Seattle - Harbor Properties and Vulcan Inc. recently announced plans for the joint development of Alcyone, a 162-unit residential project located in Seattle's Cascade neighborhood on Thomas Street and Minor Avenue North.

The project, which includes 1,600 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail space, is due for completion in spring 2004.

Alcyone will feature studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, and live/work lofts ranging from 542 to 944 sq. ft. in size. The building is a moderate market-rate apartment project (between 60 percent and 110 percent of Seattle's median household income), which is called for in the Cascade neighborhood plan.

Harbor Properties and Vulcan are incorporating extensive sustainability features into the design and construction of Alcyone, the city's only multi-family residential project being developed under LEED-certified standards. LEED (which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an industry measurement tool created by the U.S. Green Building Council to define green and environmentally and community-conscious projects.

A few examples of Alcyone's pro-environment practices include the use of energy-efficient lighting, water-efficient landscaping, recycled water for the building's P-Patch, environmentally friendly flooring and a Flexcar program for residents.

Designed by Seattle's GGLO Architects, Alcyone has a street-level character that will mimic many of the East Coast's older urban neighborhoods. The building will feature multiple entries through private courtyards connected to at-grade units and live/work lofts. Alcyone units will have large windows with many apartments offering views of Seattle, Lake Union and the Seattle Center.

In addition to 162 residences, Alcyone will feature a restaurant in the corner retail space, 164 underground parking stalls and various resident common areas.

With Harbor Properties and Vulcan, other project team members include general contractor Rushforth Construction (Tacoma, Wash.), structural and civil engineering firm Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire (Seattle) and landscape architects Hewitt Architects (Seattle).

Bainbridge Island - Construction is well underway on The Winslow, a mixed-use project on Bainbridge Island just a five minute walk from the Bainbridge-Seattle ferry dock. MRJ Contractors (Seattle) is the general contractor.

The 56,000-sq.-ft. mixed use project includes 19,000 sq. ft. of underground parking garage, 5,000 sq. ft. of retail space, 12,000 sq. ft. of office space and eight luxury condominium units averaging 1,800 sq. ft. each and one affordable housing unit.

The project consists of two buildings built above a post-tensioned garage lid and separated by a courtyard and a water feature. The total construction cost is approximately $4.6 million. The project broke ground in September 2002 with a 13-month construction duration.

The project site is on a hillside and requires numerous grade changes in the parking garage and post tension deck. All concrete work is being self-performed by MRJ. The building exterior includes brick and cedar finishes. Courtyards will have planters, water features, concrete ramps and steps, and pedestal pavers.

AMD Properties and MJM Family Investments is the project owner and architects are Wenzlau Arichitects and Karreman and Associates of Bainbridge Island. Swenson Say Faget of Seattle is the structural engineering firm, and Browne Engineering of Bainbridge Island is the civil engineer.

Paras Awarded Senior Housing Project

Benton City - Spokane's Paras General Contractors was recently awarded a $1.9 million contract for the Desert Rose Senior Housing Project here.

The affordable senior housing project includes new road and site utility development, 13 duplex units and a recreation center building.

The project owner is Desert Rose Terrace Limited Partnership and the architect is Integrated Design Architects of Richland, Wash. Other team members include the Richland Housing Authority and the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing.

Project completion is scheduled for October 2003.

Korsmo Finishes Work On Aberdeen School

Aberdeen - Tacoma, Wash.-based John Korsmo Construction has completed construction on the new Robert Gray Elementary School in Aberdeen, Wash.

The new 44,000-sq.-ft. school includes 17 classrooms, a new gymnasium, cafeteria, library and conference area and administrative offices.

The $7.5 million project, finished last December, was completed in 15 months.

The school is suspended slab constructed on more than 500 wooden piles and concrete grade beams. The architecture features a brick and wood nautical theme to honor the school's namesake, an 18th century sea captain.

Project team members included architect BJSS Duarte Bryant, construction manager Anderson Construction Management Inc., structural engineer AHBL and mechanical engineer CBG.