ISSUE 3 SUMMER 2014 A SELLEN PUBLICATION
Experience a fresh Northwest look at Western American art at Tacoma Art Museum’s new Haub Family Galleries.
Albert Bierstadt, Departure of an Indian War Party. Oil on board, 17 ¼ x 24 ¼ inches. Tacoma Art Museum, Haub Family Collection, Promised gift of Erivan and Helga Haub.
NEW EXPANSION OPENING SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 www.TacomaArtMuseum.org
Clyde Aspevig, White Cliffs of the Missouri. Oil on canvas, 40 x 60 inches. Tacoma Art Museum, Haub Family Collection, Promised gift of Erivan and Helga Haub.
COVER IMAGE: Façade of Federal Center South, an energy guarantee success story in Seattle. PHOTOGRAPHY: BENJAMIN BENSCHNEIDER
Contents FEATURES
6 20
6 10 18
Iconic Gateway Washington State University gets a new front door Energy Tested and Approved Federal Center South achieves its energy target Mixing Up a Greener Concrete Developing a smarter concrete for the future
DEPARTMENTS
2 4 14 16 20 24
Letter from Bob McCleskey Celebrating world-class partnerships Noteworthy A round-up of project and company updates Building Community KEXP’s New Home poised to perpetuate its music legacy Client Spotlight TAM and the Haub family celebrate the American West Project Pictorial Handlebars and lake views dominate these new offices Meet the Expert Talking design-build delivery with Sellen’s Victoria Buker
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Letter from
Bob McCleskey We’re excited to kick off the second year of Craft, Sellen’s magazine focused on innovation, partnerships and construction in the Northwest. In this issue we’ve chosen to focus on some of our recent successful partnerships, because where would any of us be without strong partners by our side with whom we can collaborate, speculate and, most importantly, trust? Earlier this year I read “Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown. It’s about the University of Washington eight-man crew team who (spoiler alert!) won the 1936 Olympic gold medal. It was a great read and one I would highly recommend. What struck me about this book was the similarity between crew — or any team sport — and what we at Sellen do every day with our client, architect and subcontractor partners. Whether it’s a layout crew, a $500,000 build-out or a 40-story tower, nobody does it alone. We all have to rely on others and work as a team to accomplish these amazing feats. This may seem obvious, but the book’s descriptions of how a world-class team functions really hit home for me. I’d like to share a passage with you: “Each must be prepared to compromise something in the way of optimizing his stroke for the overall benefit of the boat — the shorter-armed man reaching a little farther, the longer-armed man foreshortening his reach just a bit so that both men’s oars remain parallel and both blades enter and exit the water at precisely the same moment. The highly refined coordination and cooperation must be multiplied across eight individuals … to make the most of each individual’s strengths. Only in this way can the capabilities that come with diversity … be turned to advantage rather than disadvantage.” This is only one of many passages I shared with all at Sellen. My favorite line is, “to make the most of each individual’s strengths.” Whether it’s a partnership based on a design-build contract (as it was for many of the projects we’ve highlighted herein) or a handshake, a good partnership is just that simple — and that difficult. But when a partnership is successful, the accomplishment is that much more amazing — and worth celebrating. Cheers!
Bob McCleskey Chief Executive Officer Sellen Construction
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VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 SUMMER 2014
PUBLISHER Sellen Construction sellenmarketing@sellen.com PRODUCTION Erin Hobson Amanda Schank Connor Davis Terri Scheumann GRAPHIC DESIGNER Loretta Grande WITH THANKS TO FareStart IA Interior Architects KEXP Olson Kundig Architects SABArchitects Sound Transit Tacoma Art Museum The Haub Family U.S. General Services Administration Washington State University SELLEN CONSTRUCTION 227 Westlake Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 T: 206.682.7770 www.sellen.com www.sellensustainability.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PAPER INFORMATION 100% Post Consumer Waste Recycled FSC Certified Green Seal Certified Green-e (Certified Renewable Energy) Acid Free Processed Chlorine Free
Celebrating our partnerships in design and construction. Less waste. Lower costs. Faster delivery. These are just a few of the benefits gained from integrated project delivery. At Sellen, we believe that collaborating with our partners from an early stage promotes efficiency and keeps the owner involved throughout the design and construction processes. Using pull planning and other lean construction methods, Sellen’s approach to design-build and integrated team-based delivery methods lowers owners’ risk and saves both time and money. PICTURED FROM LEFT: Federal Center South; Brelsford WSU Visitor Center; Seattle Children’s Hospital, Bellevue Clinic and Surgery Center PHOTOGRAPHY: BENJAMIN BENSCHNEIDER
www.sellen.com
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PHOTO: DOUG SCOTT
In brief: Updates & milestones
Celebrating 70 years at Sellen
THIS PAGE: John Sellen and partner, Robert Harris, outside Sellen’s headquarters; MultiCare Health System Rainier Tower; St. Clare Hospital, Garden Café OPPOSITE PAGE: 2030 8th Ave. completes in May 2015 4
craft magazine
Sellen crews are continuing their steady ascent at 2030 8th Ave. in downtown Seattle, the newest high-rise to grace Seattle’s skyline. Concrete crews there have been pouring one floor per week — 16 percent faster than originally planned. The tower, developed by GID Development Group and designed by Weber Thompson, will stand 43 stories tall and contain 355 apartment units. The 524,000-square-foot building will feature nine levels of parking. Upon completion, tenants will be greeted with panoramic views of downtown Seattle from their expansive rooftop space with a garden terrace. Fitness facilities and meeting rooms round out the tenant perks. After beginning construction in May 2013, crews are on track to top out the structure in December at 430 feet above street level. Substantial completion is May 2015.
A new place to start life in Tacoma In January, MultiCare Health System celebrated the grand opening of its new Rainier Tower in Tacoma, inviting the project team of Sellen and HDR Architects, as well as doctors, nurses, staff, donors and patients to the ceremony. The project expanded MultiCare’s existing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the largest in south Puget Sound. “This is a place where children are born and where they start on this amazing journey called life,” said Diane Cecchettini, RN, who
recently retired from her position as MultiCare president and CEO. Each floor of the seven-story tower contains local artwork highlighting the Pacific Northwest. The tower connects to the existing building and adds approximately 125,000 square feet to the hospital. Levels 2–4 contain a family birthing center, NICU and women and newborn center. The top two floors are dedicated to adult medical space. Level 1 remains unfinished to allow for future expansion.
“The buildings we have here are where new lives begin, where lives well-lived end … and where new joys and cures and times of privilege and sacrifice make their way into the lives of the patients and families we serve.” — Kathy Smith, RN, recently retired Sr. Vice President, MultiCare Health System
PHOTO: CLEARY O’FARRELL
In 1944, the Journal of Commerce published the announcement of a new company, the John H. Sellen Construction Co., officially formed Dec. 9, 1944. The first bid submitted by the new firm was to the U.S. Navy for construction of a recreation building at the navy radio station on Bainbridge Island. Sellen won that bid for $153,900. The second bid Sellen recorded was for the installation of hangar doors for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Boeing Field. Sellen won it for $33,105 on Dec. 21, 1944. In less than two weeks, the new firm had won two new contracts. This year marks Sellen’s 70-year anniversary. While much has changed, what’s surprising is what hasn’t. For example, earlier this year Sellen handed over the keys of a new headquarters to none other than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We’ve spent the past decades guided by the philosophy that we can make a positive impact by bringing success to our partners and our community. As we hit 70 years, we renew this commitment and look forward to what the next 70 will bring.
On the up and up
Upgrades aplenty at St. Clare Hospital One of Sellen’s latest projects at Franciscan Health System’s St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood was an expansion of the facility’s east wing. Designed by ZGF Architects, the 14,000-square-foot addition included a new garden café with kitchens and a dining area to accommodate 200 people. Crews also completed a new healing garden that includes water features and outdoor seating for patients and visitors. The project was completed in phases to minimize the impact to the kitchen, environmental services, and facilities departments, which continued operations during construction.
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Iconic gateway Sellen and Olson Kundig team up to design and build a new front door for the WSU campus BY: AMANDA SCHANK PHOTOGRAPHY: BENJAMIN BENSCHNEIDER
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eplacing the visitor center at Washington State University had long been a goal for the world-class university. WSU’s existing visitor center was located in a 1939 train depot located off campus. The university originally intended to use it for athletic ticket sales but later converted it to a visitor center. Twenty-six years later, WSU recognized a need for change. Instead of renovating the depot, WSU decided to build a new facility. A site located at the juncture of the campus and downtown Pullman provided both a physical and symbolic connection between the university and city.
Ready, Set, Go!
Designing and building a new visitor center for a large university can be a tall order, as it not only must honor the school’s heritage but also represent its future. Add an eight-month schedule and a $1.6 million total project budget and it becomes another challenge entirely. This was the test designbuild teams faced when pursuing what is now known as the Brelsford WSU Visitor Center. WSU issued the RFP to a shortlist of three teams in December 2012, giving them seven weeks to submit a design, schedule and budget solution. The team of Sellen, Olson Kundig Architects, Sellen
“We knew going in that we wanted something that stood out and that the visitor center had the opportunity to push boundaries. We wanted it to look like a WSU facility but have its own language.” — Jeff Lannigan, Project Manager, WSU
WSU’s goal of opening the visitor center by Homecoming in September 2013, an aggressive timeline, required a unique solution: design-build delivery. Jeff Lannigan, project manager at WSU, said the university chose design-build delivery for its potential to bolster creativity and meet tight budget and schedule constraints. “We couldn’t have delivered the visitor center in that amount of time for that amount of money using another delivery method,” he said.
Sustainability, KPFF, WSP and Berger Partnership dove into the design-build competition headfirst. “This was a unique opportunity to leverage our previous designbuild success and support a great client on a project that we knew would be a new gateway for the campus,” said Dan Barrett, Sellen’s executive vice president. “We had the right people, the right design-build team and the right expertise to create something memorable for WSU.” craft magazine 7
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At the first team meeting, Alan Maskin, the design lead, asked all team members to step out of their comfort zones and sketch ideas for the new building from the perspective of their professional disciplines. Maskin attributes the starting point of the final design to these ideas. “It led us to develop a variety of different approaches to the building,” he said. “I started sketching the different schemes, which came together in the idea that we actually built.”
Driven by a Deadline
WSU awarded the project to the Sellen/Olson Kundig team in February 2013. Construction began on May 20, 2013, for a four-month construction duration. The aggressive schedule was a primary challenge that drove many of the final decisions. The pressure of the schedule required flexibility from all parties — something the design-build process fostered. Sellen Superintendent Mark Bucek estimated that the same project built with a more traditional
“The architecture tells a story in its own right. But the letters and the tower give it the snap that it wouldn’t have had if we’d done business as usual.” — Jeff Lannigan, Project Manager, WSU
delivery method would have taken twice as long. “We were making design choices on the fly,” Bucek said. “But since the design team and Sellen were virtually one entity, we worked efficiently without layers of decision-makers.” Olson Kundig agreed. “Our team’s cohesion was high from the start,” said Marlene Chen, collaborating designer. “Participating in the design process helped everyone feel invested in the overall vision, which meant that
we could communicate frankly and productively. It was great to have the structural engineer and contractor advocating to keep design elements.”
An Iconic Statement
“We knew going in that we wanted something that stood out and that the visitor center had the opportunity to push boundaries,” Lannigan said. “We wanted it to look like a WSU facility but have its own language.” With this in mind, Olson Kundig looked to iconic precedents for inspiration. The team focused on two classic examples: one a half-mile away and the other 1,100 miles away. Flanking the building on the west, a 40-foot-tall tapered steel tower mirrors Bryan Tower, a clock tower in the middle of campus. The team wanted to create a modern tower that could have a visual conversation with the historic tower while acting as a barometer for the city and campus. The tower marks significant events, such as graduation, by shining a beam of light into the sky. To the east, three 15-foot-tall concrete letters spell out WSU. With the heaviest letter weighing 40,000 pounds, their construction was momentous. Sellen first built a full-size plywood mock-up to verify size and placement. The team then constructed custom wood forms
for each letter, which were poured on the ground and placed by crane. The design inspiration: the Hollywood Sign. Lannigan said the icons were exactly what the university wanted. “The architecture tells a story in its own right,” he said, “but the letters and the tower give it the snap that it wouldn’t have had if we’d done business as usual.”
PROJECT STATS
Dual Purposes
40 FEET
Working within tight budget constraints, the team’s sustainable and structural strategies required that many of the building’s elements serve dual purposes. The visitor center is expected to receive LEED© certification from the Green Building Council. Many of its materials were chosen for both their durability and sustainability qualities. For example, hardscape surfaces comprise 55 percent of the overall site so the team evaluated the solar
height of tower structure that glows with a beacon at night
15 FEET height of concrete letters
60% less irrigation than the conventional baseline for landscaping
50%
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Brelsford WSU Visitor Center front desk and introductory exhibits; the new visitor center highlights the surrounding Pullman community as well as the campus; the iconic WSU concrete letters and tower structure provide structural support for the roof
of all wood is FSC-certified and regionally sourced
47% reduction in water use
reflectance value of each hardscape material to help reduce heat gain. Structurally, the 4,224-square-foot building uses six different types of support systems, including the steel tower and concrete U. The team worked closely with KPFF to develop an effective structural strategy. Most structural elements are exposed, playing an aesthetic role as well as a functional one. The team also sought to showcase the research work happening at WSU. As a result, the majority of the wood-based composite materials were developed using technology created by WSU’s Composite Materials Engineering Center. “We wanted the building to be a legible example of the research and innovation happening on campus, beyond the exhibits,” said Steven Rainville, collaborating designer.
Coug Pride
The completed visitor center is a facility that tells the WSU story inside and out. Lannigan said the project is a success within the WSU and Pullman communities. Its iconic features have become the focal point of current and future students’ photos. “We were able to deliver extreme value by using design-build,” said Dave Scalzo, senior project manager for Sellen. “It ignited our team’s innovation and collaboration.” For many on the design-build team, it was more than just an everyday project — it was a chance to leave a lasting impression on their alma mater. “Many of us had connections to the university, and we understood the importance of its place on campus and in the community,” Rainville said. “We were all willing to go the extra mile.” ■ craft magazine 9
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Energy tested & approved After one year of occupancy, the new Federal Center South facility proves it lives up to its energy hype BY: AMANDA SCHANK PHOTOGRAPHY: BENJAMIN BENSCHNEIDER
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pon completion, Federal Center South was declared one of the most energy-efficient office buildings in the country, but energy models weren’t enough for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The GSA required that the design-build team, led by Sellen and ZGF Architects, remain involved in the project for one year following occupancy to prove the building could fulfill its energy goals. At the end of the first year, the building reached its annual energy goal, performing in the top 1 percent for energy efficiency among similar-sized office buildings across the nation.
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Back to the Beginning
In 2009, the government set out to replace or renovate many of its buildings with energy-efficient facilities. One of these was Federal Center South, a new district headquarters for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The GSA tasked design-build teams with transforming an industrial warehouse on the Duwamish River into a new 21st-century office building that would embody USACE’s motto, “Building Strong,” and achieve the GSA’s aggressive energy-efficiency goals. Fulfilling a one-year energy guarantee was also a requirement.
The Sellen/ZGF design-build team’s winning design promised to be LEED Gold, have an ENERGY STAR score of 97 and achieve an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 27.6 or lower in its first year of occupancy. (An EUI is the measurement of energy use in thousands of BTUs per square foot of gross floor area per year — the lower the number the better.) In comparison, the average EUI for all existing office buildings in the Northwest is 106. GSA selected the Sellen/ZGF team and construction began in July 2010. The project completed on schedule in September 2012, and USACE moved into the building in January 2013.
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clear that we needed to jump in immediately, make some changes and get to the proactive side.” The design-build team formed a broader “Year 1 Team,” which included the University Mechanical engineer, a mechanical engineer from WSP, the energy modeler from WSP, a controls technician from Siemens and Boysen as the overall facilitator. The team met weekly, using meter data to diagnose issues and developing custom tools to quickly scan and analyze data from the entire building. Through these tools and constant surveillance, Boysen said they reached a point where an issue could be identified and resolved in an average of five days. By the end of May, the building’s energy usage was tracking in line with the energy target — a trend that continued. “It was a learning experience for everyone involved, including the tenants,” Boysen said. “We now have lots of information on what went right and what could be improved, and we’ll be that much smarter next time.”
One-Year Guarantee
With the building in full operation, the one-year period of energy measurement could begin. An engineer from the design-build mechanical contractor, University Mechanical, stayed on to operate the building. Sellen and WSP remained involved to help monitor and manage issues. The goal: maintain the building’s energy performance in line with the energy model for 12 months. The first few months of occupancy proved to be an adjustment period as occupants settled in and learned the ins and outs of working in their new energy-efficient building. Sellen received complaints of temperature issues, “painful” noises and erratic lighting controls. By the end of April, Federal Center South was expending approximately 40 percent more energy than energy models had predicted. Sellen’s Sr. Project Manager Tom Boysen said it was clear something needed to change. “We learned a lot in those first four months,” Boysen said. “It was
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In January of this year, the one-year period ended and GSA’s facilities engineer took full control of the building’s operations. By the end of its first year of occupancy, Federal Center South’s energy operations exceeded the original energy goals and tenant satisfaction reports came back high. In 12 months, Federal Center South achieved an EUI of 25. The energy reduction equates to saving more than 18,350 million BTUs per year, which is equivalent to the energy use of 311 typical homes in Seattle. For the GSA, Federal Center South’s proof of success was in the performance.
ENERGY SAVINGS
100 ENERGY STAR Score
90% Naturally daylit
100% “The only way you can guarantee energy performance is through an integrated delivery process. Everyone has to trust each other implicitly for it to work out.” – Tom Boysen, Sr. Project Manager, Sellen
WATER SAVINGS
25,000 GAL. Rainwater cistern
100% Captured stormwater
THIS PAGE: Thoughtful daylighting design reduces energy consumption; the front entrance and walkway to Federal Center South OPPOSITE PAGE: 178,893 board feet of reclaimed timber was used
Filtered outside air
25 EUI kBtu/SF/year
“GSA is committed to creating a more sustainable and betterperforming, cost saving federal building portfolio that ultimately saves taxpayer dollars and reduces the impact on the environment,” said GSA Northwest/Arctic Region Regional Administrator George Northcroft. “The investments, innovative technologies and design expertise used in this award-winning project are delivering results.”
A Growing Trend
Federal Center South has set a precedent for designing energyefficient buildings and requiring the teams who build them to prove a building’s energy performance through a contracted energy guarantee period. “The GSA’s approach on this project is a clear example that the industry is moving toward proving a building performs as designed,” said Jack Avery, Sellen’s integrated design specialist who was involved in the project from day one. The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services required a five-year energy guarantee period for the 1063 Block Replacement project, awarded to the Sellen/ZGF designbuild team this year. Washington State University is also requiring a threeyear energy guarantee period on the North Puget Sound at Everett facility. Boysen said the trend is only natural. “You can quantify budget, schedule and scope — this is just the next step in proving building success,” he said. All of these projects share a second commonality: design-build delivery. “The only way you can guarantee energy performance is through an integrated delivery process,” Boysen said. “Everyone has to trust each other implicitly for it to work out.” With one of the Northwest’s first energy guarantee success stories complete, the energy verification trend appears to be here to stay and has left the team eager to improve on what was learned. “It was our truly integrated approach that allowed us to provide the GSA with a higher level of performance,” Avery said. “We’ve shown the industry what is possible, and we can only get better from here.” ■
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Breaking new ground KEXP’s New Home at the Seattle Center will help it champion music and discovery BY: ERIN HOBSON PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF KEXP RENDERING: SKB ARCHITECTS
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is now positioned to make a larger impact with the construction of its New Home at the Seattle Center. KEXP is outgrowing its current facilities and facing a lease that ends in 2015. The new space is designed to foster collaboration, new partnerships and educational events with Seattle Center neighbors such as the Vera Project, the EMP and Cornish College of the Arts. “The New Home will allow us to reach people all over the globe and create a vital impact at home,” KEXP DJ Darek Mazzone said. “More importantly, it will create a solid bedrock from which to build and evolve so we can be at the vanguard of culture and music for the next 40 years.” PHOTO: NATE WATTERS
eattle has been long lauded for its music scene. Even before grunge was grunge, musicians such as Jimmy Hendrix and Heart got their start in the Emerald City. One local public radio station has added to Seattle’s music legacy by breaking new artists like Nirvana, Death Cab for Cutie and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis for more than 40 years: KEXP. KEXP began as a small University of Washington radio station and has grown into an arts organization that provides music experiences on the air, online and on the streets. Its 45 disc jockeys are recognized for introducing emerging artists alongside established bands. Garnering local and worldwide popularity, KEXP
In the New Home, KEXP’s 400plus free, in-studio performances will be open to the public for the first time with the ability to host up to 75 people. A flexible 4,500-square-foot gathering space will accommodate more live music, community activities and educational programs. The DJ booth will be visible for increased interaction between the public and KEXP programming staff. Additionally, the New Home will feature an “Artist Oasis” with a goal of being a home away from home for traveling artists. It will provide musicians with showers, a laundry, work stations and sleeping areas. The New Home will also have a library twice the size of KEXP’s previous one. “I’ve seen, first-hand, the impact that KEXP can have on a young artist’s life; I’ve experienced the incredible community that is fostered by KEXP’s commitment to champion music and discovery,” Sellen President Scott Redman said. “I’m wildly impressed with the
THIS PAGE: Macklemore performs live on air at KEXP OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP: Sketch of the gathering space in KEXP’s New Home; Courtney Barnett at the Triple Door Theatre, sponsored by KEXP
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impact that this small team is having locally and around the world.” The organization hopes to break ground in late 2014 or early 2015 and move into the space late 2015 or early 2016. Sellen is the contractor and SKB Architects is the designer. As a non-profit, the New Home will be funded primarily through donations. In July, KEXP publicly landed its campaign to raise the $15 million needed to build the new facility. The campaign will continue throughout construction. Redman is on the board of directors and serves as co-chair of the campaign’s advisory committee along with Paula Boggs, former general counsel of Starbucks and a recording artist, and Ashley McCready and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam. “Seattle’s brand as a ‘city of music’ is due in large part to the role that KEXP has played as part of our arts ecosystem,” Redman said. “We are fortunate to have KEXP in our backyard and the New Home at the Seattle Center will create an opportunity for more people to experience the impact of KEXP’s work.”
Support KEXP
You can help support KEXP’s New Home at the Seattle Center. If you’re interested, visit newhome.kexp.org to find out how you can help. ■
1972
1981
The station begins broadcasting an album-rock format at 90.5 FM, KCMU, with a 10-watt transmitter from McMahon Hall at the UW.
UW budget cuts force the station to turn to the community for support. The station adopts a modern-rock format and begins fundraising.
“The New Home project will allow us to reach people all over the globe and create a vital impact at home. More importantly, it will create a solid bedrock from which to build and evolve so we can be at the vanguard of culture and music for the next 40 years.” PHOTO: MATTHEW B. THOMPSON
– Darek Mazzone, DJ, KEXP
1986
2001
2011
2013
The station moves to 90.3 FM and relocates its transmitter to Capitol Hill, boosting its power to 400 watts and extending its range to 15 miles.
KCMU becomes KEXP. It nearly doubles its wattage and moves to a technologically advanced studio near downtown Seattle.
KEXP signs a 30-year agreement with the UW to ensure it continues to serve listeners and champion artists for decades to come.
KEXP hires SkB Architects and Sellen to design and build its New Home. Fundraising for its $15 million campaign begins.
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Reliving the Wild West The Tacoma Art Museum and the Haub family revitalize Tacoma’s American West heritage BY: CONNOR DAVIS IMAGES: COURTESY OF THE HAUB FAMILY AND TAM
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hen Tacoma was established in 1884 it sat at the end of the line for a transcontinental railroad, earning it the moniker “City of Destiny” and living up to its name as a booming frontier city in the Wild West. More than a century later, Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) is tapping into that Western spirit and expanding to house a new Haub Family Collection of Western American Art. TAM’s 16,000-square-foot expansion, built by Sellen and designed by Olson Kundig Architects, will double the museum’s gallery space and transform its main entrance and plaza, as well as its presence along Pacific Avenue. The wing’s four new galleries and sculpture hallway will house 295 works of Western American art donated from the extensive personal collection of German philanthropists Erivan and Helga Haub, who have long-standing personal and business ties to Tacoma. Along with their collection, the Haubs have donated funds to support the project and future educational opportunities associated with the art. When the expansion opens on Nov. 16, it will be one of the top 12 collections of Western American art in the country.
An Idea Takes Root
Talks of expansion began in the fall of 2011 when Stephanie Stebich, director of TAM since 2005, met 16 craft magazine
with the Haub family to discuss the future of their collection. In their first meeting, they discovered an interesting coincidence: Stebich was born in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, the same city in which the Haub’s family business is located. “Sometimes you’re looking for those early positive signs for a project,” Stebich said. “The family realized that the collection needed to be taken care of for future generations, and Tacoma is the place that the Haubs connected to in America. They have a particular love of the Northwest.” Erivan and Helga’s three sons were born in Tacoma and spent
Frederic Remington, Conjuring Back the Buffalo, c. 1889. Oil on canvas, 35 x 20 inches. Tacoma Art Museum, Haub Family Collection, Promised gift of Erivan and Helga Haub.
“These artists gave us the first inklings of what the West is. This collection will remind us of how we began to understand America — its people, its landscapes and its potential.” — Stephanie Stebich, Director, Tacoma Art Museum
their summers in the area. They have been key supporters in the redevelopment of downtown Tacoma, including Union Station, the University of Washington’s Tacoma campus and the Museum of Glass — three of TAM’s neighbors. Erivan and Helga’s son, Christian, and his wife, Liliane, who recently joined the museum’s board of trustees, have been deeply involved in the expansion from day one.
They grew up with the collection, watching it evolve over the years. “Every time we visited the ranch it was like a treasure hunt,” said Liliane of her visits to the Haub’s home. “We loved the openness and adventure of the West.”
A 200-Year Perspective With works of art spanning more than 200 years, the collection began with the purchase of a Nancy Glazier
painting in 1984 and now stands among the most significant collections of Western American art in the United States. Visitors will have a unique opportunity to see how artists’ views of the West have changed over time. “These artists gave us the first inklings of what the West is,” Stebich said. “This collection will remind us of how we began to understand America — its people, its landscapes and its potential.” As impressive as the collection is now, the Haubs have no plans to stop collecting and have already bolstered their sculpture holdings to fill the new sculpture hallway at TAM. “Once it’s in your blood, it’s difficult to stop,” Liliane said. “We hope this collection is a stepping stone for people to learn more about the West.” ■
John Mix Stanley, Young Chief, 1868. Oil on canvas, 20 x 16 inches. Tacoma Art Museum, Haub Family Collection, Promised gift of Erivan and Helga Haub.
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Mixing up a greener concrete Sellen Sustainability, Sound Transit, KPFF Consulting Engineers and concrete suppliers around the region work together to develop a more sustainable concrete mix for the future BY: TERRI SCHEUMANN IMAGES: LORETTA GRANDE
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concrete cannot serve its function without cement as the key component. Approximately 1 pound of carbon dioxide is released with every pound of cement made. As a result, it is estimated that cement production accounts for 5 percent or more of global GHGs. For Sound Transit, concrete is the most-used building material. Seeking ways to be more green, the agency engaged Sellen Sustainability Project Manager David Walsh and KPFF to evaluate the potential of developing concrete with less cement, thus reducing GHG emissions and its environmental impact. They compared mixes from local suppliers and forecasted the GHG
he term “greenhouse gas emissions” often conjures up visions of congested highways with cars spewing exhaust, but there is a lesser-known carbon polluter in that scenario: the concrete used to make that highway. “Concrete” and “cement” are often used interchangeably in layman’s terms, but they are intrinsically different materials. Cement is the primary ingredient that, when combined with other materials, produces concrete. At its simplest: cement is the glue that holds concrete together — but that glue has a significant effect on global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Our society is highly dependent on concrete as a building material, and
emissions that could be saved if Sound Transit used mixes with a lower cement content on its upcoming projects. The study concluded that this could save significant volumes of embodied energy. They found that concrete suppliers can drive down GHGs by replacing a percentage of the cement with other materials. These materials could include slag, a by-product of steel manufacturing, or fly ash, which is produced by burning coal. Using this “greener concrete” has the potential for several other benefits: slag or fly ash often costs less than cement; less water is used in the final mix; less energy is needed to fire cement kilns; and there is less
Turning down the heat: How greener concrete is manufactured Concrete is essential to our daily lives. Its primary component, cement, releases significant emissions accounting for 5 percent or more of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Let’s reduce that number:
Iron
Silica
Alumina
Limestone
Harmful Emissions: The majority of GHG emissions released from cement are caused by the chemical reaction of turning limestone to clinker. They also come from the fuel needed to fire the kiln.
Kiln
1
Cement begins its life as crushed limestone.
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2
It is mixed with raw materials
3
and heated in a kiln at 2,732 degrees Fahrenheit.
“We are fortunate that Sellen’s concrete suppliers are collaborative, knowledgeable partners who can produce mixes that reduce cement and GHGs — not in the distant future but on today’s projects.” — David Walsh, Project Manager, Sellen Sustainability
Dave Walsh Project Manager With 23 years of experience, Dave is a registered architect and long-time advocate for sustainability. Informed by his dual experience in both architectural design and construction delivery, Dave works collaboratively with design and construction teams to pursue progressive sustainability strategies.
particulate air pollution. Additionally, slag enables a more fluid mix that can squeeze between tight rebar cages. It also lightens the color of concrete, making it more solar reflective and helping mitigate the heat island effect. Sound Transit Sustainability Manager Amy Shatzkin said the agency is now exploring options for using these lower-cement mixes. Sellen is already reaping those benefits in concrete pours as well. In December 2013, Sellen poured a concrete mat foundation over an entire block — the largest continuous
Gypsum
Clinker Cooler
pour in Sellen’s history. The team used greener concrete. Fifty percent of the cement was replaced with slag. “We are fortunate that Sellen’s concrete suppliers are collaborative, knowledgeable partners who can produce mixes that reduce cement and GHGs — not in the distant future but on today’s projects,” Walsh said. One clear barrier remains when using greener concrete: the schedule. Concrete cures more slowly with reduced cement. On projects with tight schedules, accelerators and plasticizers can be
Emissions Reduction: To lessen the amount of cement needed — thereby reducing the overall GHG emissions produced from the cement formation — slag, fly ash or other supplementary materials can be added to the powder mix in lieu of a portion of cement.
added to the mix to speed things up, but they sometimes cause finishing challenges, said Ken Knudson, Sellen’s concrete superintendent. Instead of using chemicals, Knudson said there are other ways to help speed curing. These include heating the water or reusing water from washing out concrete trucks, which contains traces of cement that can accelerate curing times. When specifying mixes, Walsh said a performance-based approach customized for each application, rather than one-size-fits-all prescriptive requirements, can help project teams find the sweet spot between saving costs, reducing emissions, satisfying schedule demands and meeting structural requirements. “In some cases it may make sense to use less cement and in others it may not,” Walsh said. “We’re happy to help owners make connections to be more sustainable.” ■
Concrete batching process and storage
Grinding Mill
4
5
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This produces grey nodules of clinker,
which is mixed with gypsum and ground into a fine powder. Now, the cement can be mixed with other materials to form concrete.
Finally, the cement powder is mixed with other materials, thus becoming concrete for use in construction.
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///////////////////// project pictorial
Confidential Client, Tenant Improvement Location: Seattle, WA Square Footage: 126,000 Architect of Record: IA Architects
Opened for Business: February 2014 Type of Project: Office
This 126,000-square-foot tenant improvement was completed on a fast-track, five-month schedule to meet the client’s occupancy date. The project includes nine training rooms, three usability labs and a full kitchen, servery and lounge area. Each floor has unique environmental artwork featuring classic cars and bicycles. Small meeting
rooms contain wallpaper collaged from actual 1970s automobile repair manuals. As part of an art installation, the space features a table constructed from seven complete bicycles. The table is designed so pedaling one of the bicycles powers a giant overhead fan surrounded by an LED-lit chandelier made of 120 bicycle handlebars.
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Interior Architect: SABArchitects
PROJECT STATS
7
bicycles used for conference table
80
bicycle wheels used in art installation
120
bicycle handlebars used in art installation
“The building’s proximity to I-5 suggested the concept of ‘speed’ as the theme for the office design. In addition to architectural detailing that suggest speed and movement, the designers integrated numerous references to the client’s employees’ strong interest in cycling into the fifth floor café and servery.” — Steve Erickson, Principal SABArchitects
FROM LEFT: Kitchen and employee lounge space; conference area in lobby with bicycle-powered overhead fan PHOTOGRAPHY: CLEARY O’FARRELL
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FROM LEFT: Aleutian Spray Fisheries new office building, Emerald Landing, green roof; conference room PHOTOGRAPHY: CLEARY O’FARRELL
project pictorial /////////////////////
Aleutian Spray Fisheries, Emerald Landing Location: Seattle, WA Square Footage: 60,000 Architect: Clark Design Group
Opened for Business: March 2013 Type of Project: Office LEED® Rating: Platinum
Located along the north shore of Lake Union, Emerald Landing is a 60,000-square-foot shell and core project that includes office space and below-grade parking. The building houses the new headquarters for Aleutian Spray Fisheries, a sustainable company that operates a fleet of fishing vessels that catch and process seafood products. Achieving LEED-CS Platinum, the
team diverted more than 97 percent of project waste from the landfill and recycled more than 360 tons of salvaged waste material. The team also used locally purchased materials and products containing recycled content. The building was designed to achieve an annual energy savings of 32 percent, or roughly $12,500 in savings each year.
“The pride we now feel in this building is the same pride that every single Sellen worker had in each stage of construction during the build. We thank you for your professionalism and our outstanding new office building.” — Chris Swasand, President Aleutian Spray Fisheries
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///////////////////// meet the expert
The evolution of design-build Craft discusses the future of design-build project delivery with Victoria Buker, one of Sellen’s newest project managers BY: AMANDA SCHANK PHOTO: LORETTA GRANDE
T
hose who love their job can often pinpoint a specific memory that led them down their career path. For Victoria Buker, it was a high school band trip to Switzerland. “It was the first time I had seen different ways for people to use the land,” Buker said, citing the Swiss farming interchange circles as an example. “It got me interested in the earth.” She traded in her flute and piccolo for a drafter’s pencil and pursued landscape architecture. Fast forward 30 years and Buker has touched nearly every aspect of the industry — as a landscape architect, designer, capital projects manager, developer, and now contractor, hired to help lead Sellen’s design-build projects. Her multi-faceted industry experience, business acumen and proactive management style make her a perfect candidate for the job, and it’s clear that she loves it. “When I look back on my career it’s been consistent. No matter what my title is, I’ve always enjoyed what I do, and what I do is create places for people to work and thrive in,” Buker said. “The fun part is solving problems with creativity, with people who are fun and who have similar goals.” Prior to joining Sellen, Buker’s design-build experience was limited to when she worked as a project manager for Immunex, an experience that she referred to as a “very oldfashioned form of design-build” where the owner had limited control. Because of this, she said when Sellen President Scott Redman asked her to help lead design-build projects she was hesitant. But when Redman began talking about a more progressive style of design-build she changed her mind. Craft met with Buker for some designbuild shop talk. ■ 24 craft magazine
DESIGN-BUILD Q&A How would you describe Sellen’s progressive designbuild delivery? At a high level, it’s making sure the client is involved and not having a “one model fits all” attitude. In the traditional sense of design-build, the owner didn’t have control; they were essentially in a black box separated from the project team. We want to get away from that. With each client it’s going to be a little bit different, but we’re always going to come to the table with a focus on customer service to ensure they get the full benefits out of the process. What are the benefits of design-build? We are focused on eliminating waste from the design and construction processes, and the
high integration found in design-build helps that goal. Design-build also leads to better problem solving. Why wouldn’t you have the experts of how to build it talking to the experts of what they want built and both of them figuring out the most effective way to do that? What you get is more value: you spend time solving the problem instead of sending RFIs back and forth; you get more people solving the problems; you get earlier cost information. It all ultimately leads to speed and efficiency, which leads to better value and less money. Do you think design-build delivery is evolving in the industry? It is. Project delivery methods have changed over time, and design-build used to be for simpler facilities with little aesthetics. Sellen didn’t do a lot
of design-build in the past because we didn’t build tilt-up warehouses or wastewater treatment plants. The trend we’re seeing now is designbuild being used for projects with a high level of design and peopleoriented spaces. It’s attracting different groups of architects and, in turn, different groups of contractors. What do you think is key to a successful project? At the very beginning you’re setting goals and using a lot of lean processes to reach those goals. It all comes down to finding out what the client cares about. How can we make their facility support their corporate culture? If we can determine that at the beginning and maintain that focus it will be a successful project.
Serving the community. Since 1992, FareStart has provided opportunities for nearly 7,000 people to transform their lives, while also serving more than 6 million meals to disadvantaged men, women and children. Sellen is excited to be a part of FareStart’s team as it expands to new locations to continue serving the community and build greater lives for the disadvantaged.
In 2013, FareStart: Graduated 170 students with a job placement rate of 90% (153 jobs) and a job retention rate of 90% after three months and 88% after six months Enrolled 3,500 in job training programs and served 11 million meals through Catalyst Kitchens, FareStart’s national program
Held parent meetings with chefs to demonstrate affordable, quick and healthy recipes and weekly meal planning through the school meals program Produced and served 675,000 meals to the community through the healthy school meals program and community meals program
What do NFL star Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks and Sellen have in common? Find out in the next issue.