input via the survey or via email directly to SDCI at DADUplans@seattle.gov. Here is SDCI’s overview of its process:

To simplify and streamline permitting, the city is developing pre-approved DADU construction plans that offer a faster, easier, and more predictable design and permitting process. Here’s how it works:

      • Our public survey informs design principles and criteria we will use to select plans.
      • We invite designers and builders to submit DADU designs.
      • Permitting staff pre-approve 6-10 plans chosen based on selection criteria.
      • Plans become available for homeowners, who can connect with the designer to create a site plan.

Homeowners choosing a pre-approved DADU plan get a shorter permit review process and a reduced permit fee. Plans selected for pre-approval will be featured in an online gallery on the City’s ADU website.

AIA Seattle will be submitting a letter to the city with recommendations on how to improve this program based on its goals of generating more ADUs more affordably. If you have comments for us to consider, please contact Kirsten.

AIA Seattle Housing Policy Statement Under Review
AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force and its Public Policy Board are updating the chapter’s Housing Policy Statement to reflect new priorities now that MHA and ADU legislation have passed. We welcome member comments and suggestions. You may review the current draft here.

Imagine Greater Downtown Vision Released
Seattle issued its Vision Framework for Imagine Greater Downtown, a plan to develop active streets and inviting public spaces in downtown Seattle’s ten neighborhoods. The Vision Framework is the result of input from residents and staff across coordinating agencies. You may view the city’s summary here and the full report here. In 2018-19, AIA Seattle worked with OPCD staff to provide input on the plan.

Seattle Approves SEPA Changes
The Seattle City Council voted 8-0 to approve legislation to streamline the city’s State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) appeals process. Under the legislation, Seattle will until at least 2021 ban SEPA appeals of certain land-use policies, such as upzoning around transit stations and allowing duplexes and triplexes on blocks now reserved for single-family houses. These policies will still need to undergo environmental review. The mayor is expected to sign the legislation. The change was made possible by state legislation passed earlier this year aimed at increasing residential building capacity and housing affordability. AIA Seattle wrote a letter to Councilmembers in support.

Feedback Sought on Seattle’s 2020 Proposed Budget
Seattle’s City Council is currently engaged in reviewing Mayor Durkan’s proposed 2020 budget. Under state law, the Council must consider and adopt a budget by December 2 (30 days before the beginning of the fiscal year). More information about the budget and the Council’s considerations, including how to contact Councilmembers to share your feedback, may be found here.


OPPORTUNITIES

Seattle Design Commission Seeks Urban Designer
The Seattle Design Commission is now recruiting for an urban designer to serve a two-year term beginning in March 2020. CV and letters of interest are due by December 2. Click here for more info on how to be considered. The Seattle Design Commission advises the Mayor, Council, and city officials on design excellence in city-funded capital improvement projects, projects in the right-of-way, and projects constructed with city funds.


EVENTS

AIA Seattle Committee Meetings
AIA Seattle members and others are invited to attend these policy-focused committee meetings, which occur monthly:

  •  Transportation Task Force Monthly Meeting: Nov. 12, 5:30-6:30 @ CFAD
  •  Housing Task Force Monthly Meeting: Nov. 14, noon-1:15 pm @ CFAD

Let Kirsten know if you’d like to be added to the email list for either task force.

WSDOT Construction & Design Contractor Open House – Oct. 22, Seattle
WSDOT is hosting an open house for prime contractors, subcontractors and design consultants interested in learning more about the major transportation projects in the greater Seattle area.

Northwest Green Building Slam + Summit – Oct. 25-26, Seattle

Lid I-5 Open House & Panel Discussion – Oct. 28, Town Hall Seattle

Shift Zero Fall Meeting – Nov. 7, 9:00-12:00. Smart Buildings Center, Pacific Tower
All AIA members are welcome.

Build Small Live Large Summit – Nov. 7-8, Portland
Innovators share what’s working in their cities and promote the best strategies to regulate, design, build, and finance smaller homes and “missing middle” housing options.

Energy Leadership Summit – Nov 19, Seattle

 

We’d love to hear from you! To comment or for more information on these or any other topics, please contact:

Kirsten Smith
Manager of Policy & Advocacy
AIA Seattle & AIA Washington Council
206-957-1926 | kirstens@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

 

Posted in Public Policy Board

AHC Fall Seminar – Lessons Learned Call for Lightning Talks

White text on purple background: Architecture for Health Committee

**CALL IS NOW CLOSED. 2019 AHC Fall session registration available here.**

AIA Seattle Call for Lightning Talk Presentations
2019 AHC FALL EVENT: LESSONS LEARNED
Nov 22, 2019, Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center, Seattle

FORUM OVERVIEW
This year’s Architecture for Health Committee Fall Event includes one day of interdisciplinary presentations, design case studies, and conversations around Lessons Learned in the Healthcare Design and Construction Industry. In our rapidly changing landscape of Healthcare Organizations how are design teams adapting to a constantly evolving landscape? What lessons from past project and complex renovations can be shared with our peers to make us all better? As our project delivery models shift how can we learn from the experience of other to better serve our clients? On November 22nd, we welcome architects, engineers, contractors and healthcare professionals to join us at this dynamic program that concludes with a tour of the Burien Northwest Kidney Center which recently completed construction.

INTENDED AUDIENCE
The AHC Fall Event audience includes: Architects, Engineers, Contractors, Healthcare Practitioners and Policymakers, Facility Owners/Managers, Urban Designers and Planners, and Public Health Professionals. The planning task force welcomes emerging professionals to the program, as their future leadership is central to our mission.

CALL FOR LIGHTNING TALK PRESENTATIONS
Submission Deadline: Friday October 18, 2019
We seek to convene a series of short “lightning” talk presentations (think  PechaKucha format) that will educate the audience to recent lessons learned in the Healthcare AEC industry. We welcome a diversity of proposals from a variety of disciplines focused on design, construction and project delivery.

PRESENTATION TOPICS
Proposals should specifically address lessons learned in the context of healthcare or healthcare environments. Possible subtopics are included below, but the list is not comprehensive, and should not limit submitters.

o  Planning or design strategies that improve patient care

o  Implementation of technologies in the design and construction industry

o  Complex Acute Care Renovations

o  Alternate Project Delivery Methods

o  Joint Venture Partnerships

o  Implementation of research to patient care

PRESENTATION FORMAT
Lightning talk presentations are short, maximum of seven (7) minutes in length. Inspired by  PechaKucha’s concise format, presentations must limit their slides (number of slides may vary), and set them to advance automatically. Standard audio, visual, and digital media will be supported.

If selected, presenters must submit their final PowerPoint presentation files to AIA staff no later than 5:00pm on Monday, November 1, 2019.  A PowerPoint template will be provided in advance, and late presentations cannot be accepted.

We encourage presenters to use the following questions as a guide to preparing their short talks:

WHAT is the LESSON LEARNED that your lightning talk will focus on? Is it a process, a tool, a product, a space, an interaction, etc.?

WHY the lesson? Identify the problem or challenge that prompted the lesson learned.

HOW was the solution developed, tested, implemented in the context of healthcare?

WHO were the stakeholders involved.? Who was impacted? Who was required to embrace the change

and/or assume the risks?

EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SELECTION PROCESS
Lightning talk proposals will be evaluated by the AHC Fall Event Planning Task Force with AIA staff. Successful proposals will:

o  Align with the forum theme and objectives

o  Deepen audience understanding of a particular design solutions

o  Offer fresh insight and relevant information through the combination of words and visuals

Speakers should be able to effectively communicate messages to a variety of audience members. While relevant examples of innovation projects can be used for presentation (and credit given to the appropriate individuals/teams), the lightning talk sessions are not a platform for marketing a person or firm’s portfolio, services, or, strategies.

SUBMISSION PROCESS + KEY DATES
Please complete this submission form by 5:00pm on October 18, 2019.

Schedule and Deadlines

  • Friday, October 18 5:00PM Proposals due
  • Wednesday, October 23: Acceptances issued
  • Friday, November 1: Final PowerPoint presentations due to AIA staff
  • Friday November 22 AHC Fall Event Presentations

INQUIRIES
Please address any questions and e‐mail all submissions to:

Chris Carlson
AIA Seattle Architecture for Health Committee Board Member
chris@buffalodesign.com
206 467‐6306

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Advocacy Update – September 2019

bike transportation

NATIONAL NEWS

AIA Makes Big Move on Climate
This month AIA National launched an initiative to drive climate action within the architecture profession. As part of this effort, AIA called on architects around the world to support humanity’s collective call to climate action through a commitment to sustainable and resilient design. The Institute issued a statement, Where We Stand: Climate Action, detailing its initial path forward to support architects in making progress towards achieving net-zero emissions in the built environment by 2050.

AIA National’s immediate past president, Carl Elefante FAIA, testified on this topic at a Sept. 20 hearing of the U.S. House of Representative’s Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy. The hearing was on Building a 100 Percent Clean Economy: Solutions for the U.S. Building Sector. Carl spoke in support of achieving net-zero emissions in the built environment by 2050 and called for a “long-term commitment from every aspect of our society to incorporate these principles into the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the nation’s buildings.” You can watch the recorded hearing and/or read Carl’s testimony here.

AIA Washington Council and AIA Seattle both work on climate initiatives related to net-zero emissions in the built environment. If you’d like to get involved, please contact Kirsten.


STATE NEWS

AIA|WA Engages Clean Buildings Rulemaking
AIA Washington Council is participating in the Washington Dept. of Commerce’s rulemaking process for the Clean Buildings legislation (HB 1257) passed this spring by the State Legislature. The legislation directs Commerce to establish building performance standards categorized by building type for large commercial buildings (greater than 50,000 GSF). These building owners are required to undergo energy audits and, if below the standard, identify a path towards compliance or a set of cost-effective retrofit strategies. The legislation does not say how this will be done (although it does point to the ASHRAE 100 standard as a starting point for setting EUI targets); it asks the Department of Commerce to establish standard performance measures and determine a program of requiring building owners to meet it. To ease the burden on building owners, energy efficiency upgrades will not be required unless the investment will pay for itself in decreased utility spending. Additionally, the bill allocates $75 million in incentives to support up front financial investments for buildings that require major capital improvements. If you are interested in joining AIA’s efforts to help impact this process, or if you would like additional information, let Kirsten know.


LOCAL NEWS

AIA Seattle Homelessness Policy Statement
AIA’s Committee on Homelessness has developed a policy statement outlining the chapter’s advocacy goals, key messages, and proposed actions related to homelessness policy issues. Once finalized by the Board of Directors, a policy statement guides AIA’s ongoing policy efforts the issue. AIA’s Public Policy Board and Board of Directors have approved the homelessness policy statement and we are now seeking member input. Please review the statement here and send any comments to Kirsten.

MASS Transportation Package Supported by AIA
A coalition known as MASS – Move all Seattle Sustainably – submitted a package of transportation priorities to the City Council aimed at making “walking, rolling, biking, and using transit in Seattle safer and more accessible.” AIA’s Transportation Task Force and its Public Policy Board endorsed these priorities (although we’d like a greater focus on pedestrians and wayfinding) and, in particular, the three items considered by Council in August and September:

  • Bicycle Safety Ordinance: requires that SDOT, when doing major road work, make any improvements listed in the Bicycle Master Plan at the same time. If SDOT doesn’t follow the Bicycle Master Plan, it must explain to the City Council and the public why this isn’t possible.
  • Request More Funding for Bicycle Implementation Plan: a resolution requesting that unfunded projects in the Bicycle Implementation Plan be funded, including all South Seattle projects (currently only funded for study) and two-way bike lanes on 4th Ave. downtown.
  • Off-Sidewalk Bike and Scooter Parking: a resolution requesting that, in 2020, SDOT double the number of planned off-sidewalk bike and scooter parking spaces to ensure pedestrian access on sidewalks and continue to rebalance the allocation of street space for people, rather than just for cars.

All three were unanimously approved by the full Council on Sept. 3. Mary Wylie AIA, co-chair of the Transportation Task Force, spoke in favor of these proposals at the Council meeting.

Moving forward, the City Council’s Sustainability & Transportation Committee is currently reviewing additional MASS proposals, including:

  • A resolution requesting that SDOT develop policy options for the maintenance of existing sidewalks, create a public education program on snow and ice removal responsibilities, and develop a program to enforce snow and ice removal requirements by private property owners.
  • A resolution requesting that SDOT develop a traffic signals policy.
  • Free ORCA passes for all transit riders.

Climate Legislation Moves Through Council
The Seattle City Council acted on legislation related to climate change, including the tax on heating oil and the Seattle Green New Deal reported on last month. The full Council previously passed a resolution outlining goals for the Green New Deal and, on Sept. 16, passed an ordinance establishing an Oversight Board to recommend policies, projects, and programs based on the goals outlined in the resolution. The full City Council passed the legislation to tax heating oil and help low-income households convert to electricity on Sept. 23. In addition, the Council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee has been holding hearings on legislation to prohibit new gas hook-ups in all new buildings permitted after July 1, 2020. AIA Seattle’s Public Policy Board approved support for all of these initiatives with clarification that we would like to see the Green New Deal goals prioritized according to how much each will reduce carbon emissions. Individuals interested in joining the Seattle for a Green New Deal effort can find more info here.

AIA Supports SEPA Reform
AIA joined environmental groups and housing activists to support City Council legislation that would amend the city’s State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) provisions to exempt certain appeals of completed environmental impact statements in accordance with new state law. The state legislation, aimed at promoting denser zoning in cities, allows municipalities to prohibit legal appeals under SEPA when they enact any of the bill’s optional major land-use changes, such as upzoning areas around transit stations and allowing duplexes, triplexes, and courtyard apartments on lots previously reserved for single-family houses. These changes would still need to undergo environmental review but the reviews would no longer be subject to appeal. The legislation would also limit the number of days allowed for remaining SEPA appeals. The full Council will vote on this legislation on Oct. 7. AIA Seattle sent a letter to Councilmembers in support of the legislation. In addition, Matt Hutchins AIA and Dylan Glosecki AIA testified in support of the legislation at Sustainability and Transportation Committee hearings.

Mayor Durkan Releases 2020 Proposed Budget
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has released her proposed budget for 2020, the second year of Seattle’s two-year budget biennium. Over the next two months, the City Council will review the Mayor’s proposed budget, with final adoption expected Nov. 25. More information about details in the budget can be found here. If you’d like to comment on any of the budget proposals, you may share your comments directly with Mayor Durkan, councilmembers, or AIA. Look for the city’s public input sessions over the next two months as well.


OPPORTUNITIES

Housing Choices Survey
Seattle’s Housing Choices initiative aims to create more market-rate housing options, in more places, for more people. Read the Office of Planning and Community Development’s Background Report and take the city’s Housing Choices survey, which will help inform near-term actions and longer-term recommendations. One survey question specifically asks if you are an architect.

King County Strategic Climate Action Plan Workshops
King County is updating its 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan – the five-year blueprint for climate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prepare for climate change, and work with partners and communities on climate. The County is looking for public input at three workshops in October, where officials will share highlights of recent climate progress and challenges, initial ideas for what more the County might do, and get your input on priorities and solutions. Events include:

  • Wednesday, October 2nd, 6- 8 pm, Bellevue College (East King County)
  • Saturday, October 12th, 10 am – 12 pm, University of Washington (North & Central King County)
  • Wednesday, October 16th, 6-8 pm, Highline College (South King County)

To RSVP and for more information about the events and locations, click here.

Fall Quarter of Seattle’s People’s Academy for Community Engagement Accepting Applications
Learn civic leadership and navigating local government at the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ People’s Academy for Community Engagement (PACE). Developed for the next wave of community leaders, PACE is taking applications for its fall quarter classes (Oct. 12 to Nov. 9). Participants will learn hands-on strategies for community organizing, accessing government, and inclusive engagement from experts in the field. More info here.

 


EVENTS

AIA Seattle Committee Meetings

AIA Seattle members and others are invited to attend these policy-focused committee meetings, which occur monthly:

  • Transportation Task Force Monthly Meeting: Oct. 8, 5:30-6:30. Pub planning session @ Fadó (1st & Columbia)
  • Housing Task Force Monthly Meeting: Oct. 10, noon-1:15 pm @ CFAD

Let Kirsten know if you’d like to be added to the email list for either task force.

Taco-bout Justice + Tour the Justice BusOct. 10, Seattle
The Committee on Homelessness and the Benefits Law Center invite you to join a taco-fueled happy hour to learn about the Justice Bus, a mobile public benefits legal center that meets clients wherever they are at.

City of Seattle DADU Fair – Oct. 19, 2-5 pm, Southside Commons, Columbia City

Northwest Green Building Slam and Summit – Oct. 25-26, Seattle
Learn from leading thinkers and innovators in the ecobuilding community. A lineup of fantastic speakers will inspire you for the year ahead.

AIA Washington Council Advocacy Summit – Oct. 24, Seattle
AIA|WA’s Advocacy Summit is your chance to help shape architects’ agenda for the 2020 state legislative session. The Summit will kick off with a deep dive on homelessness policy, design strategies, and the legislative response. Following this session, attendees will engage with one or more policy committees to review agendas for 2020 and specific policies AIA|WA will want to address. A reception will follow the event. We expect to have CE credits available for this event.

Lid I-5 Open House & Panel Discussion – Oct. 28, Town Hall Seattle
The event will include presentations from a number of renowned public space and landscape experts from across the nation.

Energy Leadership Summit – Nov 19, Seattle
The Energy Leadership Summit is the region’s must-attend clean energy event. Presented jointly by the CleanTech Alliance and the Northwest Environmental Business Council, this unique event connects policy with practice and addresses the industry’s current challenges and future opportunities. This year’s summit will explore the nexus of energy, climate change, and the region’s economy with more than 400 industry leaders and policymakers from across the Northwest.

 

We’d love to hear from you! To comment or for more information on these or any other topics, please contact:

Kirsten Smith
Manager of Policy & Advocacy
AIA Seattle & AIA Washington Council
206-957-1926 | kirstens@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

 

Posted in Climate, Housing, Public Policy Board, Transportation, Uncategorized Tagged with:

Big Moves on Climate from the 2019 State Legislature

Clearly a top priority for Democrats this session, legislation to address climate change performed very strongly.  The increase in the number of Senate seats held by Democrats after the 2018 election allowed Democrats to push these bills few with very few or no Republican votes.  In some cases, they were also able to lose the votes of one or more moderate Democrats from rural or industrial districts and still pass the legislation.  This year the Democrats adopted a different strategy to climate legislation, choosing a piecemeal approach that addressed climate issues on a sector-by-sector basis rather than pursuing the larger climate taxation schemes they attempted (unsuccessfully) in previous years.

Clean Buildings
Governor Inslee’s clean buildings bill was AIA|WA’s top priority and the version sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio (D-Olympia) succeeded after a process involving many compromises to garner Democratic votes.  This included dropping a provision to allow local governments to develop voluntary residential “stretch codes” that go beyond existing code.  The core pieces of the final bill include building performance standards and incentives for large commercial buildings (> 50,000 sq. ft.); natural gas conservation standards; and requirements for electric vehicle infrastructure in new buildings.

Additional AIA|WA priority bills on climate included:

HFCsLegislation to establish deadlines for banning greenhouse gasses (largely hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs) in refrigerants passed and will be signed by the Governor.  This bill reinstates Obama-era EPA regulations designed to end the use of HFCs, although the Washington version does not go as far as California’s regulations, which passed last year.

Toxic Materials: legislation to further restrict the use of toxic materials in consumer and building products passed and will be signed by the Governor.  The bill instructs the Department of Ecology to identify classes of chemicals that may be restricted at a rate of five every five years.

PACER:  An AIA|WA-supported bill that would have authorized a commercial property assessed clean energy and resilience (PACER) program in Washington passed one committee but failed to move further.  This bill would have established an alternative source of funding to provide loans for energy efficiency improvements which would have been repaid through assessments on the property.  Under this program, loans remain with the property if sold.  This bill will be an AIA|WA priority next year.

AIA|WA monitored but did not actively support the following additional climate bills:

Fossil-Free Electricity: a bill to phase out use of natural gas and coal in power generation to reach a 100 percent clean energy standard by 2045 passed and will be signed by the Governor.  The legislation, the strictest clean energy law in the nation, also bans the sale of coal-powered electricity to retail electricity consumers by 2026.

Net Metering: legislation passed to require electric utilities to make conventional net metering available to eligible customer-generators.  It will be signed by the Governor.

Appliance Efficiency: a bill to develop stricter appliance efficiency standards passed and will be signed into law.

HEAL Act: the Healthy Environment for All Act received a lot of publicity.  It would have addressed environmental disparities that disproportionally impact low-income, Native American and minority communities.  Although passed by both houses, the House and Senate ultimately could not agree on a single version, and the bill failed to pass.

Clean Fuels Program: a bill to limit greenhouse gas emissions in transportation fuels passed the House but failed to pass the Senate.  It would have reduced consumption of traditional gasoline and diesel over time as alternative options like biogas and electricity become more common. This bill faced strong opposition from the oil industry and legislators who argued it would significantly raise the price of gas.

For more information, contact Kirsten Smith, manager of policy & advocacy.

Posted in Uncategorized

Climate Partner: Shift Zero

Its aim is to form a collective voice to advocate on behalf of zero net carbon buildings; inform policy solutions; and educate policymakers at all levels of government. Shift Zero’s diverse membership of local, regional and statewide organizations unites a powerful array of green building platforms, educational resources, and incentives that can be used to improve the sustainability of the built environment.

By working together and focusing on initiatives that are ambitious, scalable, equitable, and quantifiable, Shift Zero works to achieve a zero net carbon built environment that will transform Washington’s carbon footprint in communities across the state.

Shift Zero has a number of task forces working to support its policy goals.  AIAmembers are welcome to participate in these or other Shift Zero efforts. Task forces include:

  • Zero Net Carbon Policy Toolkit for local governments
  • Building Electrification
  • Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resilience (PACER) Financing
  • Energy Performance Disclosure at Point of Sale
  • 20 by 2020 Building Challenge

More info on these initiatives may be found here.

Posted in Climate, Public Policy Board

Seattle Proposes Speeding Up Oil to Electric Heating Conversions

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced a plan to speed up the conversion of homes that burn oil for heat to cleaner electric heating as part of the city’s 2018 Seattle Climate Strategy. The City Council with consider legislation that would impose a tax on heating oil and require heating oil tank owners to decommission or upgrade all existing underground oil tanks by 2028. Revenue from the tax will provide rebates and grants for Seattle homeowners to install energy efficient electric heat pumps.

Although AIA Seattle has not weighed in on this specific proposal, we have supported this concept as part of our work with Shift Zero to move Washington closer to a zero net carbon built environment. If you have comments on this proposal that you’d like us to consider, please send them to Kirsten.

August 2019

Posted in Climate, Public Policy Board

Seattle Passes Local Green New Deal Resolution

Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien introduced a resolution laying out the agenda for a Green New Deal for Seattle and an ordinance creating a Green New Deal Oversight Board. The resolution endorses the Federal Green New Deal and identifies five goals for a Seattle Green New Deal:

  • Make Seattle free of pollutants that have climate impacts by 2030;
  • Prioritize investments most harmed by economic, racial, and environmental injustices;
  • Advance an equitable transition from an extraction-based economy to one based on “regeneration and cooperation;”
  • Ensure that those with the least amount of power and wealth are positioned to lead during the transition;
  • Create stable, living-wage jobs that prioritize local hiring, and protect jobs with Project Labor Agreements and Labor Harmony Agreements.

Specific initiatives can be reviewed in the resolution text. The resolution was fast-tracked through the Council process and was approved by the full Council on Aug. 12. The ordinance was reviewed at the Aug. 6 Sustainability and Transportation Committee meeting and will be revisited by that committee at a future meeting. AIA Seattle has generally supported the Green New Deal at both the national and local scales.

August 2019

Posted in Climate, Uncategorized

Mayor Durkan Approves Electronic Vehicle Readiness Legislation

On May 8, Mayor Durkan signed Electric Vehicle Readiness legislation into law. The new rules went into effect on June 7. The legislation will require all new buildings with off-street parking to include electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The goals are to save substantial costs on future charging station installation; reduce barriers to owning electric vehicles; and help reshape the city’s transportation systems for a fossil fuel-free future.

The city has indicated that it is studying possible changes to the Land Use Code to require new development in Seattle that includes off-street parking to provide power outlets for EV charging. This ordinance is part of the city’s Drive Clean Seattle initiative and was included in the mayor’s 2018 Climate Action Strategy as one of her 12 priority climate actions.

June 2019

Posted in Climate, Transportation

Seattle’s Center City Streetcar Gets Green Light to Move Forward

After months in limbo, Seattle’s Central City Connector Streetcar line was approved by Mayor Durkan to move forward, albeit with higher cost estimates and a timeline five years later than initially planned. Some design and engineering for the project will have to be redone. The Center City Connector will link Seattle’s two existing streetcar lines through downtown. On Aug. 12, the City Council approved an ordinance to authorize $9 million for additional design work on the Center City Streetcar. AIA Seattle sent a letter to Mayor Durkan in Oct. 2018 supporting the project and asking her to formally approve the construction of this key connection to Seattle’s streetcar system.

August 2019

Posted in Transportation, Uncategorized

Seattle Enacts Mandatory Housing Affordability

The ordinance will implement MHA in Seattle’s 27 urban villages and all other commercial and multifamily residential areas. All urban villages and multifamily residential and commercial zones will see zoning changes, allowing slightly larger or taller buildings. Additional development capacity will be focused near transit centers.

With MHA, developers have two options when creating new buildings:

  • The performance option includes affordable housing in the development;
  • The payment option allows developers to contribute to the Seattle Office of Housing to support the development of affordable housing.

MHA requirements vary based on housing costs in each area of the city and the scale of the zoning change, with higher MHA requirements in areas with higher housing costs and larger zoning changes. With the performance option, between 5 percent and 11 percent of homes in new multifamily residential buildings are reserved for low-income households. With the payment option, development will contribute between $5.00 and $32.75 per square foot.

AIA Seattle engaged in this process from the beginning, with countless members attending meetings, offering comments, meeting with councilmembers and attending public hearings to testify in person.

Now the city ­– and AIA along with it – will pivot to other issues related to housing affordability and ways to address missing middle housing. These will include work around Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and efforts to allow for gentle density in single family zones (think duplexes and triplexes).

If you would like to offer comments on where AIA Seattle should go from here, please share them with Kirsten Smith. If you would like to be involved in these discussions, consider joining our Housing Task Force.

March 2019

Posted in Housing, Uncategorized

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda Speaks to AIA on Housing

Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda spoke as part of AIA Seattle’s City Leaders Breakfast Series on June 12. She spoke about her housing priorities on the Council, including ADUs, allowing more duplexes and triplexes and more upzoning. She also talked about her efforts to engage the community on housing and her work with the business community on homelessness funding issues.

The ongoing Breakfast Series will provide opportunities to learn about key issues impacting our communities and the built environment and to hear the viewpoints of and interact with leaders who are shaping our future.

June 2019

Posted in Housing, Uncategorized

Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan Approved

On June 10, the Seattle City Council voted to approve the city’s plan to turn the former military site at Fort Lawton into 237 affordable homes for low-income seniors and formerly homeless individuals alongside supportive services, workforce housing and affordable homeownership opportunities. AIA Seattle supported this effort.

The city must now submit its plan to the Department of Defense for final approval, which is expected to happen by the end of this year. After that, the city can take ownership of the land. Permitting and construction by non-profit housing partners is expected to begin in 2021, with renters and buyers getting their homes by 2026.

June 2019

Posted in Housing, Uncategorized

Seattle Enacts ADU Legislation

Two ADUs will now be allowed on each lot, either two attached ADUs or one attached ADU and one detached ADU. The maximum DADU size will increase from 800 to 1,000 square feet and the minimum lot size for DADUs will be reduced from 4,000 to 3,200 square feet. The legislation will also cap the size of any newly constructed house, whether it has an ADU or not, to 2,500 square feet or a floor-area-ratio (FAR) of 0.5, whichever is greater. The square footage of any ADUs are not counted in the FAR limit.

In addition, the legislation eliminates the city’s requirement to provide off-street parking spaces.

Two amendments were approved prior to final passage: one grants an additional 35 square feet of floor space for bicycle storage and the second directs the city to study the use of ADUs as short-term rentals and states the Council’s intent to restrict such use if it is “excessive.” An amendment by Councilmember Lisa Herbold to require one year of property ownership before a second ADU could be built was defeated 7-1.

Mayor Durkan signed the legislation on July 9, and it will take effect on August 8 – with the exception of the FAR limits for single family homes, which will not go into effect until March 1, 2020.

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force supported this legislation with technical comments, meetings with legislators and staff, an ADU tour and more. Special thank yous to Matt Hutchins AIA, Sheri Newbold AIA and Karen DeLucas AIA for your advocacy.

July 2019

Posted in Housing, Public Policy Board, Uncategorized

2019 Northwest Washington Design Awards

AIA Northwest Washington’s Steering Committee invites you to share your most dynamic, new work!

Join us as we celebrate the best architectural designs available from the AIA members in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties for the Northwest Washington Design Awards. These projects represent the finest standards in sustainability, innovation, building performance, and overall integration with client and surrounding community. The awards presentation will follow the keynote speaker presentation: “Making Room: Housing for a Changing America” by Chrysanthe Broikos, a Curator of the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. She will also provide complimentary booklets about the Making Room exhibition.


HOW TO SUBMIT

Call for Submissions opens: August 12, 2019
Submission Deadline: September 16, 2019 at 5pm PDT

We invite you to submit to AIA Northwest Washington’s 2019 Design Awards. The intent of the Design Awards is to encourage excellence in architectural design and planning and to provide an avenue through which architects may gain recognition by their peers and the public. The ultimate goal is to raise the standards of architectural design excellence by both the architectural community and the public. We encourage you to join the conversation and tell your design story.

Submission deadline: September 16 at 5:00pm PDT. Finalize and complete payment before this deadline.

**At the discretion of the AIA NWW Design Awards Committee, late submissions may be accepted after 5:00pm PDT on September 16, and a late submission fee will be applied. No fees will be refunded for submissions that are disqualified or incomplete.

Please submit for the following categories:

  • Residential
  • Commercial
  • Unbuilt Project

Submission Fee: $150 for first project submitted, $100 for each additional project. (If submitting multiple projects, submit each project separately.)

Complete this application and upload the four (4) described documents to the below link.
**This application sheet details all submission requirements, and includes a form that you will submit to the below link.

Click here to submit

At the discretion of the AIA NWW Design Awards Committee, late submissions may be accepted after 5:00pm PDT on September 16, and a late submission fee will be applied. No fees will be refunded for submissions that are disqualified or incomplete.


LIVE EVENT ON OCTOBER 3

The Northwest Washington Design Awards is a marquee program, drawing over 100 attendees and featuring an awards presentation and panel discussion, featuring the awards jury. Full details on the program can be found here. This program provides an essential occasion for the San Juan, Skagit, Island, and Whatcom county architecture community to celebrate its progress and growth within itself, and in conversation with the community at-large.

Click here to register


QUESTIONS?

Questions about Submitting? Contact AIA Northwest Washington Coordinator, Karen Bacon.

Questions about attending the Live Event? Contact AIA Seattle Membership and Volunteer Manager, Connor Descheemaker.

Sponsorship Questions? Contact AIA Northwest Washington Steering Committee chair, Dave Christensen.


SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2019 HONOR AWARDS SPONSORS

Names and logos forthcoming.

Posted in Uncategorized

Advocacy Update – August 2019

STATE NEWS

Residential Energy Code Update
Washington’s State Building Code Council (SBCC) is in the process of reviewing proposed amendments to the 2018 residential energy codes as approved by the SBCC’s Energy Code Technical Advisory Group. The proposed residential energy code amendments are open for public comment through Sept. 27. The SBCC will take public comments in person at hearings in Spokane (Sept. 13) and Olympia (Sept. 27). More info, including information about each proposal, is available here.

Residential Architect Sought for State Building Code Council’s Building Code TAG
AIA Washington Council is seeking an architect willing to serve on the SBCC’s Building Code Technical Advisory Group (TAG), which makes recommendations to the Council on the International Building Code and the International Existing Building Code. The TAG has an open seat in the category of Home Designer, so we are looking for someone who primarily does residential work. The TAG reviews new model codes against the previous version, assesses statewide amendment proposals and makes recommendations for the SBCC’s consideration. Members of a TAG are generally asked to serve for a full code cycle, but they may serve longer if desired. Please contact Kirsten if you are interested.


LOCAL NEWS

Seattle Passes Local Green New Deal
Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien introduced a resolution laying out the agenda for a Green New Deal for Seattle and an ordinance creating a Green New Deal Oversight Board. The resolution endorses the Federal Green New Deal and identifies five goals for a Seattle Green New Deal:

  • Make Seattle free of pollutants that have climate impacts by 2030;
  • Prioritize investments most harmed by economic, racial and environmental injustices;
  • Advance an equitable transition from an extraction-based economy to one based on “regeneration and cooperation;”
  • Ensure that those with the least amount of power and wealth are positioned to lead during the transition; and
  • Create stable, living-wage jobs that prioritize local hiring, and protect jobs with Project Labor Agreements and Labor Harmony Agreements.

Specific initiatives can be reviewed in the resolution text. The resolution was fast-tracked through the Council process and was approved by the full Council on Aug. 12. The ordinance, which would provide measures to implement the resolution, was reviewed at the Aug. 6 Sustainability and Transportation Committee meeting and will be revisited by that committee at a future meeting. AIA Seattle has generally supported the Green New Deal at both the national and local scales. If you have comments as AIA Seattle looks to address the implementation phase, please contact Kirsten.

Seattle Proposes Speeding Up Oil to Electric Heating Conversions
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced a plan to speed up the conversion of homes that burn oil for heat to cleaner electric heating as part of the city’s 2018 Seattle Climate Strategy. The Mayor is expected to send the City Council legislation this month that would impose a tax on heating oil and require heating oil tank owners to decommission or upgrade all existing underground oil tanks by 2028. Revenue from the tax will provide rebates and grants for Seattle homeowners to install energy efficient electric heat pumps. Although AIA Seattle has not weighed in on this specific proposal, we have supported this concept as part of our work with Shift Zero to move Washington closer to a zero net carbon built environment. If you have comments on this proposal that you’d like us to consider, please send them to Kirsten.

VISION 2050
The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) has released its draft of VISION 2050, a long-range growth management, transportation and economic development strategy for the region. PSRC is seeking public comments on multi-county planning policies, implementation actions and the plan as a whole. Public comment is being accepted through Sept. 16. Comments may be submitted here.

Housing Seattle Now
In July, Mayor Durkan announced her Housing Seattle Now initiative outlining various strategies and policies to address housing and homelessness. This initiative rebrands the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, which AIA Seattle previously endorsed. Durkan’s plan outlines four priorities for Housing Seattle Now:

  • Build true educational and economic opportunity;
  • Address displacement and help residents stay in their current housing;
  • Build more housing for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, for low-income earners and for middle-income earners like teachers, nurses, and construction workers; and
  • Secure new tools and resources the City can use to address the housing crisis.

Initial steps include proposed legislation to: 1) invest $50 million in housing for people experiencing homelessness through a state mechanism that allows local jurisdictions to retain their sales tax revenue for affordable housing; and 2) renew and improve the city’s Multi-Family Tax Exemption program.

Seattle’s Center City Streetcar Gets Green Light to Move Forward
After months in limbo, Seattle’s Central City Connector Streetcar line was approved by Mayor Durkan to move forward, albeit with higher cost estimates and a timeline five years later than initially planned. Some design and engineering for the project will have to be redone. The Center City Connector will link Seattle’s two existing streetcar lines through downtown. On Aug. 12, the City Council passed an ordinance to authorize $9 million for additional design work on the Center City Streetcar. AIA Seattle sent a letter to Mayor Durkan in Oct. 2018 supporting the project and asking her to formally approve the construction of this key connection to Seattle’s streetcar system.


OPPORTUNITIES

AIA Seattle Seeks Members Interested in Issues Related to Unreinforced Masonry Buildings
AIA Seattle is creating a Task Force to work on Seattle’s response to the danger presented by unreinforced masonry buildings. A city advisory committee issued recommendations in 2017, but further action has stalled. The Task Force will advocate for action by the city and identify key recommendations from or external to the 2017 report. Contact Kirsten if you are interested in participating.

King County Mobility Coalition’s Connect 2020 Field Trip – Sept. 6
The King County Mobility Coalition’s Education and Outreach Committee provides deep dives into new or improved transportation options. Members of the public are invited to participate in the Coalition’s next Education and Outreach Field Trip, which will focus on Connect2020, Sound Transit’s plan to “single-track” trains in the first ten weeks of 2020 to align the new East King County Link light rail tracks with the downtown Seattle Central Link tunnel. The field trip will include representatives from Sound Transit as well as a visit to Pioneer Square to see where the changes are being made. Sept. 6, 10:00 am – noon, at Union Station’s Ruth Fisher Boardroom (401 S Jackson St, Seattle — 1st floor). RSVP by Aug. 30.


EVENTS

AIA Seattle Task Force Meetings

AIA Seattle members are invited to attend these policy-focused meetings, which occur monthly:

  • Transportation Task Force Monthly Meeting: Sept. 10, 5:30-6:30 @ CFAD
  • Housing Task Force Monthly Meeting: Sept. 12, noon-1:15 pm @ CFAD

Let Kirsten know if you’d like to be added to the email list for either task force.

Other Events

Built Green Conference – Sept. 12, Lynnwood
Cutting-edge information on green building and sustainability through an array of immersive topics related to green building. More info here.

Getting to Zero Forum – Oct. 10-11, Oakland
A solutions-focused event dedicated to zero energy and zero carbon buildings. Through AIA’s membership in Shift Zero, AIA members can receive a 10% discount on the Full Forum pass using the code GTZ19SZ10.


We’d love to hear from you! To comment or for more information on these or any other topics, or to join a task force, please contact:

Kirsten Smith
Manager of Policy and Advocacy
AIA Seattle + AIA Washington Council
206-957-1926 | kirstens@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

Posted in Public Policy Board, Uncategorized

2019 Northwest Washington Section Scholarship

AIA Northwest Washington Section is proud to offer its annual scholarship fund, designed to encourage and assist local residents pursuing a degree in architecture. The scholarship is open to students from Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties currently enrolled in an accredited school of architecture, regardless of location. The scholarship is awarded to 2-3 applicants per year, in increments of at least $1000 courtesy of a grant from the AIA Component Scholarship Program and funds raised by the annual AIA Northwest Washington/Associated General Contractors of Washington Scholarship Golf Tournament.

Applications for the scholarship are due at 5pm 0n Monday, September 30 to the Section’s staff contact, Connor Descheemaker. Complete application and submission details here.

Learn more about the AIA Northwest Washington section and get engaged here.

Posted in Uncategorized

Mayor Durkan Announces Housing Seattle Now

Mayor Durkan announced her Housing Seattle Now initiative outlining various strategies and policies to address housing and homelessness. This initiative rebrands the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, which AIA Seattle previously endorsed. Durkan outlined four priorities for Housing Seattle Now:

  • Build true educational and economic opportunity
  • Address displacement and help residents stay in their current housing
  • Build more housing for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, for low-income earners, and middle-income earners like teachers, nurses, and construction workers
  • Secure new tools and resources the City can use to address the housing crisis

Initial steps include proposed legislation to: 1) invest $50 million in housing for people experiencing homelessness through a state mechanism that allows local jurisdictions to retain their sales tax revenue for affordable housing; and 2) renew and improve the city’s Multi-Family Tax Exemption program

Posted in Public Policy Board Tagged with:

Advocacy Update – July 2019

ADU Mayor Durkan signing

NATIONAL NEWS

AIA National Issues Report on Building Codes and Climate Change

AIA National’s Blue Ribbon Panel for Codes and Standards issued a report outlining AIA’s vision for the adoption and application of building codes as design tools in a resource-constrained future. The publication, Disruption, Evolution and Change: AIA’s Vision for the Future of Design and Construction, details an aspirational path forward for the profession’s commitment to meeting 2030 climate objectives. The four focus areas of the report – energy, health/safety, welfare and transparency – help to frame discussions and partnerships to advance environmentally responsible design and construction. As part of the report, AIA National issued the following statement of values related to building codes and climate change:

WHERE ARCHITECTS STAND: A STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES
We stand for protecting communities from the impact of climate change. Global warming and man-made hazards pose an increasing threat to the safety of the public and the vitality of our nation. Rising sea levels and devastating natural disasters result in unacceptable losses of life and property. Resilient and adaptable buildings are a community’s first line of defense against disasters and changing conditions of life and property. That is why we advocate for robust building codes and policies that make our communities more resilient.


STATE NEWS

Architect Named as New Member of the State House

Senator Guy Palumbo (D) resigned last month from his State Senate seat representing the 1st legislative district (Bothell, Maltby). After Rep. Derek Stanford (D) from the same district was appointed to the open senate seat by the King and Snohomish County Councils, Stanford’s House seat was allotted to Bothell Deputy Mayor Davina Duerr. She will hold the seat through the 2020 elections (and will likely run for reelection then). Duerr has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Syracuse University and is a senior interior architect at Ware Malcomb in Bellevue. She is the first architect member of the state legislature in recent years. The publication Washington State Wire published a Q&A with Rep. Duerr here. In it, she talks about the value architects bring to public policy:

Well, I am an architect by education and career… And I would say that definitely plays into my qualifications because architects are problem-solvers. Every design project is a puzzle to solve and I think that is very similar to the role of a legislator. You see problems and you try to fix them.

Energy Code Updates

Washington’s State Building Code Council (SBCC) is in the process of reviewing proposed amendments to the 2018 commercial and residential codes as approved by the Council’s Energy Code Technical Advisory Group.

Residential
Twenty-four proposals have been accepted by both the SBCC’s Energy Code Technical Advisory Group and the full Council to be moved forward to public comment. The proposed residential energy code amendments are open for public comment through Sept. 27, 2019. The SBCC will  take public comments in person at hearings in Spokane (Sept. 13) and Olympia (Sept. 27). More info, and information about each proposal, is available here.

Commercial
The SBCC will vote on the proposed changes to the 2018 commercial energy code on July 26. Comments on the proposed changes will be accepted through July 26. More info, including how to comment, is available here.

The anticipated effective date for the 2018 commercial and residential code updates is July 1, 2020.

Residential Architect Sought to Serve on State Building Code Council’s Building Code Technical Advisory Group

AIA Washington Council is seeking an architect willing to serve on the SBCC’s Building Code Technical Advisory Group (TAG), which makes recommendations to the Council on the International Building Code and the International Existing Building Code. The TAG has an open seat in the category of Home Designer, so we are looking for someone who primarily does residential work. The TAG reviews new model codes against the previous version, assesses statewide amendment proposals and makes recommendations for the SBCC’s consideration. Members of a TAG are generally asked to serve for a full code cycle, but they may serve longer if desired. For more information, contact Kirsten.


LOCAL NEWS

Seattle Enacts ADU Legislation

The Seattle City Council voted unanimously to allow the construction of more and larger accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in all neighborhoods while removing requirements that property owners live on site and provide off-street parking. Two ADUs will now be allowed on each lot, either two attached ADUs or one attached ADU and one detached ADU. The legislation will also cap the size of any newly constructed house, whether it has an ADU or not, to 2,500 square feet or a floor-area-ratio (FAR) of 0.5, whichever is greater. The square footage of any ADUs are not counted in the FAR limit. Two amendments were approved prior to final passage: one grants an additional 35 square feet of floor space for bicycle storage and the second directs the city to study the use of ADUs as short-term rentals and states the Council’s intent to restrict such use if it is “excessive.” An amendment by Councilmember Lisa Herbold to require one year of property ownership before a second ADU could be built was defeated 7-1. Mayor Durkan signed the legislation on July 9, and it will take effect on August 8 with the exception of the FAR limits for single family homes, which will not go into effect until March 1, 2020. AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force supported this legislation with technical comments, meetings with legislators and staff, an ADU tour and more. Special thank yous to Matt Hutchins AIA, Sheri Newbold AIA and Karen DeLucas AIA for your advocacy.

Join Seattle’s Transit Advisory Board

Seattle’s Transit Advisory Board is accepting applications for new members to help advise Seattle on challenges and opportunities related to transit and public transportation. The Board advises the Mayor and City Council on planning, project development and policies and makes recommendations to all city departments. Applications are due by August 5. More info here.

Join Seattle’s Bicycle Advisory Board

The City of Seattle’s Bicycle Advisory Board is seeking members for 2-year appointed terms. Board members meet monthly to advise the Mayor and the City Council, participate in planning and project development, evaluate policies and make recommendations to city departments, including the Seattle Department of Transportation. More details here. To apply, send a resume and cover letter via email to Serena.Lehman@seattle.gov.

The 20 by 2020 Building Challenge

AIA Seattle partner organizations working on climate issues, including Shift Zero, have established the 20 by 2020 Building Challenge to provide “proof of concept” evidence that ambitious energy targets and science-based design and modeling can propel our shift to a carbon-sustainable future. Buildings that are certified as zero energy by Passive House, Built Green or ILFI are eligible to participate in the Challenge. More info here, including the deeply energy efficient projects already signed up and designed by firms including Nicholson Kovalchick (NK) Architects, Perkins + Will, First Lamp Architecture, Weber Thompson and Mithun.

Seattle City Council Elections

Washington’s Primary Election ballots must be postmarked by August 6, 2019. In Seattle, seven of the nine city council seats are up for election, and five of those seats have retiring incumbents.

The following sites offer information on the council candidates and some offer endorsements. Some sites do not include all candidates for each seat.

Seattle Channel video voters’ guide
The Urbanist endorsements
Seattle Times candidate info
Seattle Times endorsements
Seattle Transit Blog endorsements
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce endorsements
Sierra Club Seattle endorsements
Downtown Seattle Association Candidate Scorecard
MLK Labor Council endorsements
Seattle Transit Riders’ Union endorsements
The Stranger endorsements

If you have additional resources to add to this list, please let Kirsten know.

Still have your Democracy Vouchers? Information on how to use them may be found here.


OPPORTUNITIES

Vanguard Conference for Rising Urban Leaders  Sept. 30 – Oct. 3, Sacramento
The Vanguard Conference is a free event for rising urban leaders run by Next City. Potential attendees must apply for one of 40 slots. The conference welcomes entrepreneurs, community developers, activists, artists, designers, urban planners and sustainability experts – anyone committed to improving cities – and offers an opportunity to meet rising urban leaders working to improve cities across sectors. AIA Seattle will pay the travel costs for any member who applies and is accepted. Note that the application deadline date is very soon – July 22 – and there is a $35 fee for applying.

Young Professionals in Transportation – Seattle
YPT Seattle connects transportation professionals working in sectors across the city with an emphasis on bringing new transportation professionals to the table. YPT has grown into a national organization that supports the next generation of transportation professionals through regular leadership seminars, networking happy hours and business meetings. YPT Seattle welcomes transportation engineers, urban planners, transportation energy/infrastructure professionals, port/maritime/ferry professions and civil engineering professionals in the Greater Seattle area. More info here.


EVENTS

AIA Seattle Task Force Meetings

AIA Seattle members are invited to attend these policy-focused meetings, which occur monthly:

  • Transportation Task Force Monthly Meeting: Aug. 13, 5:30-6:30 pm @ CFAD
  •  Housing Task Force Monthly Meeting: Aug. 8, noon-1:15 pm @ CFAD

Let Kirsten know if you’d like to be added to the email list for either task force.

Other Events

Getting to Zero Forum  Oct. 10-11, Oakland
A solutions-focused event dedicated to zero energy and zero carbon buildings. Through AIA’s membership in Shift Zero, AIA members can receive a 10% discount on the Full Forum pass using the code GTZ19SZ10.

Built Green Conference  Sept. 12, Lynnwood
Cutting-edge information on green building and sustainability through an array of immersive topics related to green building. Info here.


For more information on these or any other topics, please contact:

Kirsten Smith
Manager of Policy and Advocacy
AIA Washington Council & AIA Seattle
206-957-1926| kirstens@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

Posted in Uncategorized

Resilient Infrastructure Could Save $4.2 Trillion

Posted in Uncategorized

Call for Submissions: Home of Distinction

Home of Distinction

Through our partnership with Seattle magazine, AIA Seattle shares our members’ work with a discerning audience and provides connections to local clients who are interested in working with an architect. Projects selected through the Home of Distinction program are showcased to Seattle magazine’s 270,000 readers and 175,000+ monthly online visitors.

Join us in communicating the value of working with a licensed architect by submitting to the Home of Distinction program! Apply by January 28, 2022.

Click here to apply

Eligibility

AIA Seattle members, Member Firms, and Non-members are invited to submit innovative residential design solutions from across the Puget Sound Region to be highlighted in Shelter, a bi-monthly section in Seattle magazine.

To reflect the homes within the Puget Sound Region that AIA Seattle member firms and architects serve, the Home of Distinction program seeks submissions of projects for homes of all scales and types. Projects that were completed in the last five years will be considered for publication, including designs for new or renovated homes of all architectural styles, single rooms, outdoor spaces, and even furniture, hardware, or design objects.

Based on the significant lead time required for print publication, AIA Seattle is seeking submissions by January 28, 2022, for publication in the September–December 2022 issues of Seattle magazine.

Why Submit?

  • Each selected residential design will be presented as a “Home of Distinction” in Shelter, as well as in an article and image gallery on seattlemag.com.
  • Seattle magazine will publish resources to connect its readers and website visitors with the architects behind the designs.
  • Each Home of Distinction will be featured on the AIA Seattle website and social media platforms.
  • Even homes that aren’t selected as Homes of Distinction are of interest to the magazine for other articles and potential for publication as well.

Download the Home of Distinction Application today. Submit by January 28, 2022.

Important Dates

January 28, 2022
Submission Deadline

February – March, 2022
Site visits to select projects

By March 31, 2021
Notification to all submitters

April – August 2022
Selected projects will need to be available for photography and interviews between late October 2021 and the end of April 2022.*

*Due to the current health advisories, the magazine is working with winning firms to produce images and will conduct virtual interviews with the design team and owners. In-person interviews or photoshoots may become an option if advisories are lifted during the years and all parties are comfortable with proceeding.


Would you like to be a part of the group that decides the winning submissions? Then get involved with our NW Residential Press Committee! 

Save

Save

Posted in For the Profession

Advocacy Update – June 2019

Member ADUs

STATE NEWS

State Legislative Session

We are reposting AIA Washington Council’s final report on this year’s legislative session, which can be found here. AIA|WA encourages members to attend their state legislators’ in-district open-houses over the summer and fall. These are a great opportunity to meet your legislators in a relaxed setting and discuss any issues you are interested in.


LOCAL NEWS

Seattle Housing Activity

Fort Lawton: On June 10, the Seattle City Council voted to approve the city’s plan to turn the former military site at Fort Lawton into 237 affordable homes for low-income seniors and formerly homeless individuals alongside supportive services, workforce housing and affordable homeownership opportunities. AIA Seattle supported this effort. The city must now submit its plan to the Department of Defense for final approval, which is expected to happen by the end of this year. After that, the city can take ownership of the land. Permitting and construction by non-profit housing partners is expected to begin in 2021, with renters and buyers getting their homes by 2026.

ADUs: ADU legislation continues to move through the City Council and was heard by the Sustainability and Transportation Committee this month. At a June 11 public hearing before the committee, AIA Seattle members and other testified in support of the legislation. Views expressed at the hearing ran roughly 4 to 1 in support. On June 18, the council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee voted unanimously to move the proposal forward to review by the full council – the first hearing before the full council will be July 1. A controversial amendment by Counilmember Lisa Herbold (West Seattle) to prohibit short-term rentals in ADUs was tabled until the full council considers the legislation.

The proposal would:

  • Increase the per lot allowance from one ADU to two, with the option of one attached ADU as part of the main house and one detached ADU as a separate structure, or two AADUs.
  • Eliminate the requirement to provide off-street parking spaces.
  • Increase the maximum DADU size from 800 to 1,000 square feet.
  • Reduce the minimum lot size for DADUs from 4,000 to 3,200 square feet.
  • Raise allowed DADU height one to three feet depending on lot width or green building features.
  • Increase the rear yard lot coverage limit from 40 to 60 percent for DADUs no taller than 15 feet.
  • Cap the size of any newly constructed house—whether it has an ADU or not—to whichever is greater: 2,500 square feet or a floor-area-ratio (FAR) of 0.5 (half the square footage of the lot).
  • Allow ADU entries on any façade as long as it’s 10 feet from property lines.
  • Raise the limit on unrelated occupants on a lot from eight to twelve.
    Summary from Sightline

AIA welcomes member feedback on this proposal as Councilmembers move to the amendment phase of reviewing the legislation. We are particularly interested in member feedback on the 0.5 FAR limit. Please email Kirsten with any comments that you’d like us to consider.

AIA encourages members to contact their councilmembers on the ADU proposal; you can do so via email at any time. There will also be an additional public comment period before the full council sometime in July.

ADU Tour
AIA Seattle held our first citywide ADU Tour on June 15. Thanks to all of you who participated, and particularly to our presenting architects. We plan to make this an annual event. Those interested in including an ADU on next summer’s tour (date tbd) may contact Kirsten at any time.

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda speaks to AIA on Housing
Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda spoke as part of AIA Seattle’s City Leaders Breakfast Series on June 12. She spoke about her housing priorities on the Council, including ADUs, allowing more duplexes and triplexes and more upzoning. She also talked about her efforts to engage the community on housing and her work with the business community on homelessness funding issues.


EVENTS

AIA Seattle Task Force Meetings

AIA Seattle members are invited to attend these policy-focused meetings, which occur monthly:

  • Transportation Task Force Monthly Meeting: July 9, 5:30-6:30 pm @CFAD
  • Housing Task Force Monthly Meeting: July 11, noon-1:15 pm @ CFAD

Other Events

Lid I-5 Community Open House: July 17, 5:30-8:00 pm, program at 6:00.  Register here.


For more information on these or any other topics, or to join a task force, please contact:

Kirsten Smith
Manager of Policy and Advocacy
AIA Washington Council & AIA Seattle
206-448-4938 x401 | kirstens@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

Posted in For the Profession, For the Public, Home Page, Public Policy Board, Uncategorized

2019 Honor Awards

Click here for online gallery


LIVE EVENT ON NOVEMBER 4 AT TOWN HALL SEATTLE

The Honor Awards for Washington Architecture is AIA Seattle’s annual marquee program, drawing hundreds of attendees to a lecture-style event of unique rigor and breadth. This nationally-recognized program provides an important opportunity for the design community to share and celebrate its achievements, both among practitioners and with the community at-large.

Find more information about the live event and purchasing tickets here


THE JURY PROCESS

Every year, jurors praise submissions that reveal the story behind the marketing images. What concepts and considerations drove the design? What were the challenges and opportunities along the way? How did the design team arrive at the solution? Submitters were encouraged to use the project narrative, captions, and inclusion of process work as opportunities to tell a design story.

In addition to the jury’s own criteria, the AIA Seattle community has identified four considerations for the submission review process – Inspiration, Problem-Solving, Environmental Sensitivity, Social Impact.

Jury Deliberations occur in Seattle the weekend preceding the live event.

  • Prior to arriving in Seattle on Friday, November 1, each juror will receive and review all submissions and select an initial shortlist.
  • On Saturday, November 2, the jury will gather to review and discuss the short-listed projects and determine which of the BUILT projects they would like to visit.
  • An Honor Awards Committee member will coordinate site visits for either Saturday afternoon or Sunday. Site Visit Contacts must be reachable on Saturday, November 2, between 11am and 7pm at the phone number provided in the Online Form. The contact must be authorized to organize a hosted site visit on either the afternoon of Saturday, November 2, or on Sunday, November 3.
  • Final jury deliberations and the selection of award recipients for all categories will occur on Sunday following the site visits.
  • Open jury discussion and official award presentation will occur on Monday, November 4, at Town Hall Seattle.

YOUNG VOICES SELECTION

Initiated in 2018, the Young Voices Selection (YVS) program aims to elevate and engage the voices of young designers through direct participation and representation in AIA Seattle’s Honor Awards for Washington Architecture. Three young designers, nominated by firm leaders within AIA Seattle’s Firm Network and selected by the Honor Awards Committee, will be given the opportunity to review, deliberate, and select ONE Built project submission. This chosen project, the “Young Voices Selection,” will be recognized on stage at the November 4 live event before the jury’s presentation and Honor Awards announcements.

WHO IS A ‘YOUNG’ VOICE? While the definition of ‘young’ is debatable, this program is very clear on its aim to reinforce the value of young perspectives considering both career experience and generational/lived experience, and we set the cap at 30 years of age for this reason. After leaving the creative hub and intellectual rigor of university, young people often find themselves without clear and direct avenues to participate in serious design discourse (though they are valued for their technical skill sets). The Young Voices Selection program aims to reinforce the value of young people and young designers for their unique perspectives, and the YVS program establishes a sanctioned platform for these perspectives to be widely shared.

ELIGIBILITY: Nominees for the Young Voices Selection Panel who are 30 years of age or younger must be currently employed at an AIA Seattle Firm Network firm. The nominees must also be Individual AIA members themselves. They may not currently be enrolled in any higher education programs.


QUESTIONS?

Questions about Submitting? Contact AIA Seattle Professional Programs Manager, Cassie Blair.

Questions about attending the Live Event? Contact AIA Seattle Program & Project Coordinator, Zoe Guckenheimer.

Sponsorship Questions? Contact AIA Seattle Managing Director, Kimber Lebliq.


SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2019 HONOR AWARDS SPONSORS

honor awards list of sponsor logos

Posted in For the Profession, Honor Awards, Uncategorized

2019-20 Board of Directors

AIA Seattle is a member-led organization that depends on volunteer leadership and initiative. We are deeply grateful for the enormous energy and effort our board members and other volunteer leaders devote to our organization.

Brendan Connolly AIA – President-Elect
Member since: 2006

Brendan Connolly, (AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C), is a partner at Mithun, where he leads the design of a variety of project typologies, including education, museum and workplace environments that focus on enhancing the potential of mission-focused clients. Brendan’s work emphasizes the importance of sustainable design and the human experience of architectural and landscape space, fusing an integrated approach to design and research with a passion for building performance and reverence for place. Beyond project focused work, he also has served as one of the managing partners at Mithun on the firm’s board of directors, and has served a variety of community and professional organizations, including the AIA Seattle Honor Awards Program, the Seattle Design Commission and as a teacher, juror and Professional Advisory Council member at the University of Washington College of Built Environments. He is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Washington.

Statement of Interest: I spent the last few years working with AIA Seattle on both the Honor Awards program and also through pro-bono involvement with the new Center design, including the parklet concept for the exterior space. Through this collaboration with Lisa and the larger team, I have grown to appreciate the great service that AIA Seattle provides to our design community in terms of advocacy, elevation of design and sustainability dialogues, and also visibility as a profession to the greater community. My interest is in advancing these goals. Given our larger national political stage, and the acute state of our balance of our local and global environmental resources, there is no more crucial time for AIA Seattle to help our profession be united in addressing how design can influence positive change on this broader level.

Kirsten Murray FAIA – Treasurer
Member since: 2002

Kirsten Murray headshotKirsten Murray is an owner and principal of Olson Kundig, where she has practiced since 1989. In her work on urban design, adaptive re-use, cultural, mixed-use and residential projects, Kirsten is known for creating buildings and spaces that strengthen and enrich communities. In addition to her project leadership, Kirsten has pioneered many of the firm’s core cultural practices including Olson Kundig’s international internship program, integrated studio organization, community engagement programs, as well as co-directing [storefront], an experimental design space where the firm hosted a series of community-based projects. In 2016, Kirsten was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows, having served on the National AIA Trust Board in a number of capacities, including chair, trustee, treasurer and vice-chair. She has also served on the boards of the Henry Art Gallery and ARCADE.

Statement of Interest: The challenges that face us as a design community require collaboration and collective thinking. Seattle is unique in the level of dialogue and support offered by our AIA chapter. AIA Seattle should continue to enrich local practices while also contributing to the national and global design dialogue, especially around issues such as sustainability, diversity and equity. As treasurer, I would bring my understanding that aligning AIA Seattle’s financial resources with our organizational priorities will be key to our success.

Burcin Moehring FAIA – Director
Member since: 1990

Burcin Moehring head shotBurcin Moehring FAIA has dedicated her career to thoughtfully planning and designing science environments; and redefining standards, best practices, and providing leadership that benefit the architecture profession. Throughout her 29 years of experience in project management, teaching lab planning, and programming for educational and research facilities, and in leadership positions with AIA-CAE, SCUP (Society for College and University Planning) and I2SL (International Institute for Sustainable Labs), she has developed unique lab design solutions that address evolving teaching styles such as collaborative learning, interdisciplinary interaction, teaching and research integration, hands-on/discovery-based learning, as well as the integration of the technology and flexibility needed for today’s changing learning environments.

Statement of Interest: Throughout my career, I have been supported by many AIA members and have greatly benefited from the work AIA does to advocate for the profession and elevate public awareness. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with stellar professionals at all levels of their career in the design and construction industry. I truly believe that buildings can positively impact people’s lives by celebrating community and actively shaping our surroundings – and I am ready to give back to the AIA. I am honored to be elected to the Board of Directors.

What should AIA Seattle be working on? AIA Seattle is an outstanding organization, creates a platform and engages strategic issues concerning the practice of architecture. AIA Seattle should continue to strengthen the Social, Professional & Academic Network for its members and the community via its outstanding programs.

Heather Skeehan AIA – Director
Member since: 2014

Heather Skeehan head shotI started my career at ZGF working as a project architect, urban designer and project manager on assorted projects in the Portland and Seattle offices. I was heavily involved in campus master plans, multifamily residential developments, and workplace design. My passion for seeing projects through construction developed early on. When an opportunity arose to join GLY Construction’s VDC department, I jumped at the chance to work with teams to facilitate a more seamless relationship between the worlds of design and construction. My current role draws on my communication and technical design skills to bridge the gap between the design team and construction. I leverage BIM as a truly interactive platform to confirm examinations, reflect decisions made by the team, suggest more effective ways to execute in the field, minimize waste and efficiently schedule and communicate project development.

Statement of Interest: Serving on the AIA Seattle Board of Directors is an opportunity to be more directly involved in an organization that has been a great source of information and knowledge throughout my career. I’m especially excited about being more involved in development of resources to support the programming that AIA Seattle has been knocking out of the park. AIA Seattle has an opportunity to continue to provide programming that connects members of the broader AEC community together. We as an industry continue to work on more complicated projects, more quickly and with less resources. Our ability to be agile and work collaboratively across the whole AEC industry is critical to the successes of these projects. And working outside of the stress of projects to build trust and awareness as a community will help support our continued success in what continues to be a booming built environment.

Pepe Valle AIA – Director
Member since: 2016

Pepe Valle headshotPepe Valle is an exceptionally skilled technical architect with a flair for interpreting, organizing and coordinating project team assignments. With his rigorous attention to detail and facility with new technologies, Pepe has implemented several key process improvements. He provides guidance and leadership in preparing comprehensive design development documents, paying careful attention to schedules, budgets, quality control and sustainable building practices. He provides technical leadership and mentorship for the whole architecture and interior design team. Pepe has over 17 years’ experience in the industry and graduated with a BA in Architecture from ITESM in Monterrey, Mexico. He is a licensed architect in the US with a LEED AP and CSI CDT Certification. He is an AIA and CSI member. His inspiration comes from his daughter, Sam, and playing music. He loves to run and spend time at the gym, and tirelessly encourages others to join him.

Statement of Interest: The theme of this year’s Design Festival is “Balance.” When asked to describe my greatest strength in one word, this is the word I choose. I believe that as architects we have a tremendous social responsibility. How we choose, design and execute our work has a ripple effect throughout the community. We have a duty to consider who stand to lose and who stands to gain in every decision we make. Every building we create has an economic, social and environmental impact – it is our responsibility to balance those impacts to maximize benefit for all. AIA Seattle provides the perfect forum to engage everyone who shapes our built environment in conversations that matter about our impact and the legacy we are creating. I want to leverage the extended experience and knowledge of design professionals in service to creating a desirable community that supports healthy, future generations.

Shannon Payton– Director AIA
Member since: 2014

Shannon Payton headshotShannon is a design leader with ten years’ experience serving communities through the design of education facilities, with a recent focus on restorative justice and behavioral health projects at DLR Group. Shannon’s passion for cultivating learning environments is also leveraged in the design of workplace and civic projects that emphasizes user connection to nature, and data-driven design to support health and wellness outcomes. With a degree in architecture from the University of Oregon, and Master’s Degree in Landscape Urbanism from the University of Copenhagen, Shannon’s drive for design excellence has sparked a love of problem solving on both micro and macro scales. Her passion for the built and natural environment is fueled by her desire to serve her community through the design of socially vibrant, thoughtfully place-sensitive, timeless solutions that reflect the unique values of each client.

Statement of Interest: With a belief that design is an artful form of strategy, I am grateful to work with AIA Seattle to guide smart growth that prioritizes people, honors the beauty of our natural resources, and contributes to place-making in the wild and rapidly changing urban context of Seattle. I have a deep respect for AIA Seattle in its mission to move the needle forward in shaping policy, emphasizing advocacy for vulnerable and diverse populations, and elevating environmental stewardship to combat climate change. Involvement with community groups and AIA Seattle Committees has enriched my personal and professional growth enormously, such as my experience with Women in Design and the Women’s Leadership Summit, co-chairing the Young Architects Forum, as well as leading several Seattle Design Festival installations, including one that received an AIA Seattle Honorable Mention Award. I look forward to adding my voice to the important civic dialogue with the AIA Seattle Board and larger community in pursuit of improving our city and its natural landscape.

Elizabeth de Regt AIA – Advocate Director
Member since: 2014

Elizabeth de Regt headshotElizabeth de Regt is an architect and urban designer specializing in master planning, with six years of experience designing a wide range of corporate office, mixed-use, higher education, and healthcare projects. Her passion lies at the intersection of architecture and urban design, and she seeks to create spaces that enhance sustainability at an urban scale. Elizabeth focuses on livability issues, with expertise in researching daylighting in the public realm as well as zoning issues that impact shared spaces. By facilitating livability in an urban context, she hopes to make cities more attractive, affordable, and sustainable for a diverse array of people.

Having spent most of her childhood in the Seattle area, Elizabeth ventured out to explore other cities for her schooling. She holds a BS in Architectural Design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.Arch from The University of Texas at Austin. She moved back to Seattle following graduation and has worked at ZGF Architects ever since. She is an active member of both AIA Seattle and ULI, bringing her passion for architecture and urban design to her advocacy work. She currently sits on AIA Seattle’s Public Policy Board and chairs AIA Washington Council’s Climate Committee, coordinating AIA’s positioning and work combating climate change state-wide. She hopes to expand her advocacy efforts to incorporate a wider range of issues facing Seattle architects today as an AIA Seattle board member.

Statement of Interest: Architects design spaces with the intention of improving people’s lives. We have a wide range of expertise and use our problem-solving skills to benefit our clients and the public as a whole. AIA Seattle has the power to harness this knowledge base to influence policy locally and at a greater scale. We know how policy changes might impact our neighborhoods, clients, businesses, and our own membership. AIA Seattle’s Advocate Director will use these skills to make an impact on policy, working both regionally and state-wide.

The Seattle area faces intense changes in the coming years. With a growing population, an ongoing housing crisis, expanding public transit network, dire climate predictions, and all the policies that go along with these changes, AIA Seattle has a lot on its plate to sift through. I believe we should be focusing our efforts on:

  • Advocating for smart growth and housing equity, particularly within zoning and density debates
  • Influencing transportation policy in the region to minimize inequity and maximize urban access and mobility
  • Steering the development of the built environment in a low-impact direction, addressing resiliency and minimizing our carbon footprint in the face of climate change
  • Focusing on membership outreach and education to ensure AIA Seattle’s policies align with and are understood by our membership

Greg Briggs – Affiliate Director

Greg Briggs head shotGreg Briggs is a Principal and Office Director at Thornton Tomasetti and is currently serving on the AIA Seattle Board on the development committee. His career and focus has been around the advancement and integration of new technologies; a sensitivity to the design aesthetic, and contributing to high performance buildings through reduced embodied carbon, recycling and re-use of existing buildings, and integration of natural systems into his projects. Greg has served on national committees dedicated to educating and implementing sustainable solutions within the AE profession. He has authored and co-authored a book and articles on the guidelines and approaches to sustainable design. Greg has had the opportunity to collaborate on many project typologies nationally including museums, civic, educational, and commercial projects where his passion and leadership toward architecturally expressive, and high-performance buildings are enhanced through his involvement on these projects.

Statement of Interest: I am very excited for the opportunity to contribute to a great organization as the AIA Seattle. Serving on the AIA Seattle Board in 2018, I have grown to learn so much about what they are doing for the profession and the community. Its progressive ideas, education, and leadership nationally within the AIA community is outstanding. Having spent almost my entire professional career in Seattle, I have seen the city evolve over the past 25 years. I’m both excited for the growth of our city but also concerned about how this growth impacts the community as a whole. I feel this is a critical time for our city and country on addressing social and environmental issues that need to be tackled now. Serving on the AIA Seattle Board will give me this opportunity to contribute where I can and to work with other passionate board members and staff to find solutions to the issues we are facing.

Posted in For the Profession, Home Page, Uncategorized

Seattle City Council ADU Legislation

AIA Seattle supports the city’s goal (originally one of the 65 HALA recommendations) to encourage more backyard cottages by removing regulatory barriers and making it easier for property owners to create accessory dwelling units (ADUs). On May 13, Seattle’s Hearing Examiner ruled on an appeal of the final environmental impact statement related to the proposed changes, allowing the city’s ADU legislation to proceed. Councilmember Mike O’Brien is expected to introduce his ADU proposal (the current draft is here) on May 29, followed by public input at the Sustainability and Transportation Committee on June 11 and committee votes on amendments (and possibly the full legislation) on June 18.

The proposal will allow an AADU and a DADU on the same lot, would no longer require off-street parking for accessory units and would no longer require owners of properties with accessory units to live on site – among other changes. Click here for a full list of changes under the proposal.

Members: please take the time to provide comments on the proposed legislation to your legislators. These can be brief and can be made via email or phone (“Please support the ADU reforms”) or in person at the June 11 hearing. There will be another public hearing later in the summer when the full Council considers the legislation. Please identify yourself as an architect!

June 11 Public Hearing on the proposed ADU legislation
Sustainability and Transportation Committee (Councilmembers O’Brien, Pacheco, Sawant, Harrell)
Tuesday, June 11, from 5:30 – 9:30 pm
City Council Chambers

Public testimony is limited to two minutes per person. Focus on what is most important to you!

Resources from MOAR – More Options for Accessory Residences
On Tuesday, May 28 (5:15-8:15 pm), MOAR is hosting an open house for community members to learn and prepare for their June 11 testimony.
Sign up here for testimony alerts and resources from MOAR.
Talking points in support of the ADU legislation

Other resources
Seattle City Council ADU EIS page
O’Brien proposed ADU legislation text
Email your City Councilmembers

For more information, contact Kirsten Smith at AIA Seattle.

Posted in Uncategorized

Register Now for Sessions for Small Firms

This is not a series. Individual session registration will be available 6-8 weeks in advance of each half-day course, and presenters, session times and locations will vary.

Session 1 | Mastering Communications with Clients and Project Teams
July 17, 2019 // Class Credit: 4 LU // 1200 12th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98144

Session 2 | Firm Ownership Transition: Planning for Success
October 23, 2019 // Class Credit: 4 LU // 1200 12th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98144

Session 3 | Effective Sales Planning for Doer-Sellers
December 17, 2019 // Class Credit: 4 LU // 1200 12th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98144


Registration or Credit Questions?
Contact Zoe Guckenheimer, Program & Project Coordinator at AIA Seattle

Program Questions?
Contact Cassie Blair, Professional Programs Manager at AIA Seattle

Sponsorship Questions?
Contact Kimber Leblicq,  Managing Director at AIA Seattle

Posted in Uncategorized

ADU Tour Detail

AIA Seattle ADU Tour

 

Saturday, June 15
11:00 am – 4:00 pm

 

ADUs on the Tour

 

 

Download: Quick reference brochure of tour sites

 

1. Crown Hill DADU
626 NW 75th St., Seattle, WA 98117

Contemporary two-level unit with a flexible space on the main level that includes a sleeping area, office and full bathroom with laundry—convertible for aging in place.

More info

 

 

2. Smith-Gillman DADU
7307 8th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117

A single-story DADU designed to allow a retired couple to age in place while sharing the property with their children and grandchildren.

More info

 

 

3. Tangletown Backyard Cottage
5623 Kirkwood Place N., Seattle, WA 98103
Entrance to the cottage is from the alley located between Kirkwood Pl N and Keystone Pl N.

With their children grown, the cottage owners wanted to downsize from their beautiful-but-too-large house but didn’t want to leave their neighborhood and friends. The cottage takes advantage of every available square inch of the allowable 800 sq. ft. while working with limited opportunities for light and views.

More info

 

4. Interlaken DADU
2441 E Interlaken Blvd. , Seattle, WA 98112
Parking is very limited in this neighborhood. Guests may need to park at least a couple of blocks away and walk.  The property is on a thru lot and can be accessed from the rear, off Interlaken Place East, as well as from the front.  This property includes a number of steep steps.

Somewhat private DADU over a one-car garage, nestled within a park-like environment. The open studio apartment is suitable for visiting out of town family and friends and short term rental tenants while offering a potential living arrangement for future retirees who currently reside in the primary home.

More info

 

5. Madison Valley Garden Apartment
220 Martin Luther King Jr. Way E., Seattle, WA 98112

An AADU originally built to accommodate parents of the homeowners who come for extended stays, with an eye to the future if one parents needs to move in permanently. Green design highlights include a solar panel array, AADU and main house built to energy standards 30% higher than code and a large rain garden.

More info

 

6. 335 DADU
335 15th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

Created specifically as an investment rental property to maximize the potential of the small single-family lot, this new two-bedroom DADU responds to a combination of design goals, site constraints and code restrictions.

More info

 

 

7. West Seattle Backyard Box
5123 SW Admiral Way , Seattle, WA 98116
Enter through the side gate, which is along the west or right side of the house by the driveway.

This DADU serves as a backyard office/studio for the homeowner who works as a professional photographer and also serves as an extra bedroom for visiting family.  The design is a variation on the Backyard Box, which won Most Sustainable and Best of Show in the Method Homes/City of Seattle Backyard Cottage Design Competition in 2010.

More info

 

8. Stone Solar Studio
7501 7th Place SW, Seattle, WA 98106

A 670 square foot, affordable NODE prefab one-bedroom studio that is Seattle’s first DADU to achieve the International Living Future Institute’s zero energy certification. A south-facing solar roof provides all of the energy for the studio and the main house. The client wanted a second unit to create an additional rental income that would be self-sustaining and affordable, generating economic and environmental productivity.

More info

 

Download: Info sheets for all projects

Download: Info sheet on ADU policy in Seattle

 

Tour Questions: Kirsten Smith, 206-708-3199, kirstens@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud.

Take the ADU Class – learn about creating an AADU or DADU.

Posted in Uncategorized

Advocacy Update – May 2019

Member ADUs

STATE NEWS

State Legislative Session

The Legislature adjourned minutes before midnight on April 28, marking the first time in 10 years that a legislature has ended a budget-writing session on time. The state budgets were pushed through in the final 24 hours, including an increase in the B&O tax on architectural services to 1.8 percent. This increase was applied to professions that require a college degree, along with higher tax increases on tech companies and banks, with the revenue dedicated to expanding college financial aid and providing more slots for higher-demand degree programs. AIA Washington Council’s final report on the session can be found here.


LOCAL NEWS

Seattle Housing Legislation

ADUs: AIA Seattle supports the city’s goal (originally one of the 65 HALA recommendations) to encourage more backyard cottages by removing regulatory barriers and making it easier for property owners to create accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Seattle’s Hearing Examiner ruled this week on an appeal of the final environmental impact statement related to the proposed changes, allowing the city’s ADU legislation to proceed. Councilmember Mike O’Brien is expected to introduce his ADU proposal (the current draft is here) on May 29, followed by public input on June 11 and votes on June 18. The proposal will allow an AADU and a DADU on the same lot, would no longer require off-street parking for accessory units and would no longer require owners of properties with accessory units to live on site. AIA encourages members to contact their councilmembers on the proposal; you can do so via email or in person at the June 11 public hearing. If you are interested in connecting with others who are testifying on June 11 in support, please contact Kirsten Smith. MOAR–More Options for Accessory Residences–is also holding a messaging meeting on May 28 for those interested in testifying.

Anti-Displacement: In March, Councilmember Lisa Herbold introduced anti-displacement legislation that would authorize the Department of Construction and Inspections to require mitigation for the loss of affordable housing when permitting commercial development projects that: add more than four units; are not exempt from SEPA requirements; and are located within the Bitter Lake, Othello, South Park, Rainier Beach, and Westwood/Highland Park urban villages. The legislation relies on the city’s power under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) to require mitigation of impacts to the environment. AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force is tracking this legislation and has concerns about potential unintended consequences that might reduce housing units or merely replace existing housing. In addition, there are concerns about the reliance on SEPA, which can be weaponized to halt development. If you have comments on this legislation that you’d like the Task Force to consider, please contact Kirsten Smith.

Fort Lawton Public Hearing: The City Council will hold a public hearing on the Fort Lawton Redevelopment plan to turn the former military site into 237 affordable homes for low-income seniors and formerly homeless individuals alongside supportive services, workforce housing and affordable homeownership opportunities. Public testimony will be accepted (arrive early). Seattle City Council Chambers, May 21, 5:30 pm. You may also provide comments to Councilmembers via email.


GET INVOLVED

JOIN: Young Professionals: Get Engaged

The YMCA’s Get Engaged program places young adults ages 18-29 on City of Seattle public boards and commissions. Get Engaged commissioners serve a one-year term starting in September each year. The application for the 2019-20 cohort is due May 20.


EVENTS

AIA Seattle Task Force Meetings

AIA Seattle members are invited to attend these policy-focused meetings, which occur monthly:

Transportation Task Force Monthly Meeting. June 11, 5:30pm – 6:30pm @ the Center.

Housing Task Force Monthly Meeting. June 13, 12pm – 1:15pm @ the Center.

Events

Affordable Housing Week, presented by the Housing Development Consortium (HDC). May 13-17.

AIA Seattle 2019 Housing Design Forum: Housing Transformations: Density Done Right. May 20, 8am – 4:30pm @ Seattle Art Museum; 7 LU/HSW. Registration closes Thursday, May 16.

“Trickle Down Town” Film Screening & Discussion, presented by COHO. May 22, 5:30pm @ Olson Kundig.

Lid I-5 Study Area Walking Tours, May 23, 5:30pm – 7pm & May 25, 10am – 11:30am.

City Leaders Breakfast Series: Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, June 12, 8am – 9am @ the Center. Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda will join us for a discussion on What’s Next for Housing in Seattle: a look at the post-MHA agenda to address housing affordability in the city.

Seattle ADU Tour. AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force presents a built ADU tour highlighting Member DADU/AADU projects. The tour will take place on Saturday, June 15, 11am – 4pm, and is self-guided. Register here to receive tour locations and additional information.


For more information on these or any other topics, or to join a task force, please contact:

Kirsten Smith
Manager of Policy and Advocacy
AIA Washington Council & AIA Seattle
206-448-4938 x401 | kirstens@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

Posted in For the Profession, For the Public, Home Page, Public Policy Board

Support More ADUs in Seattle

On May 13, Seattle’s Hearing Examiner ruled on an appeal of the final environmental impact statement related to the proposed changes, allowing the city’s ADU legislation to proceed. Councilmember Mike O’Brien is expected to introduce his ADU legislation on May 29, followed by public input on June 11 and votes on June 18. The proposal will allow an AADU and a DADU on the same lot; would no longer require off-street parking for accessory units; and would no longer require owners of properties with accessory units to live on site.

AIA Seattle encourages members to contact their City Councilmembers in support of the proposal; you can do so via email or in person at the Council’s June 11 public hearing. If you are interested in connecting with others who are testifying on June 11 in support, let Kirsten know. In addition, MOAR – More Options for Accessory Residences – is holding a May 28 messaging meeting for those interested in testifying.

Resources
Seattle info page on ADUs
Seattle City Council contact information
Sample talking points
AIA Seattle position statement on ADUs

Posted in Uncategorized

AIA Seattle Announces 2019 Honorees

2019 President's Dinner Honoree Collage

Honorees are nominated by their peers and selected by the Fellows & Honors committee each spring. AIA Seattle is delighted to recognize these recipients for their exceptional contributions to the profession and our community.

Please join us in congratulating the 2019 Honorees! We will celebrate their achievements at the 2019 President’s Dinner on Saturday June 15, 2019 at Palace Ballroom in Seattle.

2019 HONOREES

Young Architect Award

Peggy Heim AIA

Peggy HeimPeggy Heim AIA, CPHD is an architect with VIA Architecture. Her interest in integrated and passive house design helps to create sustainable, urban communities by way of long-lasting, high quality buildings. Peggy has worked on a variety of project types with a focus on affordable and market-rate multi-family housing in urban environments. She is an effective and conscientious project manager and enjoys the collaborative process between the client, architect and contractor. She effectively utilizes building information modeling and visualization tools and has a seasoned understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by the construction process.

Peggy currently holds the Advocate Director position on the AIA Seattle Board of Directors and is a representative for AIA Seattle on the AIA Washington state board. She has been active on tracking and supporting sustainability issues related to the built environment at the state level as a member of the AIA WA Climate Committee. Peggy is also very passionate about supporting and mentoring women in the design profession. Before becoming a board member with AIA Seattle, she was a co-chair of the AIA Seattle Women in Design committee and planning co-chair of the 2015 AIA National Women’s Leadership Summit.

Honorary AIA Seattle Membership

Eugenia Woo

Eugenia WooWhile growing up, Eugenia was fascinated by architecture, history, cities, and how communities work. She parlayed this interest into a career in historic preservation—finding a profession that she is passionate about. Eugenia Woo has been Historic Seattle’s Director of Preservation Services since 2009, where she develops and implements preservation policies and initiatives; provides technical assistance for constituents; engages in community outreach; and coordinates advocacy efforts with grassroots groups, individuals and local government.

Past experience includes working as a preservation consultant at Artifacts Consulting in Tacoma and staffing the International Special Review District and Columbia City Landmark District through the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Eugenia has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Urban Planning and Preservation Planning certificate from the University of Washington. Eugenia currently serves on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. She is a co-founder and current board member (Treasurer) of Docomomo WEWA (Documentation and Conservation of the Modern Movement, Western Washington) and a past board member of the Vernacular Architecture Forum and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. 

Michael Yantis

Michael Yantis head shotFor more than 40 years, Michael has been a consultant in architectural acoustics and vibration, mechanical system noise and vibration control, environmental noise assessments, and electronic sound system design. He earned his Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington.

What does he love most about his work? The variety. The Stantec team of acousticians works on over a hundred projects a year, and they range from performing arts and K-12 schools to residential and office buildings. Recently Michael worked on the Vashon Allied Arts project, a new performing arts center for Vashon Island, Washington. It seats about 325 and has an emphasis on music, but it also accommodates drama. With all of those different work opportunities, Michael says that sometimes “we have to stretch our own understanding of our discipline to find the right solution for a project.” When he’s not at work, Michael spends nearly all of his free time with his family, which includes three grandchildren, so he gives it freely (most of the time). When he has the opportunity, he loves to golf.

Matthew Richter

Matthew RichterMatthew Richter has spent the past 25 years creating arts and cultural spaces in Seattle, from pop-up temporary storefronts to years-long projects in giant urban warehouse spaces. His work has placed him at the intersection of the arts and real estate time and again, and he has gained a unique perspective from that vantage point. Art in America has referred to him as “an arts visionary” for his decades of work advancing the presence of the arts in the urban fabric. In 2013 he joined the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture as the Cultural Space Liaison, the first position of its kind in the country, leading a body of work around the creation, activation, and preservation of cultural spaces. Matthew is an arts entrepreneur and was the founding director of both the Consolidated Works contemporary arts center and the Rm 608 gallery for visual and performing arts. He spent two years building the Storefronts Seattle program, which activated 27 storefront spaces with projects throughout Seattle and in suburbs from Auburn to Mount Vernon. He has served as the Performance Editor of The Stranger, and is a nationally published feature writer. He has created a series of Dinner Theater productions at On the Boards and elsewhere, is an accomplished furniture designer and builder, and has lectured internationally on the state of the arts. He lives in Seattle with his wife, the playwright Holly Arsenault, and their son.

Kelly Rodriguez

Kelly Rodriguez head shotFor nearly two decades, from 2000 to 2019, Kelly Rodriguez served as the executive director and editor of ARCADE, a Northwest non-profit organization concerned with reinforcing the principle that thoughtful design at every scale of human endeavor improves our quality of life. During her tenure, Kelly helped to produce over 60 issues of ARCADE magazine, and a host of original programming and partner events in the community. Among her numerous volunteer engagements, Kelly participated on the architect selection advisory committee for the Bullitt Center; served as commissioner and frequent panelist for the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture; and from 2017-‘19, Kelly assisted architectural historian and University of Washington professor emeritus, Grant Hildebrand, with every aspect of his latest book project, Gordon Walker: A Poetic Architecture, to be published by ARCADE (07/’19). Kelly holds a Bachelor of Architecture with Distinction from the California College of Arts and a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington, and she has been a ballet dancer for most of her life.

Community Service Award

Rob Widmeyer AIA

Rob Widmayer

As President of Seattle ACE Mentor Program, Rob has been a relentless force in expanding resources, scholarships, and building industry participation.  His efforts have led to an incredibly diverse and expanding pool of high school students pursuing careers in the built environment. As a board member, active fundraiser, and past president of the Seattle Architecture Foundation, Rob advanced the efforts to create public awareness of the value of design. As Co-chairman of funding for the Center for Design, he led the campaign to raise funds to design and construct a new home for AIA Seattle, Seattle Architecture Foundation, Design in Public, and the Washington Council AIA. He has also served on the boards of WCAIA, DBIANW, and volunteered for United Way and his community council. At LMN Architects he works across market sectors, with an emphasis on convention center and performing arts projects. Representative projects include the Vancouver Convention Centre West; Marion Oliver McCaw Hall; and the Hawai’i Convention Center.

Allied Organization Award

Forterra

Forterra logo

Forterra secures places—urban, rural and wild—that are keystones of a sustainable future for people and nature in the Pacific Northwest. Over its thirty years Forterra has completed more than 450 land transactions and protected greater than 275,000 acres—from remote wildlands, to working farms and forests, to city parks, to urban property for cultural and community sites and attainable for-sale housing.

 

 

Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship

Jaclyn Hensy Assoc. AIA and Tristan Walker Assoc. AIA

Jaclyn Hensy Assoc. AIAJaclyn Hensy Assoc. AIA is an architectural designer at Robert Hutchison Architecture. Jaclyn received her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Texas. She recently led the development of models, drawings, and installations for RHA’s solo exhibition entitled “MEMORY HOUSES: Nine Allegorical Works of Architecture” at Gallery 4Culture in May of 2018. Previously, Jaclyn held positions at design offices in New York and Seattle. Since 2014, she continues to collaborate with W. Mark Gunderson, a sole practitioner based in Fort Worth. Jaclyn is interested in building as a result of life, architecture as a process of critical reflection, and what can be documented of the ephemeral.

 

Tristan Walker Assoc. AIA is a designer at the Miller Hull Partnership. His recent professional work has included United States Embassies in Central America and North Africa, as well as progressive education institutions in Seattle. Bringing architectural and organizational form to values and respecting the dignity of people and places is central to his current work. He contributes to Robert Hutchison’s Memory House project, bringing visualization to architectural forms and memories. Tristan received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Texas. He is curious about the patterns, perceptions, and cultures of humans, and in design’s ability to speak to us through these channels.

 

View the 2019 Travel Scholarship announcement for more information about Jaclyn and Tristan’s proposal.

STATE HONORS

Jennie Sue Brown Award

Geoff Anderson AIA

Geoff E. Anderson, AIA is a Principal at Schemata Workshop. As a professional, Geoff’s practice has focused on community projects, with an expertise in parks & recreation, aquatic centers, and affordable housing.

Geoff has been working to serve the architecture profession for over 20 years. Since his time serving as AIAS President at the University of Washington, to serving on the AIA Seattle Board, and his recent tenure as President of AIA Washington Council, he has found great pride in bettering the practice for architects at all levels. He service to the profession has included serving on committees for the Seattle Architecture Foundation and as Chair of the Laddership mentoring program for over 10 years. He also continues to serve the AIA Washington Council as the Chair of the Livability and Affordability Committee.

REGIONAL & NATIONAL HONORS

2018 Regional Emerging Firm Award

goCstudio

goCstudio regional firm award winnersSeattle based goCstudio is an innovative architecture and design studio founded in 2012 by Jon Gentry AIA and Aimée O’Carroll. The studio’s work is driven by the unique opportunities and constraints of site specific projects which evolve through close relationships with clients, artists, and craftsmen. Each project is strengthened through these relationships, grounded in a strong consideration of site, material, and craft resulting in authentic and tactile buildings that aim to enrich their cultural landscape. The work spans a variety of project types, bridging the disciplines of art and architecture through collaborative design. The work purposefully engages various scales with the same attitude and process. The studio strives for design excellence in every project and brings an internationally diverse background of experiences to each endeavor. The resulting projects maintain their individuality while retaining a coherent design thread as a complete body of work.

2019 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award

Karen Braitmayer FAIA

Karen Braitmayer FAIAKaren Braitmayer, FAIA is the founder and managing principal of Studio Pacifica, an accessibility consulting firm in Seattle.   She and her team provide consulting services to local governments, school districts, architects, engineers, companies and individuals concerned with complying with Federal laws and State codes, as well as simply creating spaces that work for the unique needs of individual users. Karen also leads presentations and workshops around the country to further educate professionals about codes, standards, and inclusion.

Early in her career, it occurred to Karen that as an architect and a wheelchair user, it was possible for her to make a unique contribution to the field.  Her professional focus on accessibility and her advocacy efforts for inclusion have certainly done that!

As a registered architect, Karen was admitted to the prestigious College of Fellows by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).  In 2010 she was appointed by President Barack Obama to the United States Access Board, a policy position that she still holds today.

2019 AIA College of Fellows

Ruth Baleiko FAIA
John Harrison FAIA

View the 2019 Fellows Announcement for more information.


THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 PRESIDENT’S DINNER SPONSOR

WSP logo

Posted in For the Profession, Home Page

2019 Volunteer and Committee Awards

2019 Volunteer and Committee Award Winners

This year we recognize Karen DeLucas AIA (top left) and Cheryl Jacobs AIA (bottom right); Trevor Dykstra AIA (bottom center); and the Committee on Homelessness, co-chairs: Anton Dekom AIA (top right) and Alexander Froehlic Assoc. AIA (bottom left).

Volunteer Award Winner: Karen DeLucas AIA

Karen DeLucas AIA has over twenty years of experience in residential design in the Seattle area. After fifteen years working with Ross Chapin Architects where her focus was on their award-winning cottage neighborhood projects, she started her own practice in 2018. Karen DeLucas Architecture specializes in small homes that live large including backyard cottages, new homes, and remodels. In 2015, she designed and her husband built their own energy efficient home in the Madison Valley neighborhood of Seattle. Karen is receiving this award in honor of her diversse service to the Housing Task Force, Public Policy Board, SPARC and SPROUT groups, and so much more.

Volunteer Award Winner: Cheryl Jacobs AIA

As a project manager and passionate architect, Cheryl leads teams in the design of learning environments and wellness facilities.  With a background in psychology, Cheryl is a champion for equity, diversity, and inclusion and is a leader in NAC’s Diversity Initiative.  Her commitment to lifelong learning means Cheryl is always seeking out new opportunities to grow, learn and give. Whether through participation in her local community council discussing land use and zoning, or through volunteering in her daughter’s classroom, she constantly pursues engagement with the built environment. For years she has helped develop AIA Seattle’s active Women in Design Committee, while also being an active member of Committee on the Environment, Diversity Roundtable and Committee on Architecture for Education.

Design in Public Volunteer Award: Trevor Dykstra AIA

Trevor is an Architect at Lane Williams Architects. He was once a steel fabricator in Montana, a budding street photographer, and has been instrumental in designing, organizing and constructing the Seattle Design Festival’s outdoor programming from 2010 to present. As co-founder of the Seattle Design Nerds, an all volunteer force for design in Seattle’s urban spaces, he is passionate about contingent space, urban exploration, and experimental forms of architecture. Trevor’s volunteer leadership has been core to the sustained growth and success of the Seattle Design Festival, and his passion for design continues to inspire and drive the Festival to new and exciting places.

Committee Award Winner: Committee on Homelessness | Co-Chairs: Anton Dekom AIA and Alexander Froehlic Assoc. AIA

Established in 2018, the Committee on Homelessness (COHO) hit the ground running with their mission to mobilize architects to help our unsheltered neighbors through the areas of advocacy, education, and service. Throughout the year, COHO partners with community organizations including Union Gospel Mission, Rainier Beach Presbyterian Church and its tiny house, Seattle Community Law Center’s “Justice Bus,” and more, providing direct volunteer service and architectural expertise. For the public, COHO’s Understanding Homelessness Lecture Series invites homeless service providers to talk about their experiences working both with and for those in our community that are living without permanent shelter to humanize the issue for the design community. Last Fall, COHO partnered with Real Change for an interactive installation at Seattle Design Festival introducing street paper vendors directly to the community, and sharing their stories of homelessness in Seattle.

Thank you all for your incredible work and high level of leadership and involvement with AIA Seattle!

Join us May 7, 2019 to celebrate the Award Winners at the Annual Member Parti.

Posted in For the Public, Home Page

Advocacy Update – April 2019

bill signing with AIA Seattle and AIA Washington Council staff

FEDERAL NEWS

AIA Pledges Support for the Invest in America Act

AIA National is supporting a newly-introduced federal bill, the Invest in America Act (HR 2210), which was introduced on April 10 by Rep. John Larson (D-Connecticut) and Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-Texas). The legislation repeals the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA). Originally enacted in 1980, FIRPTA in part deflects global capital from U.S. cities and towns by imposing a capital gains tax on global investors who finance any U.S. real property. Consequently, the law inhibits state and local leaders from partnering with global investors or leveraging domestic partners to improve their communities, including: renovating aging buildings; constructing roads, bridges, tunnels, hospitals and airports; developing affordable housing; and utilizing new Opportunity Zones. See AIA’s press release here.


STATE NEWS

State Legislative Session

The state legislative session in Olympia one week remaining, and the pace is frantic. The deadline for non-budget bills to pass both houses was April 17. Legislation closely followed by AIA Washington Council that has passed both houses and will either go directly to the Governor for his signature(*) or back to the fist house to approve additional changes include:

  • HB 1148 – Architect Practice Act amendments: adopts NCARB-approved changes to the path to licensure (this bill was signed into law by Gov. Inslee on April 19);
  • SB 5334 – Condo liability legislation: further defines condo warranties in state statute;
  • HB 1257 – Gov. Inslee’s Clean Buildings legislation (AIA|WA’s top climate priority): establishes energy performance standards for large commercial buildings, provides for incentives, and establishes natural gas standards;
  • HB 1219 – REET extension: authorizes cities and counties planning under the GMA to use real estate excise taxes to support affordable housing and homelessness projects;
  • SB 5383 – Tiny homes: authorizes cities and towns to adopt ordinances regulating the creation of tiny house communities; and
  • SB 5116 – Clean energy: establishes a path to fossil-free electricity by 2045.
  • HB 1923 – Residential density: requires some cities planning under the GMA to increase residential building capacity;
  • HB 1112 – HFCs/Refrigerants: requires reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from hydrofluorocarbons.

Bills that did not pass include:

  • HB 1576 – Condo liability/HOAs: a bill that would have imposed additional notification requirements when homeowners’ associations engage in construction liability lawsuits (AIA|WA supported);
  • HB 1796 – PACER: would have authorized a commercial property assessed clean energy and resilience financing program to provide private loans for large energy efficiency projects that would stay with the property when sold;
  • SJR 8201 – School construction funding: would have amended the state constitution to allow a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds (AIA|WA supported);
  • HB 1245 – School safety planning & design: a bill that would have allowed school safety funding to be used for planning and design (AIA|WA supported); and
  • HB 1521 – State contracting: recurring legislation to require state contracts to undergo analysis to determine if the work can be brought in house (AIA|WA opposed).

Budget & B&O Tax

With the non-budget agenda items largely completed, legislators will turn their attention full-time to budget issues. The state budget is made up of three separate budgets: Operating, Transportation, and Capital. Although bills have been introduced in all of these areas, much of the work from now until the end of the session on April 28 will take place behind closed doors. Negotiators will agree on a final appropriations budget—what they want to spend—and then will turn to identifying revenue sources. Although the House and Senate have each released a revenue package, the final version will not be one or the other but a combination of ideas from each. The final package will most likely include a graduated increase in the real estate excise tax and an increase in the B&O tax on services (including architecture). A capital gains tax may be included but there is no guarantee that such a tax will be found constitutional. AIA|WA is monitoring the B&O tax closely. If you would like to contact your legislators about the House budget’s proposed B&O increase to 1.8%, the time to do so is NOW. More info on the revenue outlook and how to contact your legislators can be found here.

For more information on these and other bills, you can download AIA|WA’s bill tracking report.

Shift Zero Update

Shift Zero was instrumental in the passage of the Clean Buildings bill (HB 1257), and was active on other climate bills including Clean Energy (SB 5116), appliance standards, solar metering and HFCs (HB 1112). You can find Shift Zero’s legislative update here. Shift Zero’s Spring Meeting will take place on May 7, 8:30am – 3:30pm, at the Smart Buildings Center in Seattle. Anyone interested in attending is welcome.


LOCAL NEWS

Seattle ADU Tour – Submit Your ADU Project

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force is organizing a built ADU tour highlighting Member DADU/AADU projects. The tour will take place on Saturday, June 15. We are seeking ADU projects that are located in the city of Seattle and were designed by an AIA Member. The deadline for submissions is April 24.

Housing Policy Post-MHA

Now that Mandatory Housing Affordability has been enacted, AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force and the Public Policy Board are looking at what’s next. We’ve identified the following housing priorities:

  • Increase ADUs throughout the city;
  • Allow duplexes/triplexes in single family zones;
  • Address additional zoning obstacles to increased housing density (expanding upzones, for example);
  • Ensure displacement measures do not reduce housing availability;
  • Elect pro-housing candidates in the 2019 council elections; and
  • Pull in transit issues, including TOD and prioritizing housing near transit.

Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda has agreed to appear at AIA Seattle’s inaugural City Leaders Breakfast Series event, June 12, to address the question of What’s Next in Housing in Seattle. See the Events section below for more details.

If you have comments or ideas on AIA Seattle’s role in housing policy, please contact Kirsten Smith.

Public Policy Board Update

The Public Policy Board (PPB) held a Policy Pub Night on March 27 – thanks to those who attended! Work in April included collaborating with the Committee on Homelessness on AIA Seattle’s Homelessness Policy Statement, reviewing local priorities addressed by the state legislative session, discussing the housing priorities listed above, and approving a new graduate student liaison between AIA Seattle, the PPB, and students at UW and beyond: Emily Terzic.


GET INVOLVED

JOIN: Seattle Urban Forestry Commission

The City of Seattle is looking for a representative of the development community (including developers, builders, architects or realtors, with experience in projects developed under LEED), OR a representative from a non-city utility to fill Position #8 on the city’s Urban Forestry Commission (development community or utility representative). The application deadline is extended to April 30.

JOIN: Young Professionals: Get Engaged

The YMCA’s Get Engaged program places young adults ages 18-29 on City of Seattle public boards and commissions. Get Engaged commissioners serve a one-year term starting in September each year. The application for the 2019-20 cohort is due May 20.

COMMENT: Puget Sound Regional Council VISION 2050

PSRC is seeking comment on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for VISION 2050, the region’s long-range plan for how and where the region should grow. Comments are due by April 29.


EVENTS

AIA Seattle Task Force Meetings

AIA Seattle members are invited to attend these policy-focused meetings, which occur monthly:

Housing Task Force Monthly Meeting. May 9, 12pm – 1:15pm @ the Center.

Transportation Task Force Monthly Meeting. May 14, 5:30pm – 6:30pm @ the Center.

Events

Earth Day Sustainability Slam, presented by COTE, April 24, 5:30pm @ Friends of the Waterfront.

Neighborhoods for All – Revising Single Family Zoning, presented by UDF + the Urbanist, April 25, 5:30pm @ the Center.

Shift Zero Spring Meeting, May 7, 8:30am – 3:30pm @ Smart Buildings Center, Seattle.

Pollinator Pathways: A Design Challenge to the Planet, May 13, 5:30pm @ the Center.

Affordable Housing Week, presented by the Housing Development Consortium (HDC). May 13-17.

9 Ways to Build Community with Urban Housing, presented by COHO as part of Affordable Housing Week. May 13, 5:30pm @ MG2 Seattle.

“Trickle Down Town” Film Screening & Discussion, presented by COHO. May 22, 5:30pm @ Olson Kundig.

City Leaders Breakfast Series: Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, June 12, 8am – 9am @ the Center. Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda will join us for a discussion on What’s Next for Housing in Seattle: a look at the post-MHA agenda to address housing affordability in the city.


For more information on these or any other topics, or to join a task force, please contact:

Kirsten Smith
Manager of Policy and Advocacy
AIA Washington Council & AIA Seattle
206-448-4938 x401 | kirstens@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

Posted in For the Profession, For the Public, Home Page, Public Policy Board

Submit your project for AIA Seattle’s ADU Tour!

AIA Seattle ADU Tour

The purpose of the tour is to showcase innovative designs and offer examples to the public of what DADUs/AADUs can look like in Seattle.

If you have a built project that you would like to submit for consideration and that meets all of the below criteria, please complete the Submission Form and return to Kirsten Smith, AIA Seattle, by May 15, 2019 (deadline extended).

Eligibility

Projects must be designed by an AIA Member and be located within the Seattle city limits.

Submittal Requirements

  • Architect’s name
  • Contractor’s name
  • One- or two-page description that includes photos, plan, and diagram of the site plan
  • Description of design challenges and criteria (e.g. built for extended family, rental income, aging-in-place and accessible design, small-space design strategies, off-street parking solutions, tree preservation)
  • Square footage (include lofts; can be descriptive like 200SF garage, 400SF Living + 100SF loft)
  • Construction hard costs (can be approximate if owner does not want to be exact, like over $500/SF or over $400,000)
  • Date of construction

Tour Requirements

  • The owner must be willing to sign a waiver of liability form prior to the tour.
  • A knowledgeable person must be on site during all tour hours to answer visitor questions.
  • On the day of the tour, on-site representatives must ensure that site visitors have signed the official tour waiver (signers will have wristbands) or, if not, ensure that new visitors sign the form and receive wristbands.
Posted in For the Profession, Home Page, Uncategorized

Announcing the 2019 Travel Scholarship Recipients

Source images for Proactive Practice

Most often, architecture begins with an invitation. Architects are selected by clients, who define the parameters and ambitions of the work. We inhabit a world largely built within this model, but what happens when architects are the ones who initiate work?

As this year’s recipients of AIA Seattle’s Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship, Jaclyn and Tristan will investigate architects who saw unmet needs, opportunities, or room for exploration, and decided to take action. Their proposal, “Proactive Practice,” seeks to understand the different processes architects can utilize to realize potentialities in a project, beyond an invitation from a traditional client. During this research, Jaclyn and Tristan will examine a variety of methods applied across a range of scales, from crowdfunded starter homes to self-developed neighborhood interventions, and from wild conceptual explorations to the reconstruction of a destroyed city.

Jaclyn and Tristan will travel to New Orleans, Boston, Mexico, and Chile to document the novel approaches used by architects to bring projects of consequence into the world. Upon the completion of their travels, they will share lessons learned from architects abroad alongside Seattle architects crafting their own processes. What potential exists within architecture when architects empower themselves?

If you know of architects practicing in ways that align with this proposal, or if you are a design professional in Seattle and believe your work is relevant to the topic, the recipients would like to engage with you! Please reach out to proactivepractice.aia@gmail.com.

Jaclyn Hensy Assoc. AIAJaclyn Hensy Assoc. AIA is an architectural designer at Robert Hutchison Architecture. Jaclyn received her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Texas. She recently led the development of models, drawings, and installations for RHA’s solo exhibition entitled “MEMORY HOUSES: Nine Allegorical Works of Architecture” at Gallery 4Culture in May of 2018. Previously, Jaclyn held positions at design offices in New York and Seattle. Since 2014, she continues to collaborate with W. Mark Gunderson, a sole practitioner based in Fort Worth. Jaclyn is interested in building as a result of life, architecture as a process of critical reflection, and what can be documented of the ephemeral.

 

Tristan Walker Assoc. AIA is a designer at the Miller Hull Partnership. His recent professional work has included United States Embassies in Central America and North Africa, as well as progressive education institutions in Seattle. Bringing architectural and organizational form to values and respecting the dignity of people and places is central to his current work. He contributes to Robert Hutchison’s Memory House project, bringing visualization to architectural forms and memories. Tristan received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Texas. He is curious about the patterns, perceptions, and cultures of humans, and in design’s ability to speak to us through these channels.

 

Jaclyn and Tristan will be recognized, along with our 2019 Fellows and Honorees, at the President’s Dinner, hosted by AIA Seattle on Saturday June 15.


AIA Seattle’s Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship seeks to expand the experience and leadership opportunities of young professionals, encourage cross-cultural dialogue in the profession, and share knowledge from architecture practice around the globe with members in the Puget Sound. Through a $5,000 grant, the scholarship supports travel for the purposes of research.

Support the Travel Scholarship by making a contribution today!

 

Posted in Uncategorized

AHC Call for Board Members

White text on purple background: Architecture for Health Committee

The Architecture for Health Committee is pleased to open the call for new members to its board for positions beginning in 2019.  The committee is seeking two replacements this year:

  • Architect member from Washington
  • Affiliate member from Oregon

Architect Board Member Erin Couch and Affiliate Board Member Trent Rehfeldt will be completing their terms in June. We thank them for their considerable contributions and years of service to the Architecture for Health Committee!

AHC Board Structure and Terms
The AHC Board consists of five Architects and two Affiliate Members from Washington and Oregon.

Architect Board Member Requirements:

  • Practicing member of an architectural professional firm in Washington State
  • AIA Member
  • Licensure not required (committee requirement of three licensed professionals has been met by remaining board members)
  • 5 year term commitment beginning in July 2019.

Affiliate Member Requirement:

  • Practicing member in a healthcare design and construction field in the State of Oregon.
    • engineers, contractors, interior designers, vendors, Owner’s representatives, or similar
  • 2 year term commitment beginning in July 2019.

Architect members cycle through the leadership positions during their tenure.  Affiliate members do not cycle through the leadership positions but serve in an advisory role, and are actively involved in planning and organizing AHC meetings throughout their tenure.

AHC Board Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the Board include establishing educational topics, planning programs, arranging for venues and speakers, moderating programs and outreach to professionals and academic communities in the Northwest region.

Programs are held three times a year, including co-sponsorship of the AIA Seattle Medical Design Forum in February.  Board meetings are held monthly by telephone conference.

Application
If you are interested in serving on the AHC Board, please contact board member, 2019 AHC board position, by Friday, April 12, 2019 at ahcchairs@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

To assist with the selection process, please send an email expressing your interest and a brief description of your background in healthcare design.

If you are selected, you must be available for our annual all day Board retreat on Friday, June 21, 2019, location to be determined.

Questions? E-mail Connor Descheemaker, AIA Membership & Volunteer Manager, at connord@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

Posted in Uncategorized