Sparling Acquires Acoustical Firm

Seattle - Sparling, a Seattle-based engineering firm, has added the entire team from Michael R. Yantis Associates, Inc. With the deal, Sparling creates its newest division, Yantis Acoustical Design. Terms were not disclosed.

Recently, the company acquired the telecommunications group at W&H Pacific, enabling Sparling to become the region's only single-source provider of end-to-end wired and wireless technology and telecommunication solutions.

Yantis, founded in 1978, provides of design services relating to building acoustics and vibration, environmental noise and sound reinforcement systems. Building acoustics includes the acoustic separation between spaces, the design of specific interior acoustic environments and the control of noise and vibration produced by the building's mechanical systems.

Through its integrated design approach, Yantis Acoustical Design will add value to projects such as healthcare, which has significantly low tolerances for noise and vibration in operating rooms, biomedical research labs, and robotic- and laser-surgery facilities. Both Sparling and Yantis have significant work experience in this market, with Sparling having recently consulted with clients around the country on deploying cutting-edge technology that creates quiet hospital environments that improve the healthcare experience for patients, physicians and support staff alike.

Yantis and Sparling specialize in the areas of performing arts, higher education, museums and libraries, as well as the commercial office and healthcare industries, among others. Some of the projects the companies have recently collaborated on include: the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, the Seattle Central Library, the Everett Performing Arts Center and the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington.

In making the acquisition, Sparling will bring onboard company principals Michael Yantis and Basel Jurdy, as well as six full-time acousticians and several audio-design professionals. All of the technical staff of Michael R. Yantis Associates is making the move.

Grainger Expanding in Northwest Market

Grainger, North America's leading distributor of facilities maintenance supplies, has opened a new full-service location south of Olympia, in Tumwater, Wash. Grainger's new Tumwater branch brings the company's broad product and service offerings closer to businesses in and around the Tumwater and Olympia areas. It will also allow Grainger to better serve customers located between Seattle and Portland, Ore. Grainger also has stores in Bothell, Bellingham, Bremerton, Fife, Everett and downtown Seattle.

Paving Projects Awarded

Bids totaling nearly $12 million dollars have been awarded for four WSDOT spring paving projects on I-90 (Grant County), in Wenatchee and in Chelan (Chelan County).

Central Washington Asphalt Co. was the successful bidder for a paving project through the City of Wenatchee (SR 285) expected to begin in mid-May and continue until mid-August. The $2,091,111 contract was within 8% of the engineering estimate. To minimize business disruption, most of the work will be done at night.

Basin Paving Co. was the successful bidder among four, to pave US 97A through the City of Chelan. The project will begin this spring and take four months to complete. The $1,756,780 contract was 8% under the engineering estimate. Besides paving 3-3/4 miles of US 97A, a City paving project on Woodin and Chelan Avenues, funded by a WSDOT Transportation Improvement Board grant, is included in the work.

Central Washington Asphalt Co. was the successful bidder from among five, for a paving project on Interstate 90 from George, east, 16-miles to Dodson Road (where last summer's paver ended). The $3,847,156 contract was 1% below the engineering estimate. The project is expected to begin in April with paving to be completed by July 1st. The project also includes new cable barrier in the median that will be installed after the paving is complete. That phase of the work should be finished in September. Steelman-Duff, Inc. was the successful bidder from among four to improve the Interstate 90 and SR 26 interchange at the east end of the Vantage Bridge. The $4,176,465.85 contract was 3-1/2% under the engineering estimate. The project will begin this spring and will take 7 months to complete. This interchange has been identified as a High Accident Location (HAL) and a High Accident Corridor (HAC). The on and off ramps will be realigned and lengthened to improve safety. Along with the improvements to the ramps, electronic changeable message signs will be installed on I-90 to warn westbound vehicles of high winds and other hazardous road conditions ahead.

SAM Receives Grant

As the Seattle Art Museum moves forward with construction of a phased 300,000-sq.ft. expansion connecting to its downtown facility, the Getty has awarded a two-year, $300,000 grant for the development of interpretive materials to enhance the new galleries.

Slated to open in 2007, the first, 118,000 square-foot phase of SAM's expansion will increase exhibition space by nearly 70 percent.

The first year of Getty grant funding, which begins in January 2005, will support increased collaboration between SAM's curators and educators to evaluate existing content and create new interpretive materials based on interviews with artists and cultural advisors. The primary goal for creating new interpretation for the collection is to spark visitor curiosity and creative reflection.