Category: Blog
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Honoring the old bridge
There are times where the old must make way for the new. The Sellwood Bridge was an elegant old bridge and an old friend that I crossed by car, bike and on foot. For the latter, there was a very tight sidewalk on one side that barely allowed people to pass each other, while the…
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Built and unbuilt
Architecture is always part of a dialogue which includes not just what built, but what was left only on paper. As we have finished the inauguration of the President it is perhaps appropriate to turn attention to the unbuilt architecture at the Capitol. Stephen Ayers, the Architect of the Capitol, has written an interesting and…
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The New Normal
A recent article in the New York Times, “The Generator is the Machine of the Moment” talks about changes to building projects to make them more resilient to Hurricane Sandy type storms. The changes are straight forward changes to the building systems, such as moving mechanical systems out of the basement, flood proofing the basements and…
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Sustainability and Resiliency
I often make the point that sustainability and resiliency are intimately linked. Part of being sustainable for Oregon is learning to live in an environment that includes large earthquakes and tsunami’s on a regular basis. We tend to discount the “regular” for subduction zone earthquakes. After all, one hasn’t happened here since Americans and Europeans…
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Five Ways to Recover Faster ‘From The Big One’
A good article from Tom Banse of Northwest Public Radio about the efforts of Oregon and Washington to make each state more resilient in the face of a Cascadia earthquake/tsunami. I recommend listening to the radio report portion as well.
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Demolitions
Demolishing historic buildings is always a battle. In Astoria, the Merwyn Hotel (now called the Waldorf) was saved from demolition by a recent ruling the Historic Landmark Commission, which found that removing the building without any replacement in mind did not demolition standards. The building has not been used for 25 years and has…
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Does Sandy have any impact for Oregon?
New York is considering how they should rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and the discussion is highly relevant to Oregon’s efforts to prepare for the Cascadia earthquake and tsunami. Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed solutions for making New York City more resilient is quite reminiscent of discussions held by the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory…
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Depot update 12/3
The final stages of the work is progressing. The exterior lighting have been installed. The interior lighting is being finished up. The interior trim work is proceeding. The painting is being finished up. The windows and doors are almost complete. The brick work will be laid in the breezeway. The HVAC system will be turned…
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Blind Pilot supports The Nature Conservancy
Blind Pilot has done a wonderful video supporting the Nature Conservancy. It is shot in the net shed in Astoria that is out on the Columbia River and a barn in Clatsop County. It speaks of the importance of place, both the landscape and the buildings, and of how this supports the making of musics and…
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Depot Update 11/14
The entry canopy structures are completed. The metal roofing and the gutter between the roof and the building are the next steps. On the west side, the building sign is installed. The building is named the Barbey Maritime Center following a generous donation to the Museum by the Barbey family that have a strong…