Dean’s Message
Dear CBE alumni and community members,
As with every spring, the College is thriving with student projects, end of the year presentations, and celebrations. One of the things we are celebrating is the generous contribution from the Jacobi family to the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies, which will enable us to hire more faculty and create a minor in real estate, open to all UW undergraduate students.
Students from the Department of Landscape Architecture have installed a thoughtful and creative exhibit – Making the Cut – in Gould Pavilion. The project commemorates the lowering of Lake Washington and the opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. The exhibit will be open through the beginning of May.
This year’s design/build studios are serving two extremely well-deserving groups. The Architecture Design/Build Studio will unveil a new outdoor space and recreation area for women and children at a local shelter for survivors of domestic violence. And the Landscape Architecture Design/Build Studio will open a healing garden at the Seattle VA Hospital.
Last month the College was host to the annual ACSA conference. Associate Professor Robert Corser served as co-chair for the event, which focused on “Shaping New Knowledges”. A workshop on Resilience and Asian Urbanism also took place last month at the College and highlighted UW’s capacities to apply content-specific expertise to issues of rapid urbanization and resilient development across the Pacific.
Finally, we have recently learned of the loss of a number of alumni and community friends, including Anne Gould Hauberg, the daughter of Carl Gould who founded the Department of Architecture. We have included information about Anne and the alumni below.
Thank you again for your support and we hope to see you at one of our spring events.
Jacobi Family Gift
The University of Washington will create an undergraduate minor in real estate studies thanks to a $5.4 million gift from retired Windermere Real Estate founder John Jacobi and his wife, Rosalind. The Jacobis’ gift will also support two new endowed faculty chairs at the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies in the UW’s College of Built Environments. The new minor in real estate will be officially offered in fall 2017 with courses starting in January 2017. This minor will be made available to all undergraduate students pursuing any UW major.
“The University of Washington has been a huge part of our family’s life and is one of Seattle’s best assets. This minor is not about creating new real estate agents and brokers, it’s about elevating the real estate profession,” said John Jacobi. “Our hope in making this gift is that UW students who minor in real estate will acquire a broader base of skills that make people successful — skills like finance, marketing and negotiation.”
“I couldn’t be more pleased that John and Roz have directed their philanthropy to the College of Built Environments. This minor will help the UW continue to provide a flexible education and skill set for students that will be responsive to our region’s increasing needs,” said College of Built Environments Dean John Schaufelberger. “The Jacobis’ generosity gives us a proof point that real estate as a profession has the gravitas to one day possibly warrant a full-fledged real estate department within the College of Built Environments.”
The Jacobis’ gift will also create the Windermere Endowed Real Estate Support Fund to provide support for the minor. The two endowed chairs will be filled by candidates who have achieved national recognition in real estate. Candidates may include current UW faculty members or individuals being recruited for the positions.
Read more at the Puget Sound Business Journal.
Scholarship Spotlight: Wesley Prudum
Year in School: Junior, Construction Management
Hometown: Montrose, Colorado
Internship: San Juan Construction, Inc., Montrose, Colorado.
What made you interested in studying Construction Management?
Construction Management is a fascinating profession. I have a number of family members in the industry and have found the field provides me with unique challenges and the ability to see the sum of my efforts in a tangible way. After working in the field for many years, I decided to return to college because I wanted to have more opportunities in higher management roles.
How does receiving the Andrew Eker Endowed Scholarship impact your studies?
I am honored and extremely grateful to receive the Andrew Eker Endowed Scholarship. I am a non-traditional student, so when I decided to return to school, it meant passing the full financial burden to my wife. We receive help from family members, and it is great that I have such a good support system, but I really feel that I need to do everything in my power to contribute as much as I possibly can to my own education.
What has been your favorite class?
There have been so many that I have enjoyed and gained a great deal from. Having to pick just one, I would say that Construction Accounting is in the lead so far. The concepts taught in this class were geared toward the financial management of a project, and that area currently interests me the most.
What have you enjoyed about your internship experience?
I interned San Juan Construction, Inc., where I have been working since 2009 and plan to complete the internship with them this summer. The company has arranged for me to work in different divisions of the company, which will be a great learning experience and extremely valuable in building my skills once I’m able to return full-time after graduation.
A New Concept for Midtown Atlanta
Five CBE graduate students spent two weeks envisioning ways to connect and integrate a six block area of Atlanta’s midtown into a cohesive vibrant neighborhood. The project was proposed to them through the Urban Land Institute’s Hines Student Competition, which challenges multidisciplinary student teams to devise a comprehensive development program for an existing large-scale site.
The team’s proposal included plans to convert part of a commercial building into residential units and connect the district outwards by creating an uninterrupted linear park. Further suggestions recommended designing an infill community of residential, office, retail and civic spaces, creating a cohesive and multi-use neighborhood.
Assistant Professor and advisor for the group, Rachel Berney, said as professions in the College become increasingly collaborative, it’s important for students from the various disciplines to solve problems together using each of their strengths and expertise. She said this group did an excellent job of working together and designing a viable concept.
The interdisciplinary competition team included students from four of CBE’s five disciplines and include: Donny Donoghue, MUP, Genevieve Hale-Case, MUP and MSRE, Stevie Koepp, MLA-MARCH, Nico Martinucci, MUP, Takeru Stewart, MARCH and MSRE and were advised by Rachel Berney, Al Levine, and H. Pike Oliver.
Out of 131 entries, the UW team was one of 10 to receive honorable mention from the judges.
10 Parks That Changed America – Two In Seattle
The PBS special, “10 Parks That Changed America” premiered on Tuesday, April 12 at 8:00pm and featured two of Seattle’s most iconic outdoor spaces, Gasworks Park and Freeway Park. Enlisting experts from around the country, producer Dan Protess brought together a panel of landscape architects, historians and park advocates to contribute perspectives in the selection of the final 10.
To qualify, Protess sought parks that “changed America,” and parks that demonstrate geographical diversity, look different from the other parks, and have an interesting story. “I was looking for parks that were new and different in their time, but also went on to become influential,” said Protess. He and the experts agreed, both Gasworks Park and Freeway Park exemplified all of these attributes.
Opening in 1975, Gasworks Park was designed by Rich Haag, emeritus faculty member and founder of the UW Department of Landscape Architecture. Professor Haag is recognized as being a leading advocate for preserving the natural environment and adaptive re-use of existing structures. He is also the only person to twice receive the American Society of Landscape Architecture’s President’s Design for Excellence.
“You have a great character in Rich Haag, who had this outlandish idea to save these rusting towers. Gasworks Park helped popularize the idea of a park that celebrated urban and industrial history,” said Protess. “Rich taught us a powerful lesson about how to “listen” to a site, and showed us that just because a park is “green”, doesn’t mean it has to ignore the past.”
Completed within a year of Gasworks Park, Freeway Park was the first park built over a freeway in the United States. With Freeway Park, Protess says ideas like this one helped start a movement to include parks in our infrastructure, as they are must-haves for successful urban neighborhoods.
For the current and future landscape architecture students watching the program, Protess and his team hope the show will demonstrate how visionary designers who had “crazy” ideas and fought uphill battles made a significant impact on the field and the communities these parks reside in.
UW Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Thaisa Way served on the advisory panel and is featured in the program.
Celebrating George Rolfe
The Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies invites the CBE community to give thanks and recognize the impact of one of the College’s most long-standing faculty members, Professor George Rolfe, and the many ways he has touched thousands of lives as an educator, developer, mentor, and community leader.
Throughout his 30 plus year career at UW, George has guided thousands of students on topics including real estate investment, development, project finance, financial modeling, leadership and the development studio course.
The celebration will be held Thursday, May 26, 2016 at Melrose Market on Capitol Hill and the program will begin at 5:30pm.
Proceeds from the event will support the Lovett Rolfe Endowment in Community Development and Real Estate, created by George to support the Runstad Center and its students.
UW Architecture Alumni Named AIA Fellows
Congratulations to the three UW architecture graduates who have been inducted into this year’s American Institute of Architects College of Fellows.
Bradley Leathley, BArch., ’77, MArch., ’80 – Bradley is a principal and academic market segment leader at Flad Architects. Prior to working for Flad, he was a principal at NBBJ.
Duane Jonlin, BArch., ’81 – Duane is an energy code and conservation advisor to the City of Seattle. Prior to working for the city, he was a principal at NBBJ.
Douglas Bencks, MArch., ’82 – David has more than 20 years serving as the University Architect for the University of New Hampshire.
Passings
We are saddened to learn of the passings of the following alumni and friends of the College of Built Environments.
Anne Gould Hauberg was the daughter of prominent Seattle architect Carl Gould. Anne was a co-founder for the Pilchuck Glass School and was a leading advocate and supporter of the Tacoma Glass Museum as well as the UW’s Experimental Education Unit.
Barnett “Bud” Schorr, BA ’63 was inducted into the AIA College of Fellows in 1991, after a renowned career in restoration and urban design advocacy. He was also a member of “the Gang of Five”, an activist group dedicated to projects in Seattle’s downtown neighborhoods.
Norman Millar, BA ’76, was Dean of Architecture at Woodbury University in Southern California. Norman was involved in a number of civic, professional and community oriented projects.
Nathan Brightbill, MLA ’07 is survived by his wife and two children. Throughout his career he worked for Swift Company and the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia. He also served with the Department of Landscape Architecture’s ASLA mentorship program.
Events
2016 Headlines Exhibit
The Department of Architecture’s Professional Advisory Council is currently hosting their annual Headlines exhibit. Firms from across the state use this forum to showcase the process, ideas and evolution of small and large projects currently on the boards. Headlines will be on display through Friday, April 29 before traveling on to be displayed at universities around the state.
Festa Romana
This year’s Rome faculty, Ken Tadashi Oshima, Galen Minah, Trina Deines and UW Architecture students invite you to attend their annual Festa Romana celebration supporting students travelling to Rome. Visit the Festa Romana website to view auction items and learn more about the program.
Friday, May 6, 2016
Gould Hall Court
5:30pm – 9:30pm
Get Your Glass!
The College of Built Environments is once again calling all alumni to return to Gould Hall for Happy Hour! Come meet with students, say hello to faculty, reconnect with old friends and network with new friends at the annual CBE Alumni Happy Hour. This pint glass design is not to be missed!
Friday, May 13, 2016
5:30pm – 9:00pm
Gould Court
Register Here
Drinks and food will be provided
This year’s glass was designed by first-year Master of Urban Planning student Ian Crozier. The annual Alumni Happy Hour is sponsored by the CBE Alumni team and the UW Alumni Association.
Sharon Sutton Retrospective
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Sutton’s return to New York City to pursue her emerging work on race and architecture. Reception and testimonials by distinguished colleagues. Retrospective runs from May 16th until June 3rd.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Gould Pavilion 5:30pm – 7:30pm
RSVP Here