Design is progressing along nicely on a new 100,000 square foot facility for Trabon Printing / Solutions in Kansas City. The building will utilize a pre-manufactured metal skin system, a steel structure and a 50,000 square foot green roof with distinctive circular forms (light monitors and ventilation shafts) which mirror the massive subsurface support pillars of an abandoned limestone mine that currently exists adjacent to the project site.
Steady progress is being made on the Vehicle Impound Facility in Kansas City, MO. The stormwater treatment system is in place, sitework is nearly finished, and work continues on the projects three main buildings. Slated for completion in late October, the facility is projected to achieve LEED gold.
We say goodbye, ten weeks after saying hello, to Joshua Jewitt, our first-ever intern. Hard-wired since birth to intuitively understand all-things-computer, he simultaneously made all partners (except for Jamie) feel creakily old and out of touch. We also appreciated his poetic side: at our officially sanctioned farewell get-together, he confided in us that he “really liked penguins”, which we took to be an utterance of deep metaphorical meaning. At any rate, we like him a lot and we wish him well in his fourth year at K-State.
We say hello to Katie McCurry, our new Marketing Manager. Slowly she learns our strange ways; our distinct mannerisms; our curious intra-office language. Like a young female spider in the corner of an award-winning house, she acquires strength and wisdom every day, patiently waiting for opportune moments to POUNCE on prospective clients and media personnel, injecting our sanctioned informational messages into their collective mindpans.
We wish we lived in this place. Located in the Crossroads Arts District, it makes the most of its 1,000 sf footprint by compressing all utility functions into a single core, and then using the core to divide public and private space. The lofts white gloss epoxy floor was designed to contrast with the existing heavy timber frame of the structure, focusing attention on the client’s collection of classic modern furniture. More images of the loft are on our website.
So, yeah, not to brag, but we’ve been getting some good press recently, hitting the covers of two national magazines--Dwell and Residential Architect--in the same month. (When this media convergence became apparent, the entire firm celebrated with a spontaneous communal “WOOOOOO” sound, similar to that made by the Michael Phelps after the other American Guy miraculously beat the trash-talking French Guy.) Additionally, our campus for Hodgdon Powder Company has been making the rounds in the international media. Journals in South Korea, Berlin and China have all given it some good press, and we look forward to future global musings.
Another successful public art collaboration with James Woodfill was completed earlier this summer. Entitled Pedestrian Strands, the project involves the reparation of the “interrupted connection” between Downtown and the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City, caused by the subsurface routing of the Federal Interstate in the 1960’s. The project utilizes two types of chain link fabrics and illuminated glass panels depicting abstracted urban forms adjacent to the site. Check out images on our website (in the “community” section) –also check out the movie file on Mr. Woodfills website.
el dorado has always been an informal office, but last year it got out of hand. As it turned out, “Bathrobe Friday” confused certain clients, who assumed we were not serious about our work. When the partners enacted the Revised Dress Code of 2008, a few of the staff grumbled…but not Jeanna Darby, our administrative assistant. She embraced our new formality. As the “face of el dorado”, her understanding of cutting edge fashion makes us all look great.
el dorado inc is collaborating with a number of other design and engineering firms (BNIM, Talifero and Brown among others) on a very interesting planning project for the city of Kansas City: the Greater Downtown Area Plan. The plan will include analysis and design for an 11 neighborhood area, and will focus on a groundwork for improved transportation, housing, infrastructure, neighborhood identity and parks. The study is slated to be completed in early 2009.
Sean Slattery, AIA is one of three sound-minded, able-bodied candidates running for Secretary of the AIA Kansas City Chapter. All three are talented and deserving. But Sean is the best. So, if you’re a member of the chapter, then please vote for him on September 9th. Read his “candidate statement” @ AIA Kansas City.
We’ve been working on a couple of exciting initiatives for the AIA in past months. Our own David Dowell has worked diligently with his fellow committee members to ensure that this years Central States Regional Conference, themed “A Question of Relevancy” will be spectacular. Note to architects out there: you need to be there. More information can be found at AIA KC Central States In addition, Josh Shelton was chair of the steering committee for the brand new “Art through Architecture” Initiative, which will encourage architects and their clients to use Kansas City-based artists in their processes and built projects. Take a look at AIA Kansas City.
Learning was afoot for the children of eldo this summer. Sarah learned to climb a ladder. Stella learned that biting other children is both irresistible and wrong. Maple learned to poop in the pot every time. Judith celebrated Maple’s pooping by mastering the “raspberry” noise. Finn learned the first melancholy lessons of being a Kansas City Royals Fan. And finally, our lone big kid Annie learned how to drive a “pedicab” in Portland. (She also learned you don’t make any money driving a pedicab in Portland.) Oh, but how they grow.