MetroSpokane

2008 People's Choice Bracket is a GO!

The gauntlet has been thrown down; the bracket has been set.  Over the coming days twenty-two projects will face-off in a heated battle for bragging rights as the 2008 People's Choice for architecture.  Your role, dear reader, is simple:  check in each day and place your vote.  The projects range from schools to office buildings and everything in between. 

The competition will last four rounds, and each day at least two polls will be placed in posts here on MetroSpokane.  You get one vote per poll and the projects with the most votes will advance to the next round until the final two face-off next week.  The bracket will be updated daily.  Choose wisely, comment regularly, and spread the word.  May the best design win.

Decision '08 - The AIA/MetroSpokane People's Choice Award

If you thought the presidential elections were the only decision you needed to make this Fall you were wrong.  Very wrong.  This year MetroSpokane is teaming up with the Spokane Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to bring you the People's Choice Award, coinciding with the biannual AIA Spokane Design Awards.  For the past few years you've been ranting and raving about the built environment and now your voice and your vote will count for something. 

TOUCHING BASE: 3rd and Adams sealed up

A quick drive by the building at 3rd and Maple yesterday and we noticed that the 'refacing' of the once brick building is nearly complete.  As expected this baby's all sealed up save the corner display and glass garage door.  The soft white (or is that eggshell?) dryvit looked cold to the touch and all texture and interest has been stripped away.  Clearly an improvement.  Excuse us for a moment....bleaaarrrrggghhh!

• Buh-bye brick [MetroSpokane]

Buh-Bye Brick...

As the shuffling of auto-dealership locations continues in the West End around 3rd Avenue, the makeovers are in full gear.  One building on 3rd and Adams Street in particular is getting the extreme dealer modernization seen above.

William McDonough on Mobius

We stopped off at the celebration for the fund raising milestone set by for the Mobius Science Center.  On his way to speak at Boise State University's Distinguished Lecture Series, William McDonough dropped by the celebration to say a few words about our center.  Mostly he delivered on his message of sustainability and the current state of the environment and world economy; an abridged version of a presentation he gave at TED some time back.  We could go on, but for a better understanding of his message (you'll better understand the correlation to the Mobius Science Center) watch the edited and abridged version of his TED presentation on YouTube above.  It's worth it.

Sneak Peak - YWCA Condos Revealed...

[View of the YWCA site looking south]
NORTH BANK - An old post mentioned the proposed SRM development of the YWCA condos at 829 W. Broadway on the North Bank of the Spokane River.  With the combined YMCA-YWCA building well under way just up the street, there's no time like the present to get to work on the design for YWCA site.  Upper Falls Condos meet your new neighbors, a 150' tower (not wall).  According to the SRM website the 'proposed' project is all mixed use including condos, retail, and commercial.  Phase one will focus on a residential condo tower on the eastern most portion of the site.  No start date given, but it's likely a couple years out.

• SRM Development [srmdevelopment.com]

Touching Base: Parkside Condos really isn't that orange

COEUR D'ALENE  - The latest addition to CDA's skyline is the Parkside Condos.  It's Miller Stauffer's second tower here, precluded by McEuen Terrace one block to the east.  This year's IronMan contestants will be doing a double take when they drive into town since it's completely visible from I-90, topping out well above the pine trees at a ginormous twenty stories.  Ground floor parking, 3 stories commercial/retail and the remaining 17 nothing but lux.  Suites are four to a floor and range from 1,900 to 3,900 sqf. 

609 Sherman-please enjoy our walls

[All this week we're heading east across the border where we'll be taking a look around the Coeur D'Alene area, checking in on projects and and bringing it all back to you.]

COEUR D'ALENE - After yesterday's charm-filled visit to the Ice Plant Townhomes today we migrate to the city's core.  What's 7 stories tall, consumes an entire lot, and has really ticked people off?  Here's a hint:  The Lofts at 609 Sherman.  Apparently designed for the year 2051 when all of Sherman will be lined with 70' buildings, the residential structure is just kind of there.  No retail on the ground floor means the opaque glass-block front gives little back to the street and sidewalk.  A major downer for a city with such a walkable downtown.  People of CDA The Lofts at 609 mean you no harm.  Tetris anyone?

• The Lofts at 609 Sherman - [Main Site]

More pics below>>>

Coeur d'Alene: Winter at the Ice Plant (Townhomes)

[All this week we're heading east across the border where we'll be taking a look around the Coeur D'Alene area, checking in on projects and and bringing it all back to you.]

COEUR D'ALENE - If uniformity is not your thing then the Ice Plant Townhomes might drive you nuts.  If you can look past it then one of the 24 nearly identical townhomes just might work for you.  From the sidewalk it's a nice looking project:  Neighborhood scale, lots of brick, exposed wood, and traditional dormers all show an attempt to fit into the neighborhood.  A quick look inside and there looks to be ample attention to quality there as well.

Armed Forces & Aerospace Museum - Who knew?

[NOTE: Embedded video was disabled on YouTube-you can view it via this link ] WEST PLAINS - OK, let's see a show of hands:  How many of you out there were aware we're in the process of fund raising for a new museum...ahem...an aerospace museum?  That's what we thought.  We'd heard bits and pieces but only recently saw the sweet 3D video-clip on YouTube of what the place might look like, and we like what we see.  It's to be located on the West Plains adjacent to I-90 at the intersection of Electric Ave & Geiger Blvd [GMAP]. If you've ever driven by the Spruce Goose down in McMinville, OR you'll understand why.

The complex is big measuring in at around 123,000-square-feet when all phases are completed, and will have loads of glass that should help display the thirty-two suspended and parked aircraft from the collection.  One that won't be 'under-roof' will be the massive B-52 parked out in front of the building.  Still, it should make for a pretty memorable landmark for visitors entering Spokane from the West (e.g. "...and take the exit after the big plane...").  To date only $1.3 million of the $5.8 million Phase I cost has been raised.  The project overall is expected to run upwards of $30 million when complete.  It's also expected to attract between 50,000 and 100,000 visitors annually according to the Journal of Biz.  If you're interested in seeing  what local players have kicked in to help this thing get built you can view the list [pdf].  If you're interested in having your name added feel free to donate.

• Spokane Armed Forces and Aerospace Museum [main site]
• Aerospace Museum Worth the Hard Effort [JOB]
• Backers of aerospace museum prepare for takeoff [SR]