SWMC patient tower earns design nod
Southwest Washington Medical Center’s Firstenburg Patient Tower was featured in a recent issue of Interior Design magazine.
Seattle Architect NBBJ’s design of the eight-story tower was highlighted for its consideration of the patient experience by including indirect lighting, warm and calming paint colors and noise-reducing carpets. The tower houses a cardiovascular unit, 15 operating rooms and 144 single rooms on five patient floors.
County pours cash into construction, energy
So far this year, Clark County construction projects have contributed $37 million to the local economy, according to its public works department.
Included is $10.3 million for road improvements, $9.2 million for the demolition and reconstruction of the Klineline Bridge on Highway 99, $2 million for stream improvements and $1.3 million for new parks. Funds for the projects have come from state and federal grants, plus local impact fees and taxes.
This spring, the county also approved a $7.8 million investment in 35 small energy conservation and renewable energy projects.
Construction under way at iQ headquarters
May 16 was demolition day at the site of iQ Credit Union’s future headquarters and construction has begun. The Vancouver-based credit union bought the site at 1313 Main St. from the city of Vancouver in August 2007. Vancouver-based Team Construction is the project’s general contractor.
Demolition removed more than 6,000 square feet from the former Citizens Service Center and the remaining 23,000 square feet of the existing building will be renovated with an addition of 6,200 square feet, a glass lobby, seismic upgrades, interior branch and a total exterior upgrade.
USGBC revamps web education portal
The U.S. Green Building Council launched a new version of its educational website, Greenbuild365.org, in June.
The site, designed for professionals in design, construction, real estate and education, now has a catalog of green building courses, free industry videos, podcasts and articles. Online courses through the site will be available for free to leaders of 1,700 Habitat for Humanity projects nationwide.
