We are now certified as a woman-owned business in Washington. We love Washington. One of us was even born there. What’s up, Vancouver? How are you doing, Seattle?
best of 2018
It was an incredible year for us, thanks to the best clients and partners we could ever hope for. As we wrap up deadlines and accounting for 2018, here are a few things that we loved this year, in no sensible order:
We were so excited to receive a DJC Building Diversity award and be the cover shot for the Women of Vision Magazine. If we look a bit flushed in the shot, it’s because it was taken on one of those high-90s afternoons. Still, we were so pleased to represent!
We are fans of the new Appendix N clarifying distinction between Fire Code and what city plans reviewers can enforce. This came out in November 2017, but we got into the details this year and we like the crisp lines created by this appendix. (If you don’t love code as much as we do, we won’t judge you. Just call us if you need help unraveling the details.)
Camo sweaters, tights, and purses. We love them. But we can’t buy any more. We now have so many of each that we must text each other before meetings to make sure we don’t show up in matching camo, like we are on some weird cashmere-clad hunting trip.
Variable refrigerant systems. We’ve been designing and commissioning these for different clients. Moving less air, keeping duct sizes small, and preserving the ceiling space for whatever the architect envisions is pretty darn satisfying.
Wonder Woman stamps. These were first issued in 2016, but they became our official postage in 2018. If you’ve received any checks or love notes from us, you’ll see that they have Wonder Woman stuck to them rocking wrist cuffs. We wear wrist cuffs, too, but ours aren’t bulletproof.
This year, we loved being successful enough to give back to the community. We gave Oregon Tradeswomen a set of welding leathers, hood, and gloves that new welding program graduates can use until they can afford their own. Also, we donated to Call to Safety, a deserving Portland group that helps survivors of trauma and abuse. Our donations are a drop in the bucket compared to the numbers of people each organization serves, but it makes us feel good to be a part of the solution.
Thank you to our partners and clients for making all of this possible, even the camo sweaters.
Time for Champagne!
What a fast year in Portland construction! There was so much going on and every project was urgent.
Admit it. If you're in construction you like it that way. We LOVE it.
There's almost too much goodness to report in one post, but I'll hit the highlights:
Jennifer Kaye joined the Whole Building Solutions team this year. She is currently commissioning PSU's Stott Center, finishing a plumbing/HVAC design for City of Portland, and diving into a food processing equipment move. For the last six months of design, she took the lead on The Portland Building's 15 floors of HVAC TI design which was just completed.
Thank goodness Jennifer also grew up in Alaska. We have the same grit that you only get from below zero temperatures and a lack of fresh fruit. (Alaska humor.)
We're feeling pretty damn proud of the work we did for our high tech, education, medical, industrial, and municipal clients. We have made some awesome new architect friends and we're looking forward to some exciting work in 2018!
PE Stamp
Do other engineers get a little sentimental when they stamp a design?
I got my Oregon professional engineering license in 2003, but didn't stamp drawings for years. I was doing a lot of design and construction management and commissioning, so I didn't need to bust out my stamp and sign any drawings. Now that I'm designing HVAC systems, process piping, and plumbing, I stamp and sign drawings. Whenever I do, I think of how much I learned in school, on the job, and from other engineers to get here. I'm also aware of how much the rest of the world trusts engineers to get it right. Every time I put a stamp on a drawing, it feels like a little ceremony of gratitude and responsibility.
Code Nerd
Last week I had the great pleasure of writing a code assessment to accompany a design for a high-tech client. That may sound like I'm being sarcastic, but I'm not. I honestly love analyzing building, fire, mechanical, and energy code to find the right solution for my client and make the most succinct presentation to the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Yes, the codes make crazy circular references to one another and the language is awkward and full of double negatives, but that's part of the fun. Understanding code and applying it in a way that works for my clients - and then making the case to the AHJ is truly a good time for me.
Steam Tables
This week I dove into a bit of work that allowed me to flip through my 1969 hardback copy of Keenan and Keyes Steam Tables. I love this book. It smells like an old library and has a poster-sized pullout Mollier diagram.
It's okay if you don't get as geeked up about enthalpy and specific volume as we do. That's why we are engineers. We love boilers, chillers, and heat exchangers enough for all of us.
Specification Love
Could your organization use template specifications for commissioning, training, and closeout? They are a great way to make sure projects are delivered in the same way every time - complete and ready for occupancy.
We love to write smart specifications. Let us help!
The Permit Touch
Getting a project's building permit quickly and painlessly involves more than just knowing code and design package contents. It involves a bit of negotiation and personal touch. We have that. We can be your permit people.
If you like the freedom of choosing different design teams for multiple projects, you'll still have the same contact with your jurisdiction for all of those projects. That can make life so much easier. And that's what we want.