IMCO Helps Restore
Popular Seattle Lake

IMCO General Construction of Bellingham, Wash., recently completed an alum application at Seattle's Green Lake to reduce the amount of algae in the water.

The 342-acre lake suffered from algae blooms that not only detract from the enjoyment of the lake, but can contribute to fishkills, reduce other plant growth and even generate toxins.

IMCO's $500,000 project involved spreading 350,000 gallons of aluminum sulfate and sodium aluminate to the lake's surface. The phosphorous in the lake binds to the aluminum salt, where it settles to the bottom and becomes part of the sediment. The cleaning action of the alum continues long after the initial application. The alum poses no risk to the public.

IMCO had applied alum to a half dozen lakes in the region in the last few years.

The month long project involved closing one parking area to allow the 85 tanker trucks onto the site to deliver the alum to the barge.

New Performance Hall
Part of $66 Million Effort

Seattle - A recent renovation has transformed the historic Sons of Norway Hall on Boren Avenue into a performance space for Cornish College of the Arts.

The performance hall - now known as the Raisbeck Performance Hall - is the second building to be renovated as part of Cornish's new campus south of Lake Union just off Denny Way. Cornish expects to invest a minimum of $66 million in the acquisition and renovation of its new campus.

Interior changes include new shear walls, barely distinguishable from the original exposed beam walls. The floor, comprised of painted plywood squares, acts as a seismic diaphragm tied to the walls to stabilize the structure in case of ground movement.

In the main performance area, grid lighting has been hung from the ceiling trusses. The glass-enclosed loft will be used as a sound and light control booth.

The exterior has been painted taupe and burgundy, the same colors that have been applied to the main campus center. A new concrete deck and stairs have replaced the original wood deck and stairs, and a small chairlift has been added to the south side of the deck to provide accessibility.

Mahlum Architects of Seattle is the project architect, and Zion Construction Inc. Of Buckley, Wash. is the general contractor.

Steel Association Honors
Seattle's Seahawks Stadium

A Seattle project was recently honored as a winner of the American Institute of Steel Construction's 2004 Engineering Awards of Excellence competition.

Seahawks Stadium was given a Merit Award in the "$100 Million or Greater" category. Magnusson Klemencic Associates of Seattle was the structural engineer on the job.

Jurors were impressed with the idea of isolating the mass of the roof structure to resist lateral transfer loads in seismic events, noting that the practice reflected "a real sense of ingenuity by the engineering team."

Sponsored by AISC, the program recognizes engineering excellence and innovation in steel-framed buildings. Jurors also look for projects that demonstrate innovative technology and structural efficiency.

Skyline Taps Timberline
As WA, AK Business Partner

Skyline Business Systems of Beaverton, Ore., has been selected by Timberline Software Corporation to become one of their business partners in Washington and Alaska. Skyline has opened a Seattle-area sales office, headed by construction software veteran Jeff Williamson. Williamson, who will be regional sales manager for the two states, was most recently a sales representative based in Portland, Ore., and has more than nine years of Timberline software sales experience.

Skyline will represent the entire Timberline Office product line, which includes financial and operations software for the construction and real estate industries. Product offerings include construction accounting, estimating, project management, property management, and service management software suites.

Vulcan Assumes Lead Role
On South Lake Union Project

Seattle - Harbor Properties Inc. of Seattle is transferring its interest in 223 Yale, a mixed-use development project in South Lake Union's Cascade neighborhood, to Seattle's Vulcan Inc. To date, the project has been under development by joint-venture partners Vulcan, Harbor and PEMCO Insurance. PEMCO will remain a partner and Vulcan will assume responsibility for day-to-day development.

223 Yale is a 362,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use development that will include 180 residential units, retail and office space. Architecture firm NBBJ (Seattle) is leasing 70,000 sq. ft. at 223 Yale for its new headquarters. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and be completed in early 2006.

The decision is the result of a strategic corporate realignment plan that has refocused Harbor Properties' future business activities on developing several new projects in Seattle's downtown core, in addition to managing its existing residential and commercial real estate assets.

Vulcan has beefed up its in-house development services team and has hired 25 real estate professionals since first forming its partnership with Harbor Properties.

"With this addition of talent, we have the capabilities to assume the lead developer role for this project," said Ada M. Healey, vice president of real estate for Vulcan.

Harbor Properties will remain in partnership with Vulcan on other joint South Lake Union development projects, including Alcyone, a 200,000-sq.-ft. residential project located on Thomas Street and Minor Avenue North, as well as Cascade Park.

Paras Awarded Ellensburg
City Hall Contract

Ellensburg - Paras General Contractors of Spokane, Wash., was recently awarded a $2.8 million contract to build the new Ellensburg City Hall in Ellensburg, Wash.

The 24,219-sq.-ft. project is located at 500 North Sprague Street and includes the adaptive reuse of a historic elementary school into new offices and council chambers. Work includes site reconfiguration, new landscaping, selective demolition, new finishes and new electrical/mechanical systems.

Construction began in February and completion is expected in September.

Seattle Center Project Wins
CRSI Design Award

Seattle - The Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center recently won a design award from the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute of Schaumburg, Ill. The award was bestowed during the institute's 17th biennial Design Awards Competition.

Entries were evaluated based on four criteria: design innovation, contextual response, engineering excellence, and construction quality and efficiency.
The Fisher Pavilion team included architects Miller Hull Partnership, structural engineer AKB Engineers, general contractor Howard S. Wright Construction Co. and owner City of Seattle.

Another northwest project - the Wilsonville Water Treatment Plant in Wilsonville, Ore., also won a design award in the competition.