Doug Bruhns Archives - 91��Ƶ

New Residence Hall Breaks Ground at Pacific University

FOREST GROVE, Ore. — Pacific University is set to break ground on a 200-bed residence hall on the university’s Forest Grove campus Oct. 10. The four-story, 60,000-square-foot hall will accommodate the campus’ enrollment growth.

The university, under the guidance of construction management firm inici Group, has selected Mahlum Architects and Walsh Construction to head the design-build project. All firms hold offices in Portland, Ore.

"This exciting development marks an important milestone in the university’s history and its future," said Lesley Hallick, president of Pacific University, in a statement. "The new residence hall will reflect the university’s strong tradition of close-knit community even as the student body continues to expand."

Undergraduate enrollment is expected to rise from the current 1,700 students to approximately 2,00 students in 2020. To maintain the university’s close-knit atmosphere through its continued growth, the new residence hall is designed to have single and double occupancy rooms, small suites and flexible spaces to host indoor and out door events, but will also feature shared kitchens, study spaces and lounge areas to create an atmosphere of support among students.

Other features at the new residence hall include outdoor patios, an indoor/outdoor fireplace, bicycle parking and gardens that capture stormwater runoff to be irrigated and recycled. Much like the university’s existing campus residences, the new hall will focus on environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

"The Pacific University experience offers a distinct opportunity for students to work collaboratively with their professors and peers," Hallick said. "Great thought and energy have been invested into the hall’s design by Mahlum, Walsh and inici, to create a residence that will foster a strong sense of commonwealth."

The residence hall will be built on the current Reynolds Fields in close proximity to University Center, Price Hall and the Holce Tennis Courts. It is expected to be open in time for the 2014 fall semester.

"After a thorough examination of several strong proposals, we are very pleased that the design-build team of Walsh Construction and Mahlum Architects have agreed to design and execute this important project," said Karl Schulz, senior project manager at inici Group, which will oversee the project. "We are confident this new residence hall will help students reach their full potential while at Pacific University."

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Lake Washington District Plans Sustainable School

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Lake Washington School District’s newly designed replacement for Finn Hill Junior High School aims to become the district’s most sustainable school as well.

The $38 million, 108,000-square-foot, single-story school will include a variety of features that will reduce operating costs and lessen the building’s impact on the environment, including high performance glazing on windows, natural lighting, and solar panels. Rainwater catchments, native landscaping and dual-flush toilets will also reduce the building’s energy usage.

Construction on Finn Hill JHS is expected to begin this summer, with completion scheduled for September 2011. When finished, the building will be home to approximately 750 students. New baseball and football/soccer fields and tennis courts will be built on the site of the existing school.

Finn Hill JHS will house a wing of five learning clusters, each containing four classrooms, a science room and a shared learning space. The shared learning spaces will open onto smaller courtyards designed to separate each of the clusters. On the north end, a gymnasium, kitchen and commons area will be located. A library, media center and administrative offices will form the southern side of the facility while the school’s west wing will house space for drama, art, music, technology design and consumer/family classes.

Interest in building a sustainable building was heightened by the presence of the Environmental and Adventure School, a district-wide school-within-a-school program that’s organized at the current Finn Hill JHS.

Seattle-based Mahlum Architects is working on the project with general contractor Babbit Neuman Construction Co. of Steilacoom, Wash., and global engineering firm, Arup, designer of the Sydney Opera House.

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David Mount

School News — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:39:21 +0000

Mahlum Architects has promoted David Mount, LEED AP, to principal at the design and architecture firm. A former design lead at one of Mahlum’s three studios, Mount now oversees all educational projects undertaken by the firm’s Seattle office. Before joining Mahlum, Mount worked for Carmassi Studio di Architettura, an Italian architecture company. He recently completed a two-year term as chair of the American Institute of Architects Seattle Committee on the Environment.

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Going Gold in Oregon

HILLSBORO, Ore. – The 600-student K-6 Rosedale Elementary School achieved LEED Gold certification in March, making it the first LEED-certified school in the Hillsboro School District.

The $15.9 million school was completed last fall and uses the latest in energy efficient features to save 30 to 50 percent of energy per year compared with an equivalent-sized school building without efficiency enhancements. The two-story, 74,100-square-foot facility saves the district close to $28,000 per a year in energy costs.

Throughout the design and construction process, administrators and teachers integrated the school’s sustainable features into lesson plans for each grade level. Additionally, indoor and outdoor signs provide information on the school’s environmental design.

“Throughout the campus, you will see examples of construction, design and functional elements that aim to protect and preserve natural surroundings while immersing students in a living classroom, which adds relevance and meaning to their learning experience,” says Mike Scott, superintendent of the Hillsboro School District. “We are proud of Rosedale and its ability to both demonstrate our environmental commitment and showcase innovative best practices in sustainability.”

School officials and architects placed a strong emphasis on using local and recycled building materials in the design and construction of the school. During the building process, 91 percent of the waste generated during construction was recycled and 32 percent of materials were locally sourced, including concrete, brick, tile, stone, pavers and drywall.

Trees harvested on-site were milled and manufactured into indoor and outdoor benches and storm-water retention weirs. Of the wood used in construction, 84 percent of it was harvested from foresters that employ environmentally responsible management practices. Two such wood products include the gymnasium floor and the ceiling lattice used in the commons area.

Efficient irrigation and water systems help Rosedale Elementary use about 30 percent less water than a typical school. A 25,000-gallon underground cistern at the school captures rainwater from the roof, reducing run-off to nearby streams. The cistern is expected to provide approximately 300,000 gallons of reusable rainwater each year, accounting for 34 percent of the total water used for irrigating the school’s grounds.

Landscaping includes native regional plants and a drought-tolerant hybrid fescue grass seed blend on the school’s playing fields, resulting in 50 percent water reduction when compared to conventional landscapes. Additionally, Rosedale Elementary features a radiant heating system and high-performance windows designed to take advantage of natural day lighting.

Mahlum Architects, with offices in Seattle and Portland, provided architectural services for the project while Robinson Construction Co., headquartered in Hillsboro, Ore., provided construction services.

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