12th Avenue Arts is one of 22 finalists for Urban Land Institute’s Global Awards for Excellence Competition and is the ONLY Seattle project to make the final cut! Six finalists are from Asia and five are from Europe so it is truly a global competition.
2015 Archives
Passive House, Orchards at Orenco Affordable Housing: Grand Opening Celebration
WALSH was thrilled to celebrate with REACH Community Development (developer), Housing Development Center (construction manager) Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects (architect-of-record), William Wilson Architects (design architect) and Green Hammer (Passive House consultant) on the grand opening of the affordable housing project, Orchards at Orenco, which is the largest certified Passive House building to date in North America.
Westmoreland’s Union Manor Affordable Senior Housing Renovation
Westmoreland’s Union Manor, one of the largest affordable housing projects in the state, will get a $30.2 million facelift. Built in 1966 by the owner, the Union Labor Retirement Association, the seven-story, 300-unit affordable housing complex for seniors, sits on 6.6 acres on Southeast 23rd Avenue. The rehabilitation of the building includes the complete replacement of the building envelope, new domestic water and HVAC systems and greatly improved energy efficiency, fire safety, accessibility and seismic resistance and the addition of 18 ADA (American Disabilities Act) units.
Orchards at Orenco Wins Better Bricks Sustainable Project of the Year
Orchards at Orenco, developed by REACH Community Development, Inc., received the Portland Business Journal’s Better Bricks Sustainable Project of the Year award on June 4th. Orchards is the largest multi-family building built to Passive House energy standards in North America and one of the first to offer these affordable, sustainable benefits to low-income workers. Tenants will receive unprecedented savings on their energy bills, achieving nearly 90% energy reduction for heat usage and 60-70% for overall energy use as compared to a code-compliant building.
Historic Hotel Julian Provides Affordable Housing in Corvallis
Gov. Kate Brown came to Corvallis Thursday to cut the ribbon on a recently renovated subsidized housing project and make a pitch for an ambitious plan to build thousands of low-income units all over the state.
“One in three (Oregon) households spends more than half their income on housing, leaving less for the basics — basics such as food and medicine,” Brown told a crowd of more than 200 people gathered for the grand reopening of the Hotel Julian Apartments, a 35-unit downtown complex that was slated for conversion to market-rate rentals before a pair of nonprofits stepped in to preserve the structure for low-income tenants with rent subsidies.
“That’s why I’m proposing to invest $100 million to bolster the state’s stock of affordable housing.”
WALSH celebrates 22 years of partnership with Oregon Trades Women, Inc.
Walsh Construction Co.’s commitment to a diverse construction industry extends into women’s and children’s programs, including the “Women in Trades Career Fair”, of which we have been a sponsor and contributor since its inception in 1993.
El Centro de la Raza’s affordable housing project, Plaza Roberto Maestas
Link to the article in the Seattle DJC.
El Centro de la Raza is developing an affordable mixed-use complex to be named Plaza Roberto Maestas in honor of the late founder and executive director of the social services agency. The project will have 112 units at 2524 16th Ave. S., near the Beacon Hill light rail station and El Centro’s headquarters.
Greenfire wins top award from ASHRAE
Link to the article published in the Seattle DJC.
The Greenfire campus in Ballard won a top award from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers for energy management, indoor air quality and mechanical design.
The developer is Greenfire Group LLC. The campus is the new headquarters for an environmental philanthropy called Wilburforce Foundation. The foundation wanted office space in an urban location that reflects its mission and demonstrates cost-effective green design.
Spectrum, Mithun and WALSH start 75-unit Decibel near Yesler Terrace
From the Seattle DJC. Link to the article. Rendering courtesy of Mithun.
“Spectrum Development Solutions has broken ground on the second of its three apartment projects near Yesler Terrace.
This one is called Decibel and it is at 301 12th Ave. Decibel will have 75 units, 3,000 square feet of retail and 20 parking stalls. Opening is set for fall 2016. Gracorp Capital Advisors and PNC Real Estate are Spectrum’s financial partners. Mithun is the architect, Walsh Construction Co. is the general contractor and Hewitt is landscape architect.
WALSH Celebrates Bring Your Child to Work Day!
Walsh Construction Co. was happy to host 24 children at its Take Your Child to Work Day on April 23rd. Sons and daughters of Walsh Construction Co. employees, ranging in age from four-years-old to 12– years-old, built and painted tool boxes, toured the office, checked out some construction equipment and learned more about what their parents do for work on a day-to-day basis.
After lunch, the parents and their children headed onsite to take a tour of The Abigail, an affordable housing project currently under construction in the Pearl District. The kids had lots of great questions and even got to talk with our crane operator over the radio. It was a learning experience, and an exciting day, for all involved! The kids had a great day building and spending time with their parents. Thanks to Shelly Stephenson and Arielle Kornelussen for organizing and managing the fun and education!