Branch location will improve accessibility for Eastern Washington clients

With a two-decade track record of successful service to Eastern Washington clients from its Tacoma headquarters, BLRB Architects is pleased to announce the opening of a branch office in Spokane, Washington, effective October 2011.

“A commitment to responsive, attentive client service is one of the hallmarks of our firm,” according to Senior Principal, Lee Fenton, AIA.  “While we’ve never seen distance as a barrier to outstanding service, opening this office in Spokane is something we’ve hoped to do for quite some time. We’re excited that the time has finally come for us to do it.”

With projects in development and construction in Wapato and Walla Walla, and others on the horizon, the firm’s leadership felt the timing was right to put down roots in the eastern half of the state.   “We’ve always built and maintained a presence in our clients’ communities throughout the planning, design and construction of our projects,” said the firm’s Managing Principal, Tom Bates, FAIA.  “With this new office, we are looking forward to establishing a permanent presence east of the Cascades that we think our existing clients will appreciate and from which we can forge new client relationships.”

Located at 505 West Riverside in Spokane, BLRB’s office will be managed by Branch Director, Greg McCracken, AIA.  Greg will oversee day-to-day operations and serve as a primary point of contact for eastside clients.   Greg has a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from Washington State University and brings more than 20 years of diverse project experience to his new position with BLRB.  He is licensed to provide architectural services in Washington, Idaho and Alaska.

Most recently with USKH Inc., Greg’s portfolio includes projects in Spokane, Walla Walla, Oroville, Yakima and Asotin County.  He has extensive public project experience and has worked with several school district, parks and recreation district, municipal and federal clients.

Focused on public architecture and founded in 1953, BLRB Architects has served clients throughout Washington and Oregon, including more than 70 school districts, a dozen municipalities and several municipal, state and federal agencies, on projects totaling well over $2.3 billion in construction value.  Headquartered in Tacoma, BLRB also has branch offices in Portland and Bend, Oregon.

BLRB was recently recognized by Downtown On the Go for organizational leadership in the development and support of employee commute alternatives to single-occupant driving-to-work practices.

Downtown On the Go is an initiative to create a vibrant, integrated downtown core in Tacoma that connects people, green spaces, arts, culture and jobs.  One of the organization’s key initiatives is to achieve an 11% reduction in the downtown drive-alone rate by 2015.

In recognition of BLRB’s ground floor participation in the Downtown On the Go program, the organization bestowed the Leader in New Program award on the firm at its annual Transportation Innovators Awards held as part of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce’s City Center Luncheon.

Firm initiatives specifically noted include employer supported public transit passes, promotion of a ‘live close to work’ initiative and early organizational leadership and support of Downtown On the Go programs.

For the second year running, BLRB participated in Tacoma’s annual Park(ing) Day, held this year on September 16 throughout the downtown area.   An annual global event that brings together citizens, businesses, artists and activists, Park(ing) Day encourages businesses to adopt and transform a metered parking space into temporary public space.

Organized in Tacoma by Downtown on the Go and Transportation Coalition, the event’s goal is to call attention to the need for more open space in urban areas and generate discussion regarding quality of life issues in urban areas.  This year, 14 businesses adopted spaces.

As a follow-up to last year’s crowd favorite ‘Recess’, the BLRB team chose ‘Picnic’ as the theme of this year’s space.  Artificial turf, picnic table and lounge chairs surrounded by coolers and the traditional red and white checked tablecloth provided seating for passers by. 

Visitors and BLRB staff played larger than life games of dominoes and cards – oversized game pieces created by the BLRB team. Ants as big as small dogs, also made by the team, completed the picnic theme.

“In addition to demonstrating our commitment to improving the quality of the downtown environment, this event is a lot of fun,” said Tom Bates, FAIA, BLRB’s managing principal.  “It’s a great opportunity for our team members to get out in the community, meet our downtown neighbors and have fun.”

BLRB Architects is proud to announce the addition of a team new member to its Tacoma office.

David Axt joins the firm’s Technical Specifications team as a Specification Writer, bringing 16 years of experience to the firm. With a total of 25 years of experience in the architectural and engineering industry, David has been responsible for producing manuals for public works and historical preservation projects, in the educational, civic and municipal sectors.

David is currently working on the addition and modernization of Shining Mountain Elementary School for the Bethel School District, and the Maple Lawn Elementary School Addition/Modernization for the Sumner School District.

Immediately prior to joining BLRB, David worked for Bassetti Architects in Seattle for nine years.

BLRB Architects has completed the addition and modernization of Three Rivers K-8 School in Sunriver, Oregon. The 27,800 square-foot facility addition features six state-of-the-art multi-purpose classrooms, a science laboratory, an art studio and a 13,500 square-foot gymnasium with locker rooms. Additionally, administrative offices, extra storage for teachers and restrooms occupy the new space. A new central boiler plant serves the entire school.

The addition will support a new middle school while sharing some facilities with the existing K-5 school. The $5.5 million project was funded as part of a $119 million school bond passed by the Bend-La Pine Schools’ community.

Three River’s campus was built in fits and starts over the years, with no master plan in place. Facilities were mostly of modular construction until the school’s Otter Hall was built in 1993, giving it the distinction of being the first permanent structure on site. In 2004 the main 12-classroom wing was added.

BLRB’s design unified the site and campus, integrating existing and new features with a diverse materials palette. Envisioned to be in harmony not only with the existing school building but also with the site itself, the design incorporates wood, metal panel and glass throughout.

The middle school wing addition integrates indoor and outdoor learning with minimal separation between the two environments. The surrounding landscape is embodied through the inclusion of

vertical column elements, and wood decking provides a canopy of warmth to a site previously dominated by concrete masonry.

A spacious atrium common area was created with a bright, curtain wall of windows and gives the space a contemporary sophistication. The exterior finish uses exposed laminated wood beams, spaced to take advantage of natural light. Indoor and outdoor gathering areas were implemented into the plans, providing flexibility of use. An extended 600-square-foot entrance to the school administration offices was also integrated to provide a sense of prominence and identity for the main entry.

“The primary challenge when we began this project,” according to Tom Bates, FAIA, 

BLRB|GGL’s managing principal, “was to honor what had already been established without mimicking it or overwhelming it.”

“Our goal, ultimately, was to present a unified design that first and foremost, would provide Three Rivers’ students with an inspirational learning environment that supports their success,” he said. “I feel confident that we accomplished that.”

This project completes the latest stage in the evolution of Three Rivers School and represents a successful marriage of form and function, capitalizing on the latest teaching philosophies of small learning groups supported by shared learning and other common spaces.

Firm receives official recognition for commitment to sustainable design

BLRB Architects is pleased to announce the firm’s Tacoma office has garnered LEED® Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Located in downtown Tacoma’s Pacific Plaza (which BLRB designed), the firm’s 18,391 square foot headquarters is designed to maximize the collaborative environment of the 60-person staff and showcase a long-established commitment to energy efficient, sustainable architecture.

A uniquely modern and visually distinctive work environment, the space is infused with natural light and features 18-foot high ceilings. A gallery hall, adjacent to the reception area, displays the firm’s client list, projects and design awards. A flexible meeting room/classroom incorporates contemporary

technologies in lighting, acoustics, presentation technology and information displays, and serves as a demonstration center for clients. Lowered work space partitions throughout supports teamwork and communication between employees in the studio spaces and the staff break room and kitchen includes outdoor seating and interior lounge area complete with a Wii game console and candy and snack stations.

Sustainable design elements and materials incorporated throughout include bamboo and rubber flooring; recycled carpeting; bamboo veneer ceilings and ceiling tiles with high recycled content; occupant and daylight sensor lighting controls for offices and meeting spaces; Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified sustainable wood veneers in paneling, doors and sub-floors; low VOC paints and finishes; operable windows; recycled glass counter tops; and tackable walls surfaced with cork.

The office design team consisted of Tom Bates, FAIA, Principal in Charge; Dennis Kabba, AIA, Principal, Technical Services; David Pool, AIA, Project Architect; and Jonah Jensen, AIA, Architectural Designer.

LEED® Certification has been developed by the USGBC and is considered the national benchmark for sustainable building design. BLRB’s office space was scored under the LEED for Commercial Interiors category.

Ron Harpel, AIA, associate principal, has been promoted to Principal. He has been with the firm for 10 years and has more than 20 years of experience. Ron is currently serving as project manager for the $32 million replacement of the Tacoma School District’s Baker Middle School and the $40 million replacement of Chinook Middle School for the Bellevue School District.

Director of BLRB’s Civic Design Studio since early 2010, Ron is also applying his broad experience in civic and municipal design to the City of Auburn’s new Activity Center and Community Center projects. Ron graduated cum laude from Washington State University and has been active in local civic and volunteer organizations including Habitat for Humanity, the Tacoma Arts Commission and the Foss Waterway Redevelopment.

Jonah Jensen, AIA, LEED® AP BD+C, has been promoted to Associate of the firm. He joined BLRB Architects in 2006 as an intern architect, quickly showcasing his design talents through his work on Pacific Plaza for the City of Tacoma, South Lake High School for Seattle Public Schools and Three Rivers Elementary School for the Bend La Pine School District in Oregon. Jonah is currently contributing his design talents to the Sumner School District on the addition and modernization of Maple Lawn Elementary School.

Jonah graduated from Washington State University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and a Bachelor of Architecture.

In other employee news, Benjamin Fields and Ben Ferguson have passed the Architectural Registration Examination. Both are now licensed architects in the State of Washington.

Abbey Cwiek, Interior Designer, passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam. She is now a professional member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

BLRB Architects is the 2010 recipient of the prestigious Lee Brockway Award given by the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) for the firm’s design of the historic renovation and addition of Garfield High School for the Seattle School District.

Considered one of the celebrated design awards among educational architects internationally, the Lee Brockway is presented annually to an architectural firm in recognition of outstanding renovation and transformation of an educationally obsolete school. The award recognized BLRB’s uniquely collaborative design and planning process, which involved the City of Seattle Landmarks Board, as well as the firm’s restoration of the building’s iconic status within the community, preservation of its historical context and construction of an addition that complemented the existing site and structure.

“Garfield is an inspiring high school for students and the local neighborhoods it serves,” said Tom Bates, FAIA, BLRB’s managing principal. “Through an innovative design approach and broad-based planning, the facility was transformed from an obsolete high school into a contemporary learning facility while still maintaining the iconic historic character that is so important to its community.”

The project has been recognized with six other awards including Best Construction Design by the Associated General Contractors of Washington, and Public Project of the Year (2009) by the Washington Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP).

The Lee Brockway award was presented to BLRB Architects during the annual CEFPI international conference and expo in San Jose, California in October 2009. The event attracts the world’s leading educational facility planners, architects and school administrators to discuss current best practices,

philosophies and emerging trends in the education profession.

Garfield High School’s historic renovation and addition was completed in 2008 for the Seattle School District and consisted of the rehabilitation and reorganization of the original 170,800 square foot facility and the addition of a stand-alone 83,700 square foot athletic complex and performing arts center.

Three Educational Projects Honored

BLRB Architects is pleased to announce that three of its K-12 projects have garnered multiple design awards in 2010.

Curtis Junior High School  // The new Curtis Junior High School, a replacement project completed in 2010 located in University Place, Washington, is a showcase for energy efficiency and environmental.  The two-story, 135,000 square foot junior high school was recently awarded a national 2010 Citation Award by American School and University magazine for its commitment to high performance design and incorporation of green features including rainwater harvesting; rain gardens; a green roof; high efficiency lighting; daylight control systems; and natural ventilation and recycled materials throughout.

Simpson Intermediate School  //    Simpson Intermediate was recognized with a national 2010 Citation Award from the American School and Portfolio magazine and a 2010 Merit Award from the Washington State Chapter of the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) for BLRB’s unique design process.  The design team actively engaged local community members in determining the design for the 38,000 square foot replacement school.  The project was also recognized for design elements celebrating student achievement and community pride through special floor-to-ceiling handmade murals that pay homage to the town’s logging past, display cases for student work and art and open, shared learning communities.

South Shore K-8 School  //  South Shore K-8 School received a 2010 Honorable Mention Award from the School Planning and Management magazine.  Although the 139,000 square foot facility is large in size, the learning environment is personalized, segmented into small learning communities and the 

building itself is architecturally symbolic of inclusiveness.  A “community living room” that welcomes visitors upon entry and a central two-and-one-half story high drum-shaped commons that is used for both school and community events embodies the school’s commitment to individualized learning, respect for diversity and community inclusion.

Firm extends breadth of service to Oregon clients through acquisition of Bend firm

Effective September 1, 2010, BLRB Architects will serve Oregon clients through its new branch location in Bend, Oregon. The new office is the culmination of a three-year working relationship between BLRB the former GGL Architecture in Bend, Oregon. BLRB and GGL previously worked together on projects for Oregon clients including Bend-LaPine Schools and North Wasco School District.

“Through our Bend office, we will be able to expand the level of service we offer to our Oregon clients, and provide Central Oregon clients with the resources and expertise of a regional firm,” says Tom Bates, FAIA, managing principal.

Located at 497 SW Century Drive, BLRB’s branch office is in the office space formerly occupied by GGL Architecture retains the firm’s current staff, so Bend clients will continue to work with the same team of architects and designers they have grown to know and trust.

“We look forward to offering clients a broader range of services,” said Mike Gorman, AIA, branch director. “This merger gives us an opportunity to develop new business relationships and expand the range of services and project types we can offer our clients.”

BLRB Architects was founded in 1953 and has provided architectural and engineering services for more than 600 public projects throughout the Northwest. GGL Architecture was founded by Mike Gorman, AIA and Jim Landin, AIA in 2004 and has completed projects for clients in the commercial, multi-housing unit, education and retail sectors throughout Oregon including Bend, Redmond,

Tumalo, Sisters, Madras, Prineville, Hood River and The Dalles, among others.

BLRB’s Oregon office is located at 497 SW Century Drive, Suite 105 in Bend. Day-to-day operations are managed by branch directors, Mike Gorman, AIA, and Jim Landin, AIA.

New school opens for 2010 school year

Construction on the replacement of Lakeridge Middle School is complete and the facility has reopened to students, parents and teachers for the 2010-11 school year.  The $20 million project was part of the Sumner School District’s capital bond approved by voters in 2007 which supported the renovation and modernization of six of the District’s 13 schools.

In response to a rapidly growing student population and the need for contemporary educational capacity, the District opted to replace Lakeridge, which was originally built in 1978. BLRB’s design reflects the school’s commitment to a technology rich, 21st century education; preservation of local heritage; and celebration of community connections.

The two-story, 90,000 square foot facility features four small learning communities, each tailored specifically to individual grade level needs.  Each grade level features its own community that includes general-purpose classrooms, science classrooms and labs, and a resource classroom for students with special needs, all organized around a shared learning space.  The fourth learning community serves each grade equally and is comprised of two computer labs, and music – choral and band – classrooms with adjacent rehearsal rooms.  The comprehensive art studio includes a pottery area, kiln space and clay drying room.
   
A new commons serves as the social heart of the school, and with its raised performance stage and seating capacity for 500, also acts as the school’s cafeteria, hosts student and community events, and functions as a great hall for public gatherings.  A comprehensive library with group instruction classrooms, a reference area and a broadcasting studio complete the design.

The original structure was demolished to make room for new athletic fields.  The school’s gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium and associated locker rooms, which were saved and integrated into the new school design, are conveniently located in the south quadrant of the school, and event parking lots allow for community access for after-hours use.
   
The project’s design included 74,600 square feet of new construction and 20,400 square feet of building modernization.

The second of four current projects for the Sumner School District to be completed, the newly modernized Victor Falls Elementary School opened in September for the 2010-2011 school year. Closed for nearly one year while under construction, the 48,000 square foot facility underwent a comprehensive modernization and renovation that overhauled many of the school’s core program areas and building systems.

BLRB’s design increased capacity and updated classroom space, technology capabilities and outdated mechanical and infrastructure systems.  The school’s flat roof was replaced with a pitched roof and significant improvements were made to the building envelope.  

A new grand entrance welcomes visitors to a modern, comfortable interior, and the facility has been updated for all energy, seismic, fire and life safety codes and requirements throughout. Small group learning rooms have been strategically integrated to accommodate shared learning opportunities and 

serve 17 updated classrooms.

Victor Falls Elementary School also features a 3,400 square foot commons with performance stage; a 2,400 square foot library with media room and adjacent technology room, teaching areas, reading spaces and study reference stations; and a 3,600 square foot gymnasium.  The renovation and modernization was part of Sumner School District’s 2007 bond that is supporting the modernization and replacement of six of the District’s 13 schools.

The design team for Victor Falls included Tom Bates, FAIA, Principal in Charge; Lee Fenton, AIA, Project Manager; Gene La Vaque, AIA, Project Architect; and Hsin Yu Kao, Project Designer.