NEWS

AF Housing Named on NW Construction's "Alaska Top 5 Project Starts" (August 4, 2010)
New Pasco Memorial Pool and Bathhouse Transformation is Complete (June 20, 2010)
WRPA Honors Metro Parks Tacoma's Spraygrounds Designed by ORB (April 1, 2010)

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AIR FORCE HOUSING ON NW CONSTRUCTION'S "ALASKA TOP 5 PROJECT STARTS"

The $73 Million Project Was Designed by ORB Architects for Military Families

RENTON, Washington—August 5, 2010—ORB Architects' Eielson Air Force Base Phase I Housing Project, valued at $73 million, was #3 on the annual Northwest Construction "Alaska Top 5 Projects Starts" list.

The replacement housing, which was a milestone project in ORB's progression in use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, is being built in the Galaxy Heights and Ravenswood neighborhoods of Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska. This design-build collaboration with Osborne Construction of Kirkland, Wash., involves demolition of 132 military family housing units and construction of 129 Junior NonCommissioned Officers/Company Grade Officer replacement units. The project will seek LEED Silver or higher certification upon completion.

Full Article
Additional Project and BIM Information

About ORB Architects
Established in 1964, ORB Architects is a full-service architectural Small Business/Minority Business Enterprise firm. With a focus on community recreation and aquatic facilities, affordable housing, and military projects, 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 that benefit communities and respect the environment.

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NEW PASCO MEMORIAL POOL AND BATHHOUSE
TRANSFORMATION IS COMPLETE

ORB Architects-Designed Project Holds Grand Re-Opening on June 19th

RENTON, Washington—June 20, 2010—Memorial Pool in Pasco, Washington, opened as usual for its summer season on June 19th. But this year, the facility looked anything but typical to its opening-day visitors. That's because as soon as the pool closed at the end of the last swim season, construction began on a $3 million overhaul.

For several years, Pasco Parks and Recreation had been considering ways to improve its aquatic facilities and programs and planning for those improvements. The main pool at Memorial was nearing the end of its useful life and its mechanical systems were becoming increasingly costly to maintain and operate. The bathhouse was in need of serious rehabilitation—it didn't meet ADA accessibility requirements, and the floor, walls, fixtures, and configuration were all in need of upgrading. In addition, the wading pool was underused. The City wanted to find ways to serve a larger portion of the community.

Pasco Parks & Recreation hired ORB Architects to completely redesign the facility to replace the aging pool, maximize the existing space and budget with new features, and demolish and rebuild the bathhouse.

There were many things that contributed to the excitement of the 2010 season's opening: A brand-new stainless steel and PVC-fused pool was installed in the concrete shell of the existing main competitive pool. The old gutter system was replaced, resulting in an additional 18 inches of depth, which improved competitive swimming conditions and created a safer diving environment. Two bright new slides offer fun and excitement to thrill-seeking visitors.

Replacing the wading pool is a new leisure pool with a zero-depth beach-like entry. Integrated with it is a new spray pad with ground geysers and water features. A bench-seat wall surrounds the play area and offers a place for observers or those who need a break from the fun. Finally, a beautiful, half-acre lawn provides another place for relaxation and picnicking.


The bathhouse was removed down to the foundation and reconfigured to include new stalls, lavatories, showers, urinals, lockers, staff facilities, and the addition of a family changing room. The enhanced layout improved functionality and is fully accessible by ADA standards.

To celebrate the grand re-opening, admission to the first session was free. The event was so popular that the facility quickly filled to capacity, with nearly 1,000 visitors estimated that day, which was a big increase over a typical opening day because of the combination of a larger bather load and the excitement generated by the new water features.

A contest to name the new slides was also part of the celebration. The orange slide is now officially named Tangerine Twister, and the red one is called Lava Plunge.

About ORB Architects
Established in 1964, ORB Architects is a full-service architectural Small Business/Minority Business Enterprise firm. With a focus on community recreation and aquatic facilities, affordable housing, and military projects, 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 that benefit communities and respect the environment.

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WRPA HONORS METRO PARKS TACOMA PROJECT DESIGNED BY ORB ARCHITECTS

Spraygrounds Selected for Spotlight Award

RENTON, Washington—April 1, 2010—The Washington Recreation and Parks Association (WRPA) announced the recipients of its Spotlight Awards, honoring Metro Parks Tacoma in the Special Use Facility category. The project, which included conversion of three unusable wading pools into spraygrounds, involved sites at Jefferson Park, South Park, and McKinley Playfield.

The award honors projects that meet the needs of the community, demonstrate the character of the community and its commitment to parks and recreation, and maximize site, building materials, and other resources.

Additional Project Information

About ORB Architects
Established in 1964, ORB Architects is a full-service architectural Small Business/Minority Business Enterprise firm. With a focus on community recreation and aquatic facilities, affordable housing, and military projects, 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 that benefit communities and respect the environment.

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