When we were approached for the new Courtyard by Marriott project at the Irvine Spectrum, the team wasn’t seeking just another hotel in their vast international list of properties. They imagined a structure that would represent the Southern California debut of Marriott’s latest Gen Next design. This Gen Next concept is Marriott’s response to next generation travelers seeking choices and flexibility. Marriott’s answer provides great room lobby experiences with style, comfort, convenience, and entertainment.
We sat down with our October DCI Expert in the Spotlight, Richard “Dick” Hemmen for a Q&A session about Seismic Renovations and Tenant Improvements. Hemmen, who has worked on many seismic renovations and TI’s, shares with us the importance of maintaining a buildings structural components for the occurrence of a seismic event.
As our annual charity golf tournament is fast approaching and we are experiencing the beautiful summer weather in Seattle, it would seem an appropriate time to use a golf analogy to discuss the recent success at DCI. On the golf course I am always trying, (and rarely succeeding) to make birdies and achieve a great score. Unlike my golf game, as the President of DCI Engineers I am seeing success is all around me.
When you think of modular construction, you might think of boring repetition and lack of originality. However, with stimulated interest over the last five years, modular construction is making a name for itself in the A/E/C world, allowing for unique and cost-effective structures to be built. As a resourceful and efficient off-site method to constructing code compliant buildings, we asked our Principal and resident modular guru, Troy Bean about this construction type.
Little do people know, civil and structural engineering is all around us in our everyday lives. On your commute to work, you are traveling down roads and over bridges until arriving at the building where you’ll spend the work day. All of these pieces of infrastructure are made possible by a civil engineer off somewhere in Cubicle Land spending long, hard hours cranking away in order to meet a project deadline.
The design of Ballard’s Greenfire Campus was guide by two main goals: to create a space that is both sensibly and socially sustainable. As a popular urban neighborhood in Seattle, Ballard serves as the perfect backdrop for this urban in-fill, transit-oriented development, which consists of a five-story apartment building and a four-story office building. In order to promote a natural context for this new urban environment, the campus design had to harmoniously share spaces with the existing wildlife and community. The design team worked collaboratively to capitalize on that concept by cr
Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood is a walkable area that allows many residents to maintain a true urban lifestyle. It’s not uncommon to find locals who work within walking distance of their homes. As the neighborhood continues to grow with large blocks of high-density housing, the concept of a smaller community that demonstrates both sensible and social sustainability is a welcome addition. The Greenfire Campus is the perfect embodiment of that. Ballard provides a great backdrop for the project, which aims to create an urban ecosystem through super sustainable design.
DCI’s Spokane structural team has been heavily involved in the renovation of Washington State University’s Martin Stadium. The overarching purpose of this renovation project was to provide an arena where fans, family, and alumni can watch Cougar football in a stadium that is up to par with other Pac-12 conference schools.
The $65 million structure adds some serious pop to the school’s campus. With three levels, 1,900 premium seats spread among 21 suites, 44 loge boxes, 1,300 club seats, and a new press box, this athletic facility has improved by leaps and bounds.
DCI may be headquartered in Seattle, Washington in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, but we have seven other offices in the United States that serve clients all over the country. And we’re still growing! Look for us in eastern Washington, sunny California, beautiful Oregon, and thriving Texas – we have offices in all four of those states.
The Building Industry Association of Washington named the Port of Kennewick’s Clover Island Lighthouse their Community Improvement Project of the Year for 2010. Then, in 2011, the Port received the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association’s first-ever Concrete Community Award! As a member of the DCI Structural team in Spokane, Matthew Thomas played an important role in this unique and challenging project. We sat down with him and asked a few questions about the lighthouse. He was happy to explain what made this project so special!
