Environmental Works Community Design Center Firm Profile + General Information December 2016
Firm Profile Firm Profile Overview Environmental Works is a non-profit Community Design Center dedicated to providing architectural services to under-represented populations. Environmental Works Community Design Center provides professional architectural, planning and consulting services that focus on improving the physical, social and economic environments through sustainable practices. The firm works throughout Washington State and handles a wide range of projects from large scale multi-family housing and mixed use design to green building research and education. Our staff of fourteen includes four licensed architects and six LEED Accredited Professionals. Working Strategies As a Community Design Center, Environmental Works is strongly committed to an inclusive design and programming process, that whenever possible and as appropriate engages the client, their maintenance and management staff, the end-users, community, and regulatory bodies directly in the design process to ensure outcomes that are embraced by all the project stakeholders. We are committed to design excellence in all of our projects. Our designs start with a respect for the site and community in which the projects are located. The strength of our designs comes from the active involvement of the users, client and community during the design phases. We seek input and ideas from all parties involved in the design process and utilize a process that provides solutions for programmatic needs within the client s budget. At the same time we seek to create spaces and building forms that are delightful as well as functional. Clear communication and effective cooperation are essential throughout the design and construction process. Through our extensive experience with public facilities we have developed an understanding of agency procedures and the dynamics of working with committees. We seek to establish common goals and objectives and are committed to establishing an atmosphere of open communication and cooperation. With our emphasis on personalized client service and clear communication among all team members, we have consistently achieved successful project results. We work in teams within the office with experienced staff architects providing leadership and working closely with support staff and consultants. Our goal is to provide consistent project representation during the entire project. There is continuity of staffing throughout the project with back-up provided within the firm when needed. Ecological Design Environmental Works has a long-standing commitment to ecologically and socially sustainable design. EW has completed integrated design facilitation and documentation in compliance with the Evergreen Sustainable Development Standards (ESDS), the USGBC LEED program, BuiltGreen, and Enterprise Green Communities. With six LEED Accredited Professionals and five LEED projects certified at all levels; we bring a special focus on sustainability that has been part of our mission since we were founded. We perform all green charrettes, certification documentation and preparation of project plans in house. Between 2006 and the present we have completed and certified 20 projects using ESDS. We assisted with drafting the original ESDS standards and have attended training son the latest ESDS standard, EW Senior Architect Dan Baldner is on the advisory council for new updates to the standard. Quality We are committed to quality in design and excellence in service to our clients. We believe that design excellence need not be extravagant, but rather depends upon a thorough comprehension of the client s goals (function, image, budget, and schedule) and the innovative translation of these goals into three dimensions. This is achieved through an understanding and appreciation of the character and context of the site; the scale and proportion of the built forms; orientation to natural elements; and appropriate combinations of materials, textures and colors. We continuously strive to expand our skills, both technically and aesthetically, in achieving creative yet pragmatic design solutions. Principal Roger Tucker, AIA, LEED AP Executive Director Mr. Tucker joined Environmental Works as Director of Architecture in 1997, and lead staff in providing sustainable design and architectural services to underserved, homeless, and lowincome communities and non-profit organizations throughout the Northwest. Mr. Tucker is responsible for contracts, scheduling, staffing, procedures, design and quality control. More specifically, he acts as principal architect on projects and has direct client involvement on these projects. He leads the team on larger projects and supervises the work of staff architects and support staff on smaller projects.
Firm Profile Firm Profile Our office is organized into Studios by project type: Housing - Principal Bill Singer, Director of Architecture Community Facilities - Principal Sally Knodell, Senior Architect Special Projects - Principal Dan Baldner, Senior Architect Professional History Environmental Works Community Design Center was founded in 1970 with the express purpose of providing professional architectural and planning services to low-income and otherwise under-represented communities in the Puget Sound area, and improving the physical, economic and social environment through sustainable practices. Since 1970 we have provided feasibility and predevelopment studies and complete architectural services for human services agencies, affordable and special needs housing, community facilities and public art projects. EW has completed multiple projects for major clients and social service agencies such as the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, Island County Community Development, Housing Hope, Neighborhood House, the Korean Women s Association and United Indians of All Tribes Foundation. Registration Status Four of our staff are licensed architects in the State of Washington. Roger and Bill are both Washington State Licensed Architects and LEED Accredited Professionals. Professional Affiliations American Institute of Architects Seattle-King County Housing Development Consortium (HDC) Association of Community Design Centers (ACD) US Green Building Council & Cascadia Chapter of the USGBC Northwest EcoBuilding Guild National Association for the Education of Young Children Social Economic Environmental Design (SEED) Network What Clients Say The team at EW was a joy to work with. They were respectful of our needs, supportive of our ambitious goals and patient in guiding us through two complex projects. They have the ability to bring together talented teams who can work effectively to create vibrant facilities that serve the needs of a diverse community. Mark Okazaki, Executive Director Neighborhood House (Rainier Vista and High Point Centers) As the seller of the property, with a major transit facility adjacent to the KWA project, excellent building and site design was a major issue for Sound Transit; the design development experience demonstrated several important things: First, there is no substitute for a design team that is collaborative, open, asks important questions, and listens to the client s needs. This was EW, in spades. Second, the actual design products that EW created for KWA reflects their talent, flexibility, problem solving ability, and patience in pursuit of the client s vision. Third, EW designed a beautiful project based on all the above, working with the future contractor, all with a constant eye to protecting the client s tight budget. EW went to considerable lengths to ensure a great solution for the future residents, for the building and the site, and accomplished a sensitive fit with the neighborhood. Scott Kirkpatrick, TOD Manager Sound Transit (Senior City senior housing, community meeting, social service offices) This is a fine example of how Environmental Works has created a dignified space for women experiencing homelessness. Thanks for the gorgeous building! I am only hearing swoons and praise from clients and staff alike. Eileen McComb, Program Director Noel House (Bakhita Gardens)
Firm Profile Firm Profile Honors + Awards Place of Hidden Waters (Puyallup Nation Housing Authority), 2013 SEED Award for Excellence in Public Interest Design. SEED Awards recognize excellence in social, economic and environmental design, and represent the collaborations needed to create truly sustainable projects and change in the world. Place of Hidden Waters (Puyallup Nation Housing Authority), 2012 USGBC LEED for Homes Award Project of the Year. This LEED Platinum project demonstrates state of the art thinking about affordable housing that is culturally responsive, healthy and extremely energy efficient. Salishan Gardens (American Baptist Homes of the West), 2012 Gold Nugget Award. Category Affordable Project over 30 dwelling units per acre. The 49th Annual Gold Nugget Awards recognize builders, developers, architects, and land planners with communities and projects in the United States and all international countries. http://www.pcbc.com/goldnugget/merit2012b.html Senior City Apartments (Korean Women s Association), 2011 Green Globe Award from the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks for outstanding achievement in environmental stewardship in the category of Leader in Green Affordable Housing. Affordable Housing Finance Magazine 2010 Readers Choice Awards for the Nation s Best Affordable Housing Developments Villa San Juan Bautista (Catholic Housing Services), Rural Category Winner. Affordable Housing Finance Magazine 2010 Readers Choice Finalist for the Nation s Best Affordable Housing Developments Senior City Apartments, Seniors Category finalist. Building of America Awards, Gold Medal Winner, July 2010 Shepherd s Garden. International Place Senior Housing, 2008 Excellence in Construction, MultiFamily Category - Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington Winter s Creek Village, 2007 PCBC Gold Nugget Award, Special Award of Excellence Building Industry Community Spirit Award, Awarded in recognition of excellence and value for Winter s Creek Village, Sultan, Washington What Makes it Green Design Exhibition, AIA Committee on the Environment, 2007. Kateri Court. Project of the Month, Daily Journal of Commerce, November 2006. Lao Highlands Community Center. Honors + Awards What Makes it Green Design Exhibition, AIA Committee on the Environment, 2006. Katherine s Place. Certificate of Recognition for Design Excellence in Affordable Green Housing, the National AIA Housing and Residential Design Knowledge Community and the AIA Center for Communities by Design, 2005. Traugott Terrace. Multi-Family Award, Seattle BuiltGreen Design Competition, Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties and the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, 2005. Katharine s Place. Western Washington University Sustainable Design Exhibition, Fall 2005. Traugott Terrace. BEST Sustainable Building Award, Resource Venture, 2004. Traugott Terrace. What Makes it Green Design Exhibition, AIA Committee on the Environment, 2004. The Evergreen State College Campus Children s Center. SeaGreen Award, July 2003. Certificate of Recognition for Design Excellence in Affordable Green Housing, The AIA Housing and Residential Design Knowledge Community and the AIA Center for Communities by Design, 2005. Traugott Terrace. Case Study inclusion on the Design Advisor website in the Green Projects section. Traugott Terrace. Seattle City Light 2003 Power Player Award for exemplary commitment to energy efficiency in the design of Traugott Terrace. Sandra Mallory & Bill Singer. What Makes it Green Design Exhibition, AIA Committee on the Environment, 2003. Cascade Community Classroom & Traugott Terrace. AIA Seattle 2002 Allied Organization Award. 2003 Pacific NW Good Works Award. What Makes it Green Design Exhibition, AIA Committee on the Environment, 2001. SHARE Bunkhouse. Housing the Northwest Program, AIA Seattle/Seattle Times, 2000. Hopelink Place.
Housing: New Construction Housing: New Construction Tiny House Villages Brender Creek Seasonal Farmworker Housing Cashmere, Washington Low Income Housing Institute & Nickelsville Project Partners: Seattle Central College & Wood Technology Center In between homelessness and full, permanent housing there is another step being pursued by many communities an easily achieved temporary housing solution that enables those without shelter to begin to find dignity, stability and get back on their feet Tiny Houses. Tiny Houses are moveable, low-tech, simple structures that can be built with mostly minimal skills in a weekend for $2,200 in materials. In Seattle, vocational schools and training programs have been building Tiny Houses as a part of their curriculum, such as Seattle Central College s Wood Technology Center as well as the Tulalip Tribe s apprenticeship program. Middle school students have played a huge role in the effort, either through SawHorse Revolution s program in which youth work alongside professional builders to construct meaningful projects in urban communities or students from middle schools who have rallied to help out and are gaining immeasurably from volunteering, becoming conscientious members of the community. Architectural firms are stepping up, such as Olson Kundig, that designed a Tiny House in collaboration with local youth. A Tiny House Village clusters Tiny Houses into a selfmanaged community, breaking down the isolation and helplessness endured while homeless, fostering the relationships that individuals need to rebuild their lives. A Tiny House Village clusters Tiny Houses into a self-managed community, breaking down the isolation and helplessness endured while homeless, fostering the relationships that individuals need to rebuild their lives. Washington Growers League Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing (2) 6-BR + (10) 4-BR Units: 200 Beds Total Manager s Office/Apartment + Commons/Laundry Maintenance Building 21,594 s.f. $4,100,000 2015 Near the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers, this seasonal farmworker housing provides much-needed, dignified housing for farmworkers in Chelan County. Seven buildings house over 200 individuals, including families with children. The focus of the site design is to create a comfortable social environment with opportunities for community gathering including semi-private porches, shared sitting areas between buildings, a covered outdoor commons structure, and large outdoor spaces to accommodate barbeques, a children s play area and a soccer field. An existing wetlands area and associated buffer zone are protected as part of the project scope.
Community Facilities: New Construction Community Facilities: Renovations Neighborhood House Rainier Vista Center Denise Louie Education Center Neighborhood House 11,000 s.f. $1,922,000 2005 This building serves Neighborhood House, a non-profit organization established to help diverse communities of people with limited resources attain their goals for self-sufficiency, financial independence and community building. The upper floor provides family support services. The lower floor provides a computer learning lab, an early education program for 40 children, and variously-sized meeting rooms for the community. The building expresses the mission of Neighborhood House and welcomes people by expressing the diversity of the community through it s variety of forms and materials. Much of the building has large areas of glass, bringing natural light into the major spaces of the building in interesting ways. Densie Louie Education Center 8,100 s.f. $1,195,000 2005 An existing mixed-use building on North Beacon Hill was completely transformed and approximately 1,200 square feet of new construction were added to create a Head Start Center. The facility provides multi-cultural care for up to 91 children ages 3-5 in full and half day programs in four classrooms. Approximately 1,500 square feet of family service staff offices and meeting spaces on the second floor are used for extensive family counseling and support offered by this program. A new outdoor play area was created at a portion of an existing parking lot. Challenges included accommodating all program elements on a tight site and maximizing natural light and ventilation in classrooms in an existing building.
Housing: Renovations Hazel Plaza Apartments Capitol Hill Housing 16 Units 11,754 s.f. $1,549,000 2015 Before The Hazel Plaza Apartments are a two building, 16-unit complex of flats and townhouses operated by Capitol Hill Housing. Exterior improvements include a new rainscreen cladding system over new insulation, weather protection, replacement windows, sliding patio doors and new privacy fencing. Interior upgrades include new flooring and ventilation fans in kitchens & bathrooms, new kitchen cabinets, countertops, sinks, and light fixtures throughout. Construction is being done with no tenant displacement; minizmized resident disruption is a common goal in communication between the contractor, architect, property management and residents. Housing: Renovations Kenmore Place Kenmore, Washington Hopelink 11 Units 11,000 s.f. $1,772,000 2015 Before Kenmore Place is owned by the King County Housing Authority and run as a shelter by Hopelink. The only family shelter in north King County, Kenmore Place provides a safe place for families in crisis to get back on their feet. This renovation extends the life of the building and helps Hopelink serve more families, reconfiguring the space from 9 to 11 units total. With a new exterior envelope including rigid exterior insulation, new windows and doors, Kenmore Place is now more energy efficient and has an updated appearance. The entry to the building is more inviting, and the units are more accessible and family friendly.