BLDG BLOG

BLDG BLOG Architectural Conjecture, Urban Speculation & Landscape Futures

Great blog started 2004. Now has an associated book The BLDGBLOG book by blog creator and former editor of Dwell Mag. The book is described to offers an enthusiastic, idea-filled guide to the future of architecture, with stunning images.

Approaching Net Zero

Tacoma/Olympia Workshop - Approaching Net Zero

Friday October 19

8:00 - 10:00 am

UW Tacoma

Hear from a distinguished panel of presenters what energy reduction strategies actually work best. The Tacoma/Olympia branch of Cascadia Green Building Council has assembled campus managers throughout South Puget Sound who manage multiple buildings, compare costs, and keep track of energy use by building. This is an opportunity to review energy conserving strategies from theory to practice and understand what works.

Speakers:

Michael Knaack, Bethel School District Energy Manager

Brian Haugk, Principal and engaged project manager at Hargis Engineers

Jim Hansen, Director of Construction and Planning for Bethel Public Schools

Joel Loveland,  Professor of Architecture and the Director of the Integrated Design Lab in the School of Architecture, College of Built Environments, University of Washington

UWT Facilities manager tba

Moderator: Bonnie Meyer, Olympia School District, Resource Conservation Manager

Registration for this event Here.

Please note that space is limited. 

MetroParks Tacoma Budget Open House Tonight

Thursday, September 27
6pm
Metro Parks Headquarters, Board Room
4702 S. 19th St.

This is an opportunity to learn about Metro Parks Tacoma's program and services budget development process, prior to the Executive Director's presentation of his recommended budget to the Board of Commissioners in October.

Open House attendees will learn how the District's Strategic Plan and ongoing community engagement process help guide decisions about funding. Our ongoing outreach processes, community and user surveys, Neighborhood Councils, and Board Appointed Citizen Advisory Councils are all avenues for citizens to help shape the Metro Parks' system of park and recreation services which you'll learn more about during the Budget Open House.

While proactive fiscal management and voter support for a levy lid-lift two years ago have helped the district maintain a healthy mix of services and programs, there are offsetting factors outside of the district's control which directly impact budget capacity.

1. Declining property tax assessments translate to a direct reduction in operating revenues that support the district's core programs and services.  
2. Increased cost of insurance coverage for protection of our park system assets and for healthcare coverages influence overall capacity.  
3. Unknowns as to the level of investment that will continue to be made in park and recreation programs and services, which have historically received support under contract or through grants from the City of Tacoma.

October 29th @ 6PM  is your chance to participate in the process. They will be holding a Public Meeting at the Metro Parks Headquarters board room for citizens to provide formal comment to the Metro Parks board regarding the recommended budget. This is the first of two Public Hearings. The second is scheduled for November 26th same time same place.

Optional opportunities for input:
If you are unable to attend either of the Public Hearings, and would like to provide input to the Board prior to adoption of the budget, comments may be sent via email.

Get contact information for the Board of Park Commissioners

General inquiries or comments regarding the budget or any Metro Parks programs or services can be directed to: info@tacomaparks.com.

Conversations RE: Tacoma on TV Tacoma

Conversations RE: Tacoma on TV Tacoma

September 20^th, 2012 Ko Wibowo, president of the AIA and instrumental in getting the Conversations RE: Tacoma lecture series going was interviewed about the series for TV Tacoma. Video of the interview is available at the City of Tacoma’s website as part of the Cityline Program - http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=10248

Direct link to video download (requires windows media player to access):

September 20, 2012
On this show: 2012 Conversations RE: Tacoma, Tacoma Moon Festival, Neighborhood Councils 20th Anniversary, Nisqually Watershed Festival.

Seattle Design Festival – Friday-Sunday, Sept 20-23

Seattle Design Festival – Friday-Sunday, Sept 20-23
http://seattledesignfestival.org/

Join us at the “Design Block,” the Festival hub, where we turn cargo containers into pop-up shops and activity stations, simple materials into street furniture, and weather balloons into a “cloud” for projections. Mingle, browse, relax; enjoy food tastings, a beer garden, music, and more... The “Design Block” (John St between 9th and Westlake) is free and open to the public, Friday-Sunday, 9/21-9/23.  No overall festival pass is required. Each event listing on this site will tell you whether it’s a ticketed or free event. $5 donation requested at the Design Block. Download the Festival calendar here

Energy Code Changes

Energy Code Changes

On 7/1/13 WA State will adopt a totally new Energy Code based on IGCC.  The old WA State Energy Code will be consigned to the dumpster for projects permitted after 7/1/13.  New WA Energy Code is currently in the process of being written, with hearings taking place in Olympia over the next few months. For those of you doing work in Seattle, the new Seattle Energy Code goes into effect 9/1/13 -- also based on the IGCC, but more stringent than the WA State Energy Code. Some things will be more stringent, some more lenient in the new code. 

Keeping in mind that these are works in process that will change, you can view the new energy code DRAFTS here:

2012 Residential Draft: https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/apps/SBCC/File.ashx?cid=2251

2012 Commercial Draft: https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/apps/SBCC/File.ashx?cid=2259

2012 Appendix A: https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/apps/SBCC/File.ashx?cid=2254

Building Sustainable Communities - National Preservation Conference

National Preservation Conference 2012
Building Sustainable Communities

10/31 - 11/3  Spokane, WA

Are you looking to show how preservation contributes to sustainability? Do you need the latest information and access to research on environmental sustainability? If so, you need to be in Spokane October 31-November 3, 2012 for the 2012 National Preservation Conference.

USGBC Board Elections

USGBC Board Elections

​ 

If your business is a USGBC member, you have, or will soon receive, your voting information for the US Green Building Council 2013 Board of Directors.  (Businesses, firms and organizations are members of USGBC; individuals are members of Cascadia.)  All employees of member organizations may vote for the USGBC Board.
 

Voting is now open and continues through Oct 2nd with results announced October 5th.

Here is the link to the USGBC election: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1919

Conversations RE: Tacoma Kicks-off Thursday September 27

Get your tickets now!!  Lectures start September 27th!!  The Conversations RE:Tacoma lecture series is in it's 4th year and the Emerging Leaders Group has been involved since the beginning working with other community groups, the AIA, Historic Tacoma, City of Tacoma and others to put on this great series.   We are very excited for this year's series which we hope to inform, educate and encourage public engagement with urban design issues. We will examine how facade improvements can stimulate a neighborhood, how advertising effects our communities and how citizens can effectively contribute to the design of our city. After each lecture we will get together at a nearby pub to continue the conversation. Below are details about the lectures and links to tickets. Check out the website for more info  www.retacoma.com Lecture #1 Extreme Make-Over: Façade Improvement Projects Thursday, September 27, 2012, 6:30-8pm New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th Street Learn how inexpensive façade improvement projects can spark new energy in a neighborhood, bring under-utilized buildings back to life and economic rewards to business owners.  Speakers:Jim Nicholls, senior lecturer, Department of Architecture, UW Seattle Odette D'Aniello, owner, Celebrity Cake Studio Nick Fediay, 6th Avenue Business District Association Sharon Winters, Historic Tacoma Aaron Winston, architectural designer, BLRB Architects   Moderator:  Kala Dralle, program development specialist, Community and Economic Development, City of Tacoma  tickets for lecture #1 $7.50 tickets for 3-lecture series $20 Lecture #2 Visual Clutter: How to Get Outdoor Advertising Thursday, October 11, 2012 6:30-8pm Trinity Presbyterian Church, sanctuary, 1615 Sixth Avenue After-event at Cork 606 N. State St. What is an effective outdoor advertising strategy at the neighborhood level and within the urban environment?  How do we balance the needs of businesses to promote with the needs of citizens to limit outdoor advertising?  What forms of advertising are most effective for local business owners?  Will lower cost and more personalized forms of advertising, like social media, be the next wave?  Why do we love the old neon on S. Tacoma Way and the ghost signs on Pacific Ave. but are less enamored of digital billboards? Can the speed of traffic, vehicular and pedestrian, limit the scale and density of outdoor advertising? Speakers:   Paula Rees, Maestri Design Rusty George, principal, Rusty George Creative Trevor Boddy, architecture critic Moderator:  Eric Jacobsen, Congress for a New Urbanism tickets for lecture #2 $7.50 Lecture #3 Be Heard: How Neighborhoods Can Engage in the Planning Process Thursday, November 8, 2012 6:30-8pm Tacoma School of the Arts Theatre, 1118 Commerce St. After-event at Varsity Grill, 1114 Broadway Join neighborhood and business district leaders and City Staff in a dialogue about how we can effectively contribute to the design of our neighborhoods, how City staff and elected officials can be more responsive to community interests, & how existing planning processes can be improved.  Speakers: Donald Erickson, AICP, chair, Tacoma Planning Commission Randy Cook, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, principal, TCF Architecture Jori Adkins, retired landscape architect/urban designer; neighborhood activist Moderator:  Ian Munce, Acting Division Manager, Long-Range Planning, City of Tacoma tickets for lecture #3 Tickets: Pre-paid admission - $7.50 each or $20 for all three through Brown Paper Tickets (service fee applies) At the door (if available) - $10.00 Students free with ID click for 3-lecture series tickets $20 click for lecture #1 tickets $7.50 click for lecture #2 tickets $7.50 click for lecture #3 tickets $7.50