Bellevue - Metzler North America has announced a lease agreement with American Express Financial Services for space in its RidgePointe office property.

Designed by Baylis Architects and built buy Baugh Skansa, the 50,000-sq.-ft. building is located at the intersection of 156th Avenue N.E. and Bel-Red Road, adjacent to Microsoft's Redmond Campus.

AGC - Washington, OSHA Announce Work Safety Alliance

Seattle - The Associated General Contractors of Washington and the Seattle regional office of the U. S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration have combined forces to promote safe working conditions for construction workers.

OSHA and AGC will develop training and education programs in hazard recognition, management systems and health hazards. In addition, AGC will invite OSHA personnel to visit construction sites and observe best practices and encourage AGC members to take part in OSHA's cooperative programs.

WSU One of Six Schools Offering Design-Build Degrees

Pullman - Washington State University's School of Architecture and Construction Management is one of six U.S. universities to offer a design-build degree. WSU's program is part of their MS in Architecture degree path.

The study course is tailored to create opportunities for practicing design and construction professionals currently working for contractors, architects, engineers, owners and facility managers who want to pursue a professional specialization degree in design-build management.

More information on the WSU program is available at www.designbuild.spokane.wsu.edu. Other universities currently offering design-build degree programs are Georgia Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Oklahoma and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Totem Equipment New JCB Dealer in Pacific Northwest

Totem Equipment will provide sales, parts and service from three locations in Washington and Oregon: 5000 East Marginal Way South in Seattle, 6899 N.E. Columbia Blvd., Portland and 4102 East Boone Avenue, Spokane.

Products offered include backhoe loaders, skid steer loaders, telescopic handlers, rough-terrain forklifts, telescopic handlers, excavators and articulated dump trucks.

Columbia Valley Housing Authority Taps Paras for Project

Spokane - Paras General Contractors has been selected as lead contractor for the $1.6-million Riverview housing project in Chelan, Wash. Construction of 26 homes began on March 1 Completion is schedule in December 2003. Subdivision work is also part of the contract.

Todd Walton is project manager and Sean Larson is project superintendent for Paras. DOH Associates of Wenatchee is the project architect and Munsen Engineers providing engineering services.

Work Begins On Mt. Vernon Athletic Field

Bellingham - IMCO General Construction of Bellingham has begun demolition and site-work for athletic facilities on the Mount Vernon High School campus. The 15-acre Phase I project includes utilities improvements, drainage, increased parking capacity, both natural and synthetic turf sport fields, eight tennis courts, landscaping, roadways and driveways on and around the high school campus.

This will be the first outdoor athletic complex in Skagit County that will use synthetic turf.

But before the turf goes on, a significant amount of preparation must be completed. Site preparation includes removing about 70,000 cu. yd. of mostly clay and replacing it with a gravel base. IMCO will be installing an extensive underground drainage system as well as electrical utilities.

To make room for the project, IMCO is demolishing the original tennis courts, the bus barn, the food services building, an apartment complex and three houses. This will provide parking for students and staff to accommodate a high school of 2,000 students in addition to the ball fields.