Matt Hutchins from our office will be leading the AIA how to work with an architect discussion at the seattle AIA office this Saturday.  If you are considering a remodel, addition or new construction, and are interested about the process and value proposition of working with an architect please consider attending this talk from 9:30 to noon on Saturday the twelfth.  See below for more info:

Making your Project Happen:

How to Select and Work with an Architect

Trying to figure our how to make the most of your budget? Dreaming about a project and not sure where to start? Curious about green design or how to plan for your family's changing needs?

Whether your project is a small remodel or new construction—or if you are just curious about the design process—AIA architects can help. Join Matt Hutchins AIA and Don Larkin AIA for an information-packed seminar on the basics of the design and construction project including budget advice, tips for hiring the right contractor, what to expect, and how you and your architect can work together to make the most of any project.

Saturday March 12, 2011 9:30am - noon AIA Seattle, 1911 First Avenue Cost:  $15 To register, click here: www.aiaseattle.org/node/5311

PRESENTERS

Matt Hutchins

Matt Hutchins is a licensed architect who graduated with Honors from the University of Colorado and Arizona State University. Prior to CAST, Matt practiced in Boulder, Aspen and Phoenix, designing custom residential, mixed-use and commercial buildings. He has taught design drawing at the University of Washington School of Architecture, undergraduate design studios at Arizona State University, and has written articles for Building Edge Magazine. He is an artist with a primary focus in wood block printmaking. http://www.castarchitecture.com

Don Larkin AIA

Don Larkin is a licensed architect specializing in custom residential architecture.  He is the owner of an architectural design firm in Newcastle, Washington, and designs custom homes and remodels throughout the state of Washington.  With over 20 years of residential experience, he designs projects of all styles, sizes and budgets to meet the unique needs of the client.  He encourages client participation throughout the design process and considers the client the most valuable member of the design team.  To view photos of his work, please visit his website at www.DonLarkinArchitect.com.

Join CAST and 89 other exhibitors at the Phinney Ridge Home Fair!  Always a good time to pick the experts' brains about whatever home improvement issue you may be having.  Plus, there is a special emphasis on green companies and services, including landscaping, solar tech, 'passive house' (super insulated/energy efficient construction--not 'passive solar')

See you there!

I will be participating in a panel discussion put on by the AIA to discuss different aspects of pro bono work, such as benefits, management, and liability.  Geoff Piper of The Global Studio, and Rachel Minnery of Environmental Works will also be speaking.  It will be informal, informative, and hopefully, inspirational. Geoff used to work at CAST a few years ago, and has clearly moved on to bigger and better things: His Global Studio is working with communities around the world to build schools and community centers.

The discussion is sponsored by the AIA Small Office Roundtable and the Congress of Residential Architects (CORA)

We are going to be having a party to christen the new office on January 28th, from 5 pm until... The party is a joint venture with the building's other inhabitants--D.Boone Construction and Cascade Bicycle Studio, so it should be a diverse crowd.

We'll provide snacks and beverages--come on over, see our awesome new space, and catch up with CAST!

The Fremont Town Homes completed last year are going to be on a green design tour hosted by Mark Mays of ecohome seattle. This is a great opportunity to get inside and kick the tires of some really interesting sustainably minded projects.

For more information see Mark's annoucnment below or contact him directly at Mark Mays 425.280.4223. Follow this link for a list of all the addresses and an option to view them on a map, or cick through to view the invite in its entirety.

Greetings Green Home Tourists!

Here are the final four selections for the Green Home Tour this Sunday starting at 1pm at Martha Rose’ Fish Singer Place development in Shoreline. The address is 433 Fish Singer Place with access from Dayton Ave N., just a couple houses south of N. 160^th just up the hill from Sears and Central Market on Hwy 99. We will spend 45-60 minutes at Fish Singer as there is so much to see and Martha will be there to help explain the green features and systems. The site development is amazing with many eco-friendly functions along with the great aesthetics.

We can carpool or caravan to the next homes on the tour. For those that asked, there is no charge for the tour. We are fairly passionate about green homes and are happy to share the passion with others. Of course we are happy to provide real estate services for those that would like us to provide them, but this is all about seeing, learning and appreciating the fantastic work these architects and builders have done in their green home implementations without a bunch of sales hype.

The second home is a green remodel just a few blocks from the Phinney Center. This is one of the best Built Green remodels I’ve seen in terms of staying within the character of the original design as well as the neighborhood, and the quality of craftsmanship, materials and green systems is fairly rare compared to many of the green remodels I’ve seen.The architect was Amy Williams with Blue Canyon Construction as the contractor. I’m supposed to be getting a copy of the checklist so we can know more about what is behind the walls and under the floors that would demonstrate a good green home design.

Home #2 on the map is a Four Star Built Green home that has many green features and systems which you will already have seen at Fish Singer, but this is definitely one of the better infill townhomes I’ve seen with tight energy envelope, plumbed for solar hot water, great daylighting, nice choice of materials and great feng shui. This home was designed by Stefan Hampden at Cast Architecture and was presented at last year’s NW EcoBuilders Guild 10x10x10 event.

The last home on the tour is in a high density luxury home development, but really it is not so ostentatious like the Street of Dreams green homes with massive square footage. I’m sure the pricing has more to do with the location and views, but the unique geothermal system along with the overall energy efficiency design, choice of green materials,and high quality craftsmanship definitely makes this home worth seeing. The listing broker will be available to answer detailed questions about the home.

Here is the NWMLS link if you’d like to get more details about the homes and preview some pictures.

Click the following URL to see the Listings: http://www.matrix.nwmls.com/DE.asp?ID=1059716656

<<...>> Look forward to seeing everyone Sunday and feel free to pass this email on to anyone else you think might be interested.

Mark Mays Real Estate Broker LEED Green Associate CHAMPIONS REAL ESTATE SERVICES 525 5th Ave S. Suite 100 Edmonds, WA 98020 Cell: 425-280-4223 Fax: 206-905-0810 mark@mays108.org www.ecohomeseattle.com

John Peterson, of Public Architecture, is coming to town on October 20th to give a talk on how pro bono design is making a difference.  His firm has been behind a national effort, call the One Percent, to mobilize architects to donate 1% of their time per year toward pro bono causes.

Recently they've published a book called the Power of Pro Bono detailing 40 project nation wide where architects have donated their time toward great causes. CAST architecture's first pro bono project, the Interbay P-Patch is featured in the book.

We joined up with the One Percent several years ago after finishing the first project for the P-Patch, and have since completed several, with more on the way. I heartily recommend public service as an excellent way for architects to use their unique skill set to improve the community.  Plus, personally, it feels great to know that you've made a difference in the lives of some of your neighbors.

Here are the details for the talk:

Wednesday, 10/20

Pan Pacific Hotel

2125 Terry Avenue, Lakefront Room

Cocktails start at 5:30, the talk starts at 6:15, with dessert and coffee afterwards.

I'll be presenting the Sunset Substation Park to the NW Ecobuilding Guild at their annual "green building slam," 10x10x10. It's "a high-energy introduction to ten cutting-edge sustainable building projects in and around Seattle...featuring fast-paced presentations by the region's leading green builders and delicious food and drink."

This marks our second year in a row presenting (last year, we showed off the Fremont Townhomes)!

We've been selected as one of the up and coming Seattle architecture firms shaping the future of our fair city.  The exhibit will be up at AIA Seattle in July with a reception on the July 1st from 5-7 pm. The exhibit will highlight ten or so local firms, and will be a great chance to see some fresh design thinking from around town.  The AIA hasn't published the full list of firms included yet, but when they do, I'll link up to their websites.

Stefan Hampden is presenting a seminar on How to Select and Work with an Architect for the Seattle branch of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Need an Architect? AIA Seattle’s Saturday Seminar can help answer this and other FAQs about what architects and clients can achieve together, and how to get the best value for your investment. This seminar, presented by architects, gives those looking to build or remodel (projects big and small) the information and confidence they need to successfully choose and collaborate with an architectural professional.

To register, visit the Seattle AIA website...

CAST architecture is presenting a class on backyard cottages for the Phinney Neighborhood Association Looking for more space? How about a new guesthouse, studio or rental property? Learn more about Seattle's new citywide backyard cottage ordinance and what it could mean for your property. We will review the ordinance and outline how to budget, plan, permit and construct a cottage in your backyard.

We've done our first presentation of three ideas for the Sunset Substation Park.  More information about the three schemes are here, here, and here.

The solar component of this park will produce between 20 kW and 30kW, and provide power for the community multipurpose space, and an emergency relief center.

We're looking at meeting the Living Building Challenge, the highest standard for sustainable construction.  It would be a major undertaking, since there are less than a hundred structures in the world currently attempting to meet this challenge, but we have a lot of things going for us at this scale of project.  As the project develops, I'll keeping posting information on the Challenge--how it is affecting the design, and the costs.

I am giving a presentation with Kevin Spence, AIA this Saturday morning at the AIA's downtown office about the process of selecting and working with an architect.  If you have questions about the design process, costs, contracts, design-build, etc., this presentation is a comprehensive guide to getting the most out of the your custom design project. Here is a link to the AIA where you can sign up for the presentation. If you can't make it, but have questions, you can post them in the thread below and I'll respond...