ORB Architects

RECREATION NEWS

Freeway Park's Pigott Corridor Fountain and Lighting Restoration (June 25, 2008)
Metro Parks Tacoma Community Center Upgrades (April 28, 2008)

LED BY ORB ARCHITECTS, PIGOTT CORRIDOR AT FREEWAY PARK UNDERGOES FOUNTAIN AND PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING RESTORATION

Mayor Greg Nickels Opened the Spigot at Pigott

RENTON, Washington—June 25, 2008—The Pigott Corridor fountain at Freeway Park reopened today following renovations to the fountain and addition and restoration of the pedestrian lighting to the area. "This fountain restoration is part of a renaissance for improving Freeway Park and our other downtown parks," explained Mayor Greg Nickels in the opening ceremony. He then ushered in "The Return of Water" with a turn of the spigot.

ORB Architects led the design team for Pigott Corridor, working with the city landscapers to solve complex problems in order to restore its fountain after years of it being nonoperational.

The project was part of the Mayor's initiative to transform Seattle's center city parks into vibrant, attractive public spaces. Freeway Park, located at 700 Seneca Street, was chosen for site improvements, including rehabilitation of multiple fountains and landscape upgrades. The goal of the project was to improve public safety, access, park character, and programming opportunities, thus making the park more inviting to everyone and encouraging its active use by children, neighbors, downtown workers, and visitors using the Convention Center and Visitors Bureau. The project budget is $2.5 million.

Construction continues on Canyon, Cascade, and American Legion Fountains at Freeway Park and is expected to be complete in 2009.

For additional information about this project:
Seattle Parks & Recreation Major Maintenance Project Information: Freeway Park Renovation
ORB Architects: Freeway Park Project Information

About ORB Architects
ORB Architects is a full-service architectural small business/minority business enterprise firm located in Renton, Washington. ORB is committed to making a positive impact on our communities through design innovation and management expertise. For more than 40 years, ORB has provided architectural and engineering services to communities in the greater Northwest, working with municipal, state and federal agencies on a variety of people-oriented buildings and recreational and aquatic facilities that benefit communities and respect the environment.

ORB ARCHITECTS DESIGNING COMMUNITY CENTER UPGRADES FOR METRO PARKS TACOMA

RENTON, Washington—April 29, 2008—Metro Parks Tacoma has chosen ORB Architects to design upgrades to four of its community centers — People’s, South Park, Portland Avenue, and Snake Lake Nature Center.

"ORB Architects was selected for this project based on their commitment to incorporate the use of building-science and innovative engineering to design upgrades at these aging community centers. The firm’s history with Metro Parks includes solving highly technical design problems. They successfully designed three spray-grounds, implementing new technologies for children to safely play in water on hot days," said Ken Cornwall, Project Manager.

Responsibilities include meeting with key staff and operations personnel, developing project design documents, providing cost-estimating services, employing invasive and non-invasive building-science technology to diagnose hidden moisture intrusion of building envelope, and handling construction administration. The scope of work extends to HVAC systems, lighting, building envelope, structural elements, electrical systems, and new layout concepts.

ORB has enlisted the services of BCE for electrical engineering, Stantec Seattle for mechanical engineering, and PCS Structural Solutions for structural engineering. BCRA is the building sciences consultant.

The MACC is $2,186,300. The project was awarded in January of 2008, and completion is scheduled for May of 2009.

About ORB Architects
ORB Architects is a full-service architectural small business/minority business enterprise firm located in Renton, Washington. ORB is committed to making a positive impact on our communities through design innovation and management expertise. For more than 40 years, ORB has provided architectural and engineering services to communities in the greater Northwest, working with municipal, state and federal agencies on a variety of people-oriented buildings and recreational and aquatic facilities that benefit communities and respect the environment.