Founded in 1953, BLRB Architects has grown under the direction of just three managing principals across six decades of architectural practice.  It is with pride that the firm announces the expansion of that list to four, with the elevation of Lee Raymond Fenton, AIA, to the position of managing principal for BLRB Architects.

With BLRB since 1984, Lee succeeds Thomas L. Bates, FAIA, who has managed the firm since 2002.  Throughout his career, Lee has established himself as an energetic and creative design force whose work has been consistently recognized for excellence by industry and peer associations.

He has served as a principal and integral member of the firm’s leadership team since 2002, helping to guide BLRB’s growth and development to the regional practice it is today.  Lee is an active member of the Council of Educational Facility Planners International and American Institute of Architects, Southwest Washington Chapter, as well as several community organizations.  As managing principal, Lee will maintain oversight and direct the activities of all four of BLRB’s offices located in Washington and Oregon.

Thomas L. Bates, FAIA, will now serve as Chairman of BLRB Architects’ six-member Board of Directors.  With BLRB since 1981, and having served variously as principal for design, and managing principal, Tom will continue to play a central role in business development and project leadership.  Tom was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2008 in recognition for his contributions to the practice of educational architecture, and preservation work with historic schools.

David Pool, AIA, an associate principal of the firm since 2009, has been elevated to principal.   He will continue to provide project leadership and oversee design services across all four BLRB locations.  Dave joined BLRB in 2004 and has nearly 20 years of architectural experience.   Dave’s recent projects include the replacement of Keller Elementary School in Kirkland and Chinook Middle School in Bellevue.

Gregory A. McCracken, AIA, has been promoted to Senior Associate. Greg has over 20 years of architectural experience and joined BLRB in 2011 as director of the firm’s Spokane office. Greg is a skilled project manager and architect and has worked on numerous educational and civic projects including currently, the modernization of Walla Walla High School and the modernization of Stevens County’s Administration Building in Colville, WA.

Abbey Cwiek-Garrett, IIDA, IDCW, has been promoted to Associate. An interior designer with over 10 years of experience, Abbey joined BLRB in 2009 and brings specialized skills in space planning and programming for projects ranging from educational facilities and commercial spaces to office interiors and healthcare facilities. Abbey’s recent work includes

the renovation of the Clean Water Innovation and Technology Lab at University of Washington Tacoma and the replacement of Baker Middle School for Tacoma Public Schools. Abbey graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design.

Aaron Winston, Associate AIA, has been promoted to Associate of the firm. A talented and creative designer, Aaron has significant experience in residential and commercial design. Aaron’s current projects include the Gateway Project at Eastern Washington University, encompassing a stadium renovation/expansion to include mixed-use opportunities. Aaron is a graduate of University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies.  

Caela McKeever, LEED® AP, joined our Tacoma office, bringing specialized skills in architecture and interior design. Caela graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Polytechnic State University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and recently completed the Architect Registration Examinations.

Richard H. Higgins, AIA, LEED® AP, recently joined BLRB Architects to direct the firm’s Portland office. He brings more than 30 years of architectural planning and design experience to his new position and significant depth in secondary and post-secondary facility planning and design. Richard has earned an outstanding reputation for collaborative project development, creative design solutions and responsive service. 

The replacement of Tacoma School District’s Baker Middle School was honored with a Citation Award in American School & University Magazine’s 2012 Architectural Portfolio.

Each year, American School & University Magazine honors schools that support key features including sustainability, flexibility, security, transparency and adaptability.

The jury recognized Baker for its “strong middle school plan” and its “comfortable and well-detailed environment.”  

The 119,000-square-foot school includes several state-of-the-art green features that not only save on school district costs, but also permit valuable educational opportunities. The use of native landscaping, natural light and collected water runoff is combined with low-flow fixtures, recycling stations and solar

panels to make the best use of existing resources. 

Contemporary technologies were also employed to aid in classroom instruction including SMART Board interactive whiteboards, sound enhancement, document cameras and wireless internet capability. To assist deaf and hard-of-hearing students, strobe lights are placed throughout the school to notify students of announcements and emergencies.

Previous BLRB projects that have been honored by American School & University Magazine include Curtis High School Athletic Complex (University Place), Hamilton Middle School (Seattle), Simpson Intermediate School (Montesano) and Garfield High School (Seattle).

At the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce luncheon held on Friday, October 12, BLRB Architects was honored with a Transportation Innovator Award for the firm’s involvement in the Downtown On The Go program.

BLRB was one of five businesses honored for their work in sustainable transportation and commute options. BLRB was specifically recognized for providing and promoting sustainable commuting options to its employees and playing a leadership role in the community.

BLRB has a long history of working with Downtown On The Go on efforts to improve transportation and daily life in Downtown Tacoma. Recent involvement includes Park(ing) Day, participation in the Live Downtown program and participation on the Prairie Line Trail redevelopment through downtown Tacoma.

Downtown On The Go presents the Transportation Innovator Awards annually to acknowledge and celebrate work being done that helps meet the Downtown On The Go goal of reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles 11 percent by 2015.
   
With a six-decade history of sustainable leadership in the Tacoma area, BLRB Architects seeks to balance functional facilities with environmentally conscious design. BLRB was the first architectural firm in Washington State to design a LEED equivalent school and designed the first LEED Platinum office building in Southwest Washington, Tacoma’s Pacific Plaza. 

Two BLRB projects were honored with awards at the Masonry Institute of Washington’s Excellence in Mason Design Awards presentation held June 1 at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle.

The firm’s masonry work on the renovation at Seattle’s historic Hamilton International Middle School was recognized with the Honor Award in the renovation category, the MIW’s highest award. The restoration was highlighted for balancing the delicate relationship between maintaining the school’s architectural legacy while transforming the educationally obsolete building into a contemporary learning environment.

The replacement of Tacoma’s Baker Middle School received a Merit Award in the K-12 category. The use of concrete block and brick veneer was recognized as an effective balance between durability and beauty. Baker also received the Special Award of Recognition for its use of CMU.

On April 9, Gene Grulich, AIA, director of BLRB Architects’ Historic Preservation Studio, received the Tacoma Historical Society’s Alan C. Liddle Award for his historic preservation work in the city of Tacoma.

Established in 2007 and named in honor of Tacoma architect, Alan C. Liddle, the award recognizes individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to the preservation of Tacoma’s historic structures. Past recipients include Alan C. Liddle, Patricia Sias, Robert W. Evans, Linda Bowman, Kathryn Van Wagenen and L.T. Murray, Jr.

Grulich has provided assessment, rehabilitation, preservation and documentation services for many of Tacoma’s iconic historic buildings including the Pantages Theater, Stadium High School, The Bowes Building, Brown’s Point Light Station, the Tacoma Armory, Lincoln High School, Annobee Apartments, Fern Hill Elementary School and the Municipal Building.

Prior to joining BLRB Architects, Grulich was the founder, owner and principal of GA+PS, an architectural firm focused on historic preservation and restoration projects.  With his unique combination of education in architecture and urban planning, coupled with work on hundreds of historic preservation projects for public, private and government clients over the past 30 years, Grulich has established a national reputation as an expert in the field.

Grulich joined BLRB Architects in 2010 to serve as director of the Historic Preservation Studio. Currently, Grulich and BLRB are working on the historic rehabilitation of Washington-Hoyt Elementary School in North Tacoma and exterior refurbishments to the historic Tacoma Municipal Building.

A nationally recognized historic preservation expert and sought-after speaker, Grulich will present at the RevitalizeWA conference to be held in Chelan, Wash., May 22-24. His presentation will examine the best ways to preserve historic facades and demonstrate how highlighting original building features can enhance the economic viability of businesses housed in historic buildings.

BLRB Architects recently completed a visioning process for the Gateway Project at Eastern Washington University, which includes an expansion of Roos Field and the transformation of Washington Street into a vital commercial district.
 
More than 7,000 seats will be added with the new two-tier east grandstand that incorporates stadium amenities including improved concessions and restrooms, locker rooms, donor suites and a club area.  It also integrates student-centered retail, a destination restaurant, an all-sports training room, an academic success center and more. Space in the new facility will also allow for the relocation of the University bookstore. The building will be designed to enhance daily life in the Cheney community throughout the entire year.

The goals of the Gateway Project are to create a stronger sense of community for students and faculty while adding sustainable revenue generation that will increase student scholarships. This first phase of the Gateway Project creates a heart for the Eastern Washington University campus and unifies the western and eastern halves of the campus.

In future phases there are plans to add additional retail, commercial and apartments along Washington Street as well as end zone seating to complete the seating bowl. Total future seating could exceed 22,000, and include a dedicated student section, the towering “Eagle’s Nest”, in the southern end zone.

Currently in the schematic design and fund development planning stage, the University Board of Trustees will review the Gateway Project in September 2012. Pending approvals and a successful capital campaign, the Gateway Project will be ready for the 2014 football season. 

The $7.9 million modernization and addition to the Aquatic Center at Curtis High School in University Place has been completed.

The 25,000 square foot Aquatic Center includes an expanded 8-lane multi-use pool, enlarged diving well, classroom space, modernized locker rooms, spectator mezzanine and multi-use lobby. The pool will serve both the University Place School District and the local community for instruction, competition and recreation.

Competition-level quality was a key priority of the district with the goal of attracting regional and international events. The Aquatic Center is one of only eight pools in the state of Washington to receive competitive certification from USA Swimming. Additionally, it is one of only two high school pools in the state to receive this designation. The certification, confirming strict dimensional requirements, means

that American, World or U.S. Open records set in this pool would be recognized. In addition, it provides competitors, officials, coaches and swimming enthusiasts with an assurance of accurate times and consistent training.

The Curtis High School aquatic center is part of a growing number of pools and aquatic centers with which BLRB has been involved. Others include the replacement of Mt. Tahoma High School, the renovation of the Auburn High School pool and the improvements to the College Recreation Center pool at Evergreen State College. 

BLRB Architects is pleased to announce the completion and opening of the Baker Middle School replacement.

The 119,000 square foot school includes several state-of-the-art green features that not only save on school district costs, but also permit valuable educational opportunities. The use of native landscaping, natural light and collected water runoff is combined with low-flow fixtures, recycling stations and solar panels to make the best use of existing resources. 

Using existing resources was a priority in the design of the Tacoma middle school.  In addition to preserving many existing Douglas Fir trees on site, those that were required to be cut down to make way for the larger building were harvested and integrated into the new school.

Contemporary technologies were also employed to aid in classroom instruction including SMART Board interactive whiteboards, sound enhancement, document cameras and wireless internet capability. To assist deaf and hard-of-hearing students, strobe lights are placed throughout the school to notify students of announcements and emergencies.

Originally built in 1955 on five acres adjacent to Harmon Park, the new $33 million school sits on 13.5 acres due to a land swap with Metro Parks Tacoma that BLRB helped facilitate. Incorporating features that benefit the community was key, as the school sits on the Harmon Park site. Neighbors and members of the community can take advantage of the athletic fields and track, the paved walking/running loop, community use rooms, a play and picnic area and more.

Baker Middle School serves more than 600 students in South Tacoma’s Fern Hill community.  Other

projects BLRB Architects has completed for the Tacoma School District include the replacement of Mt. Tahoma High School (2004) and the restoration of the historic Fern Hill Elementary School (2006). The firm also recently began work on the modernization of Washington-Hoyt Elementary School, originally built in 1901.

The third of four recent BLRB projects for the Sumner School District, the addition and modernization to Bonney Lake Elementary School has been completed in conjunction with the school’s 50th anniversary.

The $10.2 million project unified the school’s “California campus” into a contemporary campus with larger common areas; a new music room; a modernized library, gym and cafeteria; new classroom technology and security features that include a single button that can lock down the entire campus. The creation of higher volumes and more windows and skylights not only cuts down on energy expenses, but also makes for a more pleasant learning environment and allows staff to monitor more of the school grounds. 

One of the priorities of the design was to include the school’s Viking mascot into the design of the school, creating a fun, nautical theme. From the renaming of the cafeteria as the Viking Galley and the outer campus buildings as “islands,” to the beach motifs that are scattered throughout school grounds,

Bonney Lake Elementary’s Viking tradition lives on.

Started in June 2010, the project includes a 5,759 square foot addition, resulting in a 44,657 square foot modernized campus that can serve up to 450 students.     

Other projects with which BLRB has been involved for the Sumner School District include the modernization of Sumner Middle School, the addition and modernization of Victor Falls Elementary School and the upcoming addition and modernization of Maple Lawn Elementary School.

BLRB Architects has been selected by the Tacoma School District to provide services for the rehabilitation of the historic Washington-Hoyt Elementary School in the Proctor District of North Tacoma.

Originally built in 1901, the school underwent expansions in 1905, 1967 and 1968. BLRB Architects will work with a community-based planning committee to determine key issues to address to modernize this North Tacoma gem while maintaining its historic character.

BLRB has previously worked on several projects for the Tacoma School District, including the rehabilitation of the historic Fern Hill Elementary School in South Tacoma.

Doug DuCharme, AIA, LEED® AP, has also been promoted to Associate Principal of the firm. He joined BLRB Architects in 2007 and brings more than 30 years of experience to the firm. In addition to overseeing the Portland office, Doug is the director of BLRB’s Higher Education Studio. His recent projects include the Curtis High School gymnasium replacement and the renovation of Lloyd Auditorium at the Washington School for the Deaf in Vancouver. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and a Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon School of Law.

Les Gerstmann, AIA, LEED® AP, has been promoted to Senior Associate. Les joined BLRB Architects in 1998 and has worked on multiple projects including the historic renovation of Tacoma’s Fern Hill Elementary School and most recently, the modernization of Sumner Middle School. Les is the 2012 Past President of the Southwest Washington chapter of AIA and is a member of the Steering Committee of Cascadia Green Building Council. He achieved his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Washington State University.

Ben Ferguson, AIA, LEED® AP, has been promoted to Senior Associate. Ben has an enthusiasm for sustainable planning and was heavily involved with developing green features of Pacific Plaza for the City of Tacoma. Ben joined BLRB Architects in 2006 and is BLRB’s Commercial Studio Director. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona in 2004.

Andy Cottrill, AIA, has been promoted to Associate of the firm. Andy joined BLRB Architects in 2009 and is currently the project designer for the Renton Early Childhood Learning Center. Prior to joining BLRB, Andy was involved with the award-winning design of the Annette B. Wyerhaeuser Early Learning Center at Tacoma Community College. Andy received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati.

Chris Shelton, BLRB’s marketing director, was promoted to associate and will continue to manage the firm’s marketing and communications efforts.  An alumni of Pacific Lutheran University and long-time resident of Tacoma, her experience includes marketing, communications and fund development for non-profit, public and private agencies and organizations.  Prior to joining BLRB in 2009, Chris was the director of marketing and communications for Bates Technical College.