Providence Breaks Ground On Everett Campus

Everett - Providence Regional Medical Center Everett will break ground on a 12- story, 680,000 sq ft medical tower on its downtown campus. The tower is part of a $600 million investment by Providence Health and Services. It is the largest in the company's 150 year history and one of the largest private investments ever in the city of Everett.

The project's main purpose is to ensure that the medical center is equipped to continue providing award-winning health care to a region expected to reach one million county residents in the next two decades. Architect on the project is ZGF, Portland, and the general contractor is Mortenson Construction, Seattle. The design of the new 368-bed tower centers on the philosophy of patient and family-centered care with rooms and public areas built to be more convenient, comfortable, and private. Some of the features include more visitor lounge space, and a skybridge connecting the new building with the Providence Regional Cancer Partnership.

UW Shortlists Dorm Submittals, Opens Tacoma Auditorium

Seattle - The University of Washington shortlisted three archticutral firms out of 25 that submitted requests for proposals to design three new dorms on the main campus in Seattle. The firms are Mahlum Architects, Mithun Architects and Perkins + Will, all of Seattle. The project represents the first phase of an $850 million housing program that calls for construction of eight new residential buildings and renovation of six others. Phase One construction for the first two dorms would begin in 2010 and the third in 2011. Combined, they are about 400,000 sq ft. At the UW Tacoma campus students will be using a new auditorium and student services center. William W. Philip Hall, which accommodates 300 to 500, provides a enue for lectures, concerts, banquets and student activities, and will also be available for community events.

Philip Hall is the only modern structure among a row of historic brick buildings facing Pacific Avenue that make up the main entry to the University. Formerly occupied by storefronts and an open-air shed, the space now supports a contemporary building featuring expansive glass windows that take in views of Mount Rainier, Union Station, the Glass Museum and Commencement Bay. Thomas Hacker Architects designed the building; contractor John Korsmo Construction, Inc., broke ground in September of 2007.

A $2 million dollar gift from James A. Milgard and a $500,000 gift from the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation helped make the assembly hall possible. The Milgards requested that the building be named after William W. Philip, retired chief executive officer of Columbia Bank.

Modular Construction to Improve Efficiency for THA

Tacoma - The Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) is redeveloping the former Hillsdale Lumber sawmill site into a 110-unit housing community, which will be the organization’s first modular housing project. Known as Hillsdale Heights, the development will include 60 low-income rental units, 50 affordable for-sale townhomes, a small community center, trails and green space.

THA selected Seattle design firm GGLO, Absher Construction, Inc. of Puyallup, and Boise-based Guerdon Enterprises for the Hillsdale Heights project team. GGLO is designing the Hillsdale Heights homes to provide sustainably designed, affordable housing through an innovative modular method of delivery.

THA has established LEED® Silver certification and the new Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard as goals for the project. Modular homes are built in sections within an indoor facility, then shipped and assembled together on site, increasing quality and material efficiency while significantly reducing construction waste.