Better Building: The Responsible Developer's Blog : Northwest Construction Lawyers & Attorneys : Foster Pepper Law Firm : Sustainable Building & LEED Projects in Seattle & Spokane, WA

Video and audio podcasts from Foster Pepper's July 26th Public Works seminar are now available.

The program provides guidance to municipal agencies on how to maximize the success of public works projects through effective contracting and project management. 

The podcast segments include:

Low Price = Good Value?  Establishing Bidder Responsibility and Performance Capacity
  Steve DiJulio, Foster Pepper PLLC
  Ted Coulson, Foster Pepper PLLC

When Low Price is Not Enough – Green Building and Alternative Procurement Methods
  Kelly Angell, Foster Pepper PLLC
  Greg Guedel, Foster Pepper PLLC

Discussion on New Housing Authority Procurement Laws
  Greg Guedel, Foster Pepper PLLC
  Michael Mirra, Tacoma Housing Authority

Project Management: Turning a Good Contract Into a Good Project
  Brad Tong, Shiels Obletz Johnsen, Inc.

The View from the Other Side: Contractor Perspectives on Facilitating Project Success
  Tom Peterson, Hoffman Construction Company

No Surprises: Contracting for End-Of-Project Closeout Certainty
  Greg Clark, Foster Pepper PLLC

• VIEW all the video files and subscribe to the RSS feed.
• LISTEN to all the audio files and subscribe to the RSS feed.

The speakers' slideshow presentations and written materials are also available at no charge, please contact Greg Guedel (206.447.8931 or guedw@foster.com) for copies.

(Audio files are in .mp3 format and require an audio player or you can listen via iTunes. Video files are in .m4v format and require QuickTime.)

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Does responsible development sometimes require that the best highest use of land is to preserve it as open space?  A growing number say yes!

For decades, glossy real estate ads have raved about vacant land with “waterfront”, “mountain view” or “sound view”, making many believe that the best highest use of such land was to develop it for human occupancy. Thankfully many now observe that due to the rapid development of the last 3 decades, the open spaces in Western Washington are shrinking. Many in the real estate development community now advocate that the best highest use of open spaces like waterfront and mountain views is to preserve them.

A recent and great example is the preservation of such precious spaces was accomplished earlier this month when a partnership resulted in the preservation of 94 acres in Puget Sound known as “Devils Head .” The acquisition of this land for $3.4 million was a joint venture with funding from government agencies, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program  the Salmon Recovery Funding Board  and the Pierce County Conservation Futures Program and a big assist from the Cascade Land Conservancy.

The Cascade Land Conservancy reported that this acquisition could link trails with existing open spaces to create a trail system 20 miles long. A huge positive step considering that over the last 3 decades more than 2 million acres of open spaces have been subsumed by sprawling development. Ironic that the open spaces that drew people to these areas have in large part, vanished. The Conservancy has long been concerned that over development has intensified flooding and erosion and is contributing to warmer weather and other negative climate change. In 2005 the Conservancy launched a plan called the “Cascade Agenda” that over 100 years would acquire the conservation and preservation of 1.3 million acres of waterfront and mountain view open spaces.

This recent achievement also seems to be in sync with Governor Gregoire’s Smart Communities Award program that recognizes actions like innovative and wise land use and resource management, and that recently acknowledged Skagit County for its county wide urban growth area open space plan. 

So it appears that due to responsible development, that the glossy real estate ads in the not to distant future may rave about homes that are just a short bike ride or walk away from forever preserved open spaces with “waterfront” or “mountain view” or “sound views.” Let’s hope so.         

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Interested in networking with other responsible developers, educational programs, or sponsorship opportunities?  

Here are a few upcoming events:

Selling NW Energy Star for New Homes: July 14, 10:00am – 1:00pm (online)
Are you prepared to explain the differences between energy efficient homes and standard code built homes to potential homebuyers? Attend this free webinar to learn how to leverage green built homes and answer customer questions about comfort, savings, energy efficiency, and more. Approved for 3 CEUs for Washington Realtors.

The Carbon Series: July 14-16, 9:00am – 4:00pm (Seattle, WA)
A series of workshops on climate policy and carbon footprints intended for public- and private-sector staff who must conduct a GHG inventory, prepare their organizations for mandatory state-level reporting, or work to develop strategies to respond to climate change legislation and energy policies. Register for one, two or all three days. Reduced rates are available to employees of Native American tribes; government agencies and nonprofits; students; and NAEP, NEBC, and NWAEP members.

7^th Annual Solar Fest: July 16-17 (Shoreline Community College, WA)
The Fair began in 2004 to celebrate the first solar installation on a public school in Shoreline and to help people make informed decisions regarding their use of resources including energy, transportation, and food. Showcased are organizations and businesses that apply concepts of conservation and sustainability in their business models and practices. This is the longest running event of its kind in the Puget Sound region. Opening night Friday July 16 with keynote speaker, auction benefit and reception. Fair Saturday July 17, 10:00am – 8:00pm.

July Eco-Hour hosted by EcoFab: July 22, 5:00pm – 7:30pm (Seattle, WA)
Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at Eco-Fab’s new home in the McKinstry Innovation Center. Located near McKinstry’s Georgetown campus, the Center is where new and emerging companies come together under one roof to foster the advancement of clean, green energy technologies. Learn more about our host company, EcoFab, a social enterprise  providing development and energy conservation services for sustainable homes and neighborhoods.

Introduction to Built Green^®: August 10, 8:00am – 10:00am (Bellevue, WA)
Thinking about joining Built Green^®? Attend this two-hour introduction to the program to answer questions such as: How do I certify a project? How does the program work? Why should I become a member?

Greenbuild 2010: November 17-19 (Chicago, IL)
Greenbuild attracts professionals from all aspects of the building industry. Architects, building owners, code officials, contractors, developers, educators, engineers, facility managers, financial service providers, government agencies, green power providers, home builders, interior designers, landscape architects, nonprofit organizations, product manufacturers, schools, universities, students, and urban planners will all be at the conference to share ideas and promote greener building. Greenbuild includes over 100 educational sessions featuring world renown speakers, LEED workshops, off-site educational sessions, and Green Building tours of local sites. Past speakers include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Bill Clinton, Paul Hawken and David Suzuki.

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Bastyr University claims to be the first school in the country to be in line to earn a LEED Platinum certification for its just completed student housing project. Consisting of 11 three story buildings housing 132 students, the project marks Bastyr’s first addition to the school’s campus since the natural health arts and sciences school took over its current home at the 51 acre site of a former Catholic monastery in Kenmore, Washington. Bastyr formally celebrated the project opening on June 22, 2010.

Bastyr and its general contractor, Shuchart Corporation, went through many steps to reach Platinum status. Energy efficient construction was used throughout the project, including high r-value insulation, energy efficient and long lasting fiberglass windows with ultra high performance glass, and radiant floor heating with super high efficiency gas boilers. Energy efficient light fixtures, appliances, and plumbing fixtures were used throughout the project and harvested rain water will be used throughout the complex for non-drinking purposes.

During construction, the contractor was able to recycle a remarkable 96 percent of the construction waste, primarily through training of subcontractors, critical layout of recycling containers, and proactive arrangements with local facilities for recycling of materials. Benches and other items were made form scraps and leftovers, and some chairs and benches were made from the webbing of old car seat belts.

Outside, buildings are connected by a series of garden paths, courtyards, and outdoor living spaces carefully designed to be energy efficient and mitigate the impact on the local environment. Ample bike storage promotes students' use of their bikes for transportation and an extensive bioswale and sediment pond system treats recovered surface water before releasing it back slowly into neighboring wetlands.

Bastyr utilized a LEED consultant for the project, Seattle’s O’Brien and Company, and early on in the project applied for and received a grant from the King County LEED Grants Program. This program is part of the county’s “Green Tools” program to encourage sustainable building outside the city of Seattle.

Bastyr University is proud of its sparkling new sustainable building. Its president, Daniel K. Church, said: “Providing students with eco-friendly, on-campus housing is a significant milestone in furthering our mission to enhance the health and well-being of the human community.”

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