Design for Aging Forum
Pig in the Python: Design for the Coming Boomer Wave

Wednesday, December 3, 2008
8:00am – 5:00om
at the Puget Sound Energy Auditorium
355 110 Avenue, Bellevue
8LU/3.5HSW
To register, visit www.aiaseattle.org


As the Baby Boomers reinvent what it means to retire, their preferences will reshape the marketplace for design. Using the context of national data through to a regional Cultural Audit™, this forum will educate, inform, and inspire design professionals, policy makers, providers of services and housing, developer, municipal leaders, as well as consumers, about design innovations for an aging population.

Sustainability Champion Awarded Architects Highest Honor

Norman Strong, FAIA, the managing partner of The MillerHull Partnership, was awarded the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Northwest & Pacific Region (NW&P) 2008 Medal of Honor, on October 10 at the NW&P Conference in Honolulu, HI. This prestigious award is conferred annually on a region architect who has consistently demonstrated excellence or service to the profession.

A list of Strong’s volunteerism would fill pages but for him it comes naturally from devotion to the profession. “I have always liked to build things, even in grade school. After I graduated from WSU and found MillerHull I remember saying ‘they are paying me to do what I love’,” states Strong, a Northwest native who earned his Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) from Washington State University. “Now, every day is unique,” he continues, “both with opportunities and challenges.” Strong has faced the challenges of being an architect, especially regarding sustainability, with a vision and dedication that made him the ideal recipient for this award.

His vision was evident while Strong served as chair of the Sustainability Discussion Group (SDiG) last year, when the group introduced revolutionary ideas about energy reduction. The SDiG focus is on the 2030 Challenge, which is to get all buildings to carbon neutrality by the year 2030. “This is not an easy task,” states Strong, “so we produced the 50to50 series of articles on 50 ways to reach a 50% energy reduction. The SDiG also proposed, and it was accepted, that 4 of our 18 mandatory learning units be focused on energy and carbon reducing design.” The SDiG and Strong’s efforts impacted all levels of the AIA and created a model for others to emulate that even the highest offices in the United State government noticed.

“The AIA was called in by the US House of Representatives to understand how they could redefine their workplace and offices,” says Strong about the creation of the Sustainable Design Assistance Team (SDAT) for the US Capitol. Strong chaired the SDAT which proposed ways to increase public access, improve the worklife of staff, and as an outcome reduce consumption of energy in old, historic buildings. “Bottom line,” states Strong, “the culture of Capitol Hill will need to change to impact each of these elements, but we were able to give them tangible and achievable goals.”

Strong’s commitment to sustainable design isn’t just a recent passion; it’s the hallmark of his career. Strong has been with Seattle based firm The MillerHull Partnership, a nationally recognized 60-person firm, since 1979 when there were only three employees. He was “drawn to the firm” he states, “because of their remarkable innovation and focus on unique solutions to sustainable design, or whatever we called it back then,” he laughs. Strong says the firm continues to have sustainability as an emphasis, a focus that was relevant in 1979, is today, and will be in the future. “I am extremely optimistic about the future of architects and our role in addressing the huge issues of climate change,” says Strong. “Together, with our clients and our builders, we can and will make a difference; and show a way to live more responsibly in the communities where we live and work.” With vision and dedication like this it is clear why architects chose to honor Strong with their most prestigious award.

Architect and Legislative Candidate Sue Lani Madsen in the News

The Spokesman Review ran an article today that highlighted the legislative contest featuring architect Sue Lani Madsen, AIA. The architectural community in Washington remains keenly interested in Sue Lani’s efforts to be a part of state government. If elected, she will be the first architect to serve in the legislature in more than 20 years. Sue Lani has been an AIA member since her days as a student at Washington State University. Active at the local and state level, she has helped the AIA regarding land use planning, licensing, liability and tax policies. The article details Sue Lani’s integrity and broad experience in the local community. Here are a few quotes from the article.

• “Madsen, 52, is a founding partner in the architectural firm of Madsen Mitchell Evenson and Conrad.”

• “Sue Lani Madsen graduated from Ferris High School in Spokane and earned two bachelor's degrees from Washington State University. She began practicing architecture in 1981 and formed her own company in 1999.”

• “Madsen said her clients have been mostly in the 7th District, including rural hospitals, school districts and community organizations.”

• “Her community service ranges from assistant battalion chief in Edwall's volunteer fire department to president of the Washington Rural Health Association. She also has been president of the Spokane regional chapter of the American Institute of Architects.”

The race is becoming controversial because of her opponent’s (Shelly Short) significant financial problems, “But Short is encumbered with unpaid bills and a husband who was charged in August with aggravated first-degree theft.” The article reports:

• “Short has a $36,129 Internal Revenue Service lien, a state tax warrant seeking $1,120 and a $12,328 judgment for delinquent credit-card debt.”

• “Short was $2,495 in arrears on her property taxes for 2007 and the first half of 2008, including penalties…”

• “Court records also show a woman who worked for the Shorts' Your Body Electric natural remedies business sued them in February 2007 for $5,044 in alleged unpaid wages.”

• “Three months ago, the state Employment Security Department filed a tax warrant against the [Shorts’] family business in an effort to collect $1,120. State officials said that was the balance on unpaid unemployment insurance premiums that originally totaled $3,842.”

For more information about Sue Lani Madsen’s race, visit her website at http://www.suelanimadsen.com/.

Spokesman Review Endorses Architect Sue Lani Madsen for Legislature

From the October 15 Spokesman Review:

7th District, House Position 1: Both of the finalists for this seat would bring more energy and ideas to the position than retiring Rep. Bob Sump. Both have a pro-business, social conservative viewpoint. Both see the job as more than just voting no on the majority's agenda.

Sue Lani Madsen owns an architectural business and her family also runs a small ranching business from their spread in Edwall. Her key strengths are in business and health care issues. She is past president of the Washington Rural Health Association and serves on a rural advisory committee for the Washington Health Foundation. She acknowledges that the employer-based health care model is inadequate in trying to expand access to care. She points to the excessive mandates for insurance companies as one problem. Madsen also wants to work in the Legislature on strategies to recruit and retain medical workers in rural communities.

Like Madsen, Shelly Short is bright and engaged on the issues that are most important to the district. Her knowledge is derived from her years working for state Rep. Joel Kretz, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and former U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt.

Short has the endorsement of Sump and the Building Industry Association. Madsen is favored by the National Federation of Independent Business.

We could recommend either candidate were it not for the controversy over Short family's personal finances. At a time when the Shorts were struggling with credit card debt, her husband Mitch Short was accused of dipping into the Northeast Washington Fair Association checking account. He now faces a theft charge. Shelly Short may not be culpable, but explanations thus far leave us uneasy.

Madsen is a safe, solid choice.

For more information on Sue Lani Madsen’s campaign visit her website at www.suelanimadsen.com