We’re Winners!! (Well, we kind of already knew that)

Posted on March 9, 2012 by wtblog225

A la Mode Pies – Phinney Ridge

On March 8th, the A la Mode Pies café/bakery was awarded First Place in the Hospitality category at the 13th Annual Northwest Design Awards, sponsored by the Seattle Design Center. The winning projects were selected from more than 250 entrants in 10 categories.

Weber Thompson went home with a seriously heavy chunk of engraved crystal and the happy thought that we should celebrate by eating some more pie!

Huge thanks to Chris Porter and the crew at A la Mode Pies. For more images of this award-winning (yay!) café/bakery, visit our website.

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Weber Thompson’s Island of Misfit Toys

Posted on December 9, 2011 by wtblog225

The Island of Misfit Toys by Weber ThompsonIf you visit Seattle’s Sheraton Hotel during this Christmas season, you will be whisked away on a nostalgic journey where square-wheeled trains, red-nosed reindeer and an elf that secretly desires to be a dentist all come together and sing “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas” (well, you might hear the song in your head).

This is Weber Thompson’s first year participating in the 19th Annual Gingerbread Village, an event that benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The theme this year was “Holiday Express” represented by train stations in New York, London, Australia, Quebec, and New Zealand, and ending with our masterpiece: The Island of Misfit Toys. A dedicated group of designers worked round the clock to create this Island, and its many inhabitants, led by Sheraton Executive Sous Chef Dave Mestl. Using materials such as gingerbread, Rice Krispy Treats, jelly beans, melted chocolate and fondant, among many, many others, our team re-created the world of the classic stop animation Christmas special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Bumble at the Island of Misfit ToysA giant, swirl topped mountain sets the stage for the Misfit Toys. A castle is perched on top, guarded by a fondant King Moonracer, a winged lion that protects the toys. Candy cane and melted chocolate train tracks run around the mountain, past the abominable snowman’s cave, over a rock candy waterfall, and down to the station at the base of the mountain. Santa rides in the gingerbread, frosting and jelly belly decked train (with those square wheels!), while Hermey (the elf/dentist), Rudolph, his girlfriend Clarice, and “Charlie in the Box” hang out at the station and watch Yukon Cornelius float away on an iceberg. And that’s only half of it. You can view this masterpiece, along with the four others, at the downtown Seattle Sheraton Hotel. The exhibit runs through New Year’s Day – though we recommend going on a weeknight, weekends tend to be crazy with crowds at the show.

The Misfit PlazaOur submission has already won the “Spirit” award, but we are in tight competition with the Melbourne entry for overall winner. If you love our Island of Misfit Toys, you can vote for us by texting MYJDRF6 to 56512. We also encourage you to donate to the JDRF.

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Making our Cities Livable Requires Landscape Architects: Report from the 2011 ASLA Conference

Posted on November 18, 2011 by wtblog225

Jamison Square, Portland, OR

US Cities will undergo major transformation in the coming years. In 2008, the world reached the tipping point where more people live in urban areas than rural. By 2050, it is expected that 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas while in developed countries like the United States, it will be closer to 90%. Will that growth improve our quality of life?

Yes, if landscape architects are at the table.

At the ASLA 2011 Conference in San Diego the theme was Landscape Architecture Rising. Based on the content of the presentations, landscape architects are playing a critical role in reimagining our cities, making them more sustainable, more socially connected, and more connected to nature, our food, and each other, improving our health and, well, our happiness. As Charles Montgomery, a Vancouver Journalist and the conference’s opening speaker said “the green city, the low carbon city, the social city and the happy city are all the same place”.

The death of sprawl was a common theme. The infrastructure for it can no longer be afforded. Higher density is our future; but density in itself is not enough. “We have to rebuild our cities; they are not done. We have to invest in infrastructure and the next generation has to correct our screw-ups…and invest in the public realm,” said speaker Martha Schwartz, FASLA. It is the spaces between the buildings – the public realm – that will sustain our lives and make living in cities, actually livable.

In keeping with the conference theme, I gave a presentation with Colie Hough Beck, ASLA entitled “Restoring the Human Dimension in Cities: Making Urban Areas Livable for All.” The presentation outlined a report we developed with the Seattle Planning Commission creating communities around transit and bicycles from a policy and land use perspective and illustrated the essential components for livability. It also focused on making urban living – multi-family housing in particular – a viable option for families with children.

Our presentation built on Enrique Penalosa comment that children are the indicator species of the health of our communities. If you build a successful city for children, then you will have a successful city for all people.

Given that only 19% of households in Seattle have children, while the national average is 46%, we have some work to do here at home.

–Catherine Benotto AIA, ASLA, LEED AP BD+C
Principal

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Seattle Design Festival

Posted on September 15, 2011 by wtblog225

Terry Thomas Tour GroupThis weekend marks the start of the Seattle Design Festival, ten days of tours, exhibits, speakers/panels, films, and events for adults and kids. The aim of the festival is to “widen and deepen the public conversation about design in Seattle.”

The Terry Thomas is one of six behind-the-scenes tours being offered on Saturday September 17th (our tour is at 1:00). For more information visit their Events Page.

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Sunset Electric at the 2030 District Launch Party

Posted on September 13, 2011 by wtblog225

Click to Enlarge

On September 8th at the Pan Pacific Hotel, The City of Seattle launched the federally-funded 2030 District, which is “a groundbreaking, high-performance building district in Downtown Seattle that aims to dramatically reduce environmental impacts of building construction and operations, while increasing Seattle’s Competitiveness in the business environment and owner’s return on investment.” – www.2030district.org (Brian Geller, Executive Director and former Weber Thompson employee). In late June, Seattle 2030 District was one of three municipalities selected to be an early partner in President Obama’s Better Buildings Challenge.

As part of the launch the city showcased existing buildings that currently meet, or come close to meeting, the 2030 district goals for buildings. They also showcased a few current projects (un-built) that have established the goal of meeting the 2030 District or 2030 Challenge goals. Sunset Electric was one project the city singled out for its projected exemplary energy performance, and they asked us if we would submit a board to display at the event.

We said yes, of course. This is a great endeavor that we whole-heartedly support.

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Green Factor & Green Stormwater Infrastructure Code Impacts

Posted on August 16, 2011 by wtblog225

You may have seen this in our 8.12.11 e-newsletter. We are repeating it here because it is an important issue and we wanted to make sure everyone knew about it.

Compliance with Seattle’s Green Factor (GF) and the Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Code has forced a shotgun wedding for your project’s landscape architect and civil engineer. Early project collaboration, in the schematic design phase, is now essential as simply meeting the landscape requirements of the GF does not necessarily mean compliance with the GSI. In fact, the GSI is often the more challenging of the two, requiring a landscape solution beyond the GF minimum threshold.

The GF has been enforced for several years and was recently modified to higher levels and additional Seattle zones. The GSI went into effect in late 2009 when few projects were going through permitting. With construction re-starting, the impact to project development and process is just now being understood.

Simply placing a stormwater vault in the building won’t cut it anymore – make sure you bring in your Civil and Landscape Architect early in the project to ensure you meet these requirements prior to Master Use Permit and have them included in project budgeting. Click through for more information on the Green Factor and the Stormwater Infrastructure, or contact our Landscape Architecture Principal Catherine Benotto.

Posted in Architecture in Seattle, Sustainability in the Community | Leave a comment

Who wants pie? We do!

Posted on August 12, 2011 by wtblog225

The best pie in SeattleFor the last few months, we have been the lucky recipients of pie; Marionberry and Hazelnut Pie, Summer Peach Pie, Key Lime Pie, LolliPies, and the (oh, my mahalo!) Blue Hawaiian Pie.

Who are we to be so lucky? Well, it all stems from the genius that is Chris Porter’s A la Mode Pies.

Opening late-October (construction started August 11th), Chris’s online bakery will open its first café, a neighborhood gathering place that will offer his delectable pie offerings (in whole or slice form) plus Bluebird Ice Cream and espresso, all in a Weber Thompson designed storefront.

Located near Woodland Park in Phinney Ridge, on the corner of 59th & Phinney Avenue, A la Mode Pies will feature a café with a special pie counter and large glass panes through which you can view the magical pie creation.

Designer Carrie Smith worked closely with Chris to create a highly efficient café + bakery (kitchen) out of an 850sf space. The end result will be a pie shop that … wait, hasn’t that been there for years?

Keep your eyes open for the Grand Opening. In the meantime, if you are hankering for some pie, you can order from A la Mode Pies online.

We really recommend you get one of each.

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Picnic for the Planet 2011

Posted on April 22, 2011 by wtblog225

Catherine Benotto and Myer Harrell at Pike Place Market – Earth Day 2011

Happy Earth Day from all of us at Weber Thompson! Scott Thompson AIA, LEED AP, Catherine Benotto AIA, ASLA, LEED AP and Myer Harrell AIA, LEED, AP BD+C celebrated the day at “Picnic for the Planet” organized by The Nature Conservancy at Pike Place Market. Visitors and locals alike gathered at Seattle’s famous food and cultural center to enjoy live music, activities, and learn about local sustainable agricultural initiatives including Weber Thompson’s own Vertical Farming projects. It was a beautiful day at the market.

UPDATE: Check out this video of the event

 

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2011 AIA Seattle Young Architect Award – Congratulations Myer!!

Posted on April 20, 2011 by wtblog225

Myer Harrell AIA, LEED AP BD+C: Seattle's AIA Young Architect of the Year!

Our own Myer Harrell AIA, LEED AP BD+C has been awarded the 2011 AIA Seattle Young Architect Award. This is a huge honor; only one young architect is recognized each year. The awards dinner is on May 21st at the Palace Ballroom.

The award recognizes “exceptional leadership and . . . significant contributions to the professional in an early stage of their architectural career.” We knew Myer had this in spades. His participation on the Eco-Laboratory team, which won first prize in the 2008 USGBC Natural Talent Design Competition and was featured in the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt 2010 Design Triennial, his work with AIA Seattle, and his leadership of Weber Thompson’s Urban Agriculture initiative is just what Myer is involved in downtown. He also teaches part-time at UW, works with Cascadia’s Seattle Branch Emerging Professionals, consults with the USGBC on the Education Events Committee and volunteers with Historic Green, a grassroots rebuilding effort in New Orleans.

We already knew how great Myer is (nicest guy around), but we are thrilled the rest of the world now knows. Congratulations Myer!!

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SLU LEED ND Certified – It’s Official!!!

Posted on April 12, 2011 by wtblog225

South Lake Union Cascade P-Patch

After three years of research, studies, documentation and communications, the USGBC has confirmed the “South Lake Union Urban Center” is now a LEED certified plan for Neighborhood Development.

This is great news; the City of Seattle overcame a number of hurdles to achieve this certification. As the program isn’t structured well for municipalities and for multiple landowners, there are challenges inherent in applying the certification to an existing, evolving neighborhood, such as our beloved SLU. This certification represented, in effect, a snap shot of the neighborhood and does not take into account future plans, zoning changes or other policies that will greatly affect the neighborhood.

But, as those of us who have been following the EIS on the proposed rezoning and the Urban Design Framework (and those of us who have enjoyed one of those pretzels at Tom Douglas’s Brave Horse Tavern) know, this neighborhood is only going to get better as it evolves into a neighborhood with even higher levels of sustainability.

Weber Thompson was honored to work with the city pursuing this certification. We are thrilled certification was achieved and we look forward to the additional changes our beloved neighborhood has coming its way (especially if those involve a Thai Eatery, or maybe Teriyaki – Tom?).

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