The timely creation of a new, environmentally-educational 67,000 sq ft “living room” for the young city of Shoreline was the result of a public-partnership that welcomed citizens in the process. Photo: LMN, Seattle The city of Shoreline as a new city hall because of a public private partnership. The timely creation of a new, environmentally - educational 67,000 sq ft “living room” for the young city of Shoreline was the result of a public-partnership that welcomed citizens in the process. The city saved its tax pennies since incorporating a dozen years ago to buy land and put a $10 million
As a society, we’re good about setting some big goals. Putting a man on the moon, developing an information superhighway, cutting carbon emissions as a means to combat climate change-these are laudable and in the case of the first two, already achieved. Related Links: To LEED or Not To LEED But what we sometimes forget is that these “big” goals are only achieved through slow, hard work and a series of intermediate steps, without which, we’d never have made it. In the case of climate change, the fact that buildings generate 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions means we
Nathan Hale High School, Seattle, has a national reputation as a successful model of school reform and personalized learning, and a radio station that�s recognized as one the best in the country. But teachers and students have toiled for years in a classic’s 1960s industrially built, hard-to-navigate school, one with dark blue and red lockers, tiny windows and falling ceiling tiles. That’s changing as the school undergoes a major eco-renovation as part of the Seattle Public Schools Building Excellence III (BEX III) construction levy that runs through 2012. Set in a valley and surrounded by a park and bordered by
Building teams face many key decisions as they begin a project. One relatively new choice, in an official capacity, is whether to make the project “green”. Typically this question comes down to whether or not to seek LEED certification or to pursue some near equivalent without going through the submission and review with GBCI (Green Building Certification Institute). There are pros and cons to both the official and “stealth” green building approaches which must be weighed according to the project’s needs and goals. Related Links: Better Energy Codes: It�s not Rocket Science At only 3,111 certified projects as of June
Related Links: Government Budgets Stable Due to Stimulus Funding WSDOT Stimulus Projects Peak with Construction Season Stimulus Funds Intersection Repair for Light Rail Portland - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon State Office announced $32.4 million to fund 60 BLM projects throughout Oregon and Washington with stimulus dollars. The $32.4 million is part of the $305 million that will fund more than 650 projects across the country. The BLM investments include the following types of projects: • Renewable Energy Authorization ($1.85 million); • Habitat Restoration ($7.05 million); • Construction and Deferred Maintenance ($11.4 million); • Abandoned Mines ($1.15 million);
Related Links: WSDOT Stimulus Projects Peak with Construction Season Stimulus Funds Intersection Repair for Light Rail BLM to Upgrade Public Lands with $32 million Seattle - Government spending at all levels will remain level or increase pace in the second half of 2009, as federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-funding continues to help stabilize state and local budgets, according to a mid-year report released by Onvia, a provider of business-to-government data based in Seattle. Of the almost $90 billion in funded recovery projects to-date, nearly $15 billion in contracts have been awarded, with that number now accelerating monthly, the
Related Links: Government Budgets Stable Due to Stimulus Funding WSDOT Stimulus Projects Peak with Construction Season BLM to Upgrade Public Lands with $32 million Portland - TriMet and the city of Portland are using $1.6 million of federal stimulus funds to repair bricks in 20 intersections on Morrison and Yamhill streets in downtown Portland. As the backbone of Portland’s light rail system, the Morrison and Yamhill corridors have experienced significant wear and tear and have not had major repairs in the 25 years since the tracks went in. The contractor is Stacy and Witbeck/Kiewet Pacific, Inc. Subcontractors include C.O.A.T. Flagging,
Related Links: Government Budgets Stable Due to Stimulus Funding Stimulus Funds Intersection Repair for Light Rail BLM to Upgrade Public Lands with $32 million Olympia – Construction activity on Washington’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) highway projects is in high gear. The Federal Highway Administration provided $492 million for state and local highway projects in Washington state, advancing projects and jobs to address high-priority highway preservation needs and fund low-cost, high-benefit transportation system improvements. WSDOT reports monthly on a range of measurements to the U.S. Department of Transportation and to Congress. The most recent report showed that contractor payrolls
Olympia — Washington state will deliver more highway projects with federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds than first envisioned, because of the recent trend toward lower construction bids. As of June 1, the Washington State Department of Transportaiton has awarded 15 state stimulus contracts worth $64 million, averaging 21% below estimates. Between July 1, 2008, and April 30, 2009, WSDOT awarded 115 contracts, 100 of which came in an average of 29.5 % below cost estimates. These low bids reverse a trend from 2004 to 2008, when inflation in the cost of highway project construction caused cost escalations of
The extensive expansion of Good Samaritan West Tower Medical Center involves the addition of 60,000 of new building space and over 19,000 of renovation. This will provide room for a new respiratory therapy area, a new kitchen area, as well as support for new electrical services. The ground level expansion will provide a new Emergency Department. The upper floors will host a new Critical Care Unit and offer space for additional medical/surgical beds and expanded administrative services. The sitework package incorporates new Emergency Department ambulance access, urgent care dropoff areas, as well as revised sidewalk and entry roadwork. IMAGE COURTESY
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