our consultants

In the course of a project, we often draw upon people with special expertise. We feel one of the hallmarks of an excellent architectural firm is knowing when and how to ask the right questions and get appropriate, timely and expert answers. The following is a list of the people we might call upon during the course of a project, along with their specialties.

 

landscape architecture

 

Linnea Ferrell

Issaquah, WA

A truly creative professional, Linnea was a principal and partner at Berger Partnership (where she was employed for nineteen years) before going out on her own three years ago. While at Berger she did the landscape for IslandWood, Magnuson Park, the Center for Urban Horticulture as well as numerous residential projects, including one project in Medina for the founder of a major local software company. Linnea has consulted for us on the Williams Home, the Harding Home, the Marshall Renovation, and the van Roessel Renovation as well as the design of our own (Rob and Frith's) yard.  She has provided the kind of landscape input that I have always hoped for on my projects. I encourage my clients to bring her in on any project that involves any reworking of the site.

 

structural engineering

 

Sliderule Engineering Works

Andy Herrick

Seattle, WA
Member, Northwest EcoBuilding Guild

Sliderule is a small engineering firm upstairs in the Terminal Sales Building, where our own office is located. (Very convenient!) They have provided structural engineering on all of our recent projects - including the Barbat-Harrison Green-Roof Garage, the Harding Home, the McBride-Prozzo Renovation, the van Roessel Renovation, the Marshall Renovation and the Treneer Renovation, as well as all of our current projects. They are incredibly responsive as well as completely up-to-date on green building techniques. Sliderule has taken the initiative in helping us push the structural envelope (as it were), resulting in the most resource-efficient implementations of structure in our projects possible.

mechanical systems, energy analysis, passive solar design, alternative energy systems

 

Advanced Mechanical Engineering

Rick Grove, PE

Lynnwood, WA

Rick Grove was a residential mechanical contractor for twenty years (mainly installing in-floor radiant heating systems), and then a civil engineer for five years prior to getting his PE license in mechanical engineering. He brings an impressive level of practical experience to the table. He specializes in the integration of heating, cooling and natural and mechanical ventilation systems, finding synergies in which waste heat can be harnessed and used for other purposes, for example. He's also an incredible geek who carries a laser thermometer with him constantly, and can rattle off part numbers for radiant heating circulation pumps off the top of his head. This is exactly the kind of person you want thinking about the mechanical system in your home! The van Roessel Renovation on Vashon was our first collaboration, and we have brought him in on every project since 2005.

Ecotope, Inc.

Jonathan Heller

Seattle, WA
Member, Northwest EcoBuilding Guild

Ecotope Inc. is a consulting firm specializing in the design and evaluation of energy and resource conservation in the built environment. Active in this field since 1975, Ecotope has worked on literally thousands of projects around the country. They are nationally recognized for their design expertise and their strong commitment to high-quality technical analysis. Ecotope developed the WattSun program currently approved by the state of Washington to evaluate the effects of solar insolation and various building components on energy use and operating costs. We've worked with Ecotope in major ways on our feasibility study for an eco-resort at Monte Cristo, the Patterson Home in Sharingwood Co-housing, Lavender Farm, the Williams Home and the Sproull-Radke Green Roof Garage/Workshop.

 

civil engineering, greywater systems, composting toilets, living machines, bioremediation

 

Mayfly Engineering

Robin McKennon Thaler

Seattle WA
Member, US Green Building Council

Mayfly Engineering is a small, woman-owned civil engineering firm specializing in green civil strategies. A LEED accredited professional engineer, Robin’s unique natural resource background (a prior degree in forestry) brings an important focus on low-impact design to all of the projects to which she contributes. Robin is known for her creative design approach and solid technical base. She is often asked to participate in value engineering studies and design charrettes for both public agencies and private clients.  Robin has provided project management and design for dozens of site design projects and consultation and documentation for more than twenty LEED projects.  These projects include Cascade Playground--winner of the 2005 Washington State ACEC Gold Award for Social, Economic, and Sustainable Design Considerations--and The South Lake Union Discovery Center; where the pervious paver parking lot, bio-swale infiltration systems, rain gardens, and demonstration green streets replaced the need for conventional detention.  Robin also provided site related LEED consultation for Washington State's Certified GOLD Tumwater Office Building. Though we have yet to officially work on a project together, I have been impressed with the depth of Robin's knowledge and enthusiasm on the project proposals we have pursued.

Chris Webb and Associates

Chris Webb

Bellingham, WA

Member, Northwest EcoBuilding Guild

Chris Webb is a professional engineer and a LEED™ Accredited Professional who is passionate about providing civil engineering designs that demonstrate the highest degree of sustainability and are based on ecological principles. Chris is a frequent speaker on the technical aspects of sustainability as it is applied in civil engineering. He was part of the design team on Islandwood, the first LEED™ Gold project in Washington State, and Chris has served as a member of the technical advisory group for the US Green Building Council’s LEED™ Rating System (Version 2.0). Chris was a founding partner of 2020 Engineering (see below) and has since gone out on his own.

2020 Engineering

Mark Buehrer

Bellingham, WA
Member, Northwest EcoBuilding Guild

2020 Engineering is a four-person engineering firm specializing in innovative solutions to complex and difficult environmental problems. In addition to the normal civil and geotechnical engineering fare, their projects have included bioremediation of dairy farm manure ponds, pollution prevention, and large-scale composting and recycling facility design. They designed and developed the first permitted subsurface flow constructed wetlands septic system in Washington state, saving their clients $10,000 over a conventional system. We worked with 2020 on the feasibility study for the eco-resort in Monte Cristo, and on the Lavender Farm.

 

materials and detailing, community design

 

Archemy Consulting, Ltd.

David Rousseau

Cortez Island, B.C.

Author of Healthy By Design, Environmental by Design, and Your Home, Your Health and Well-being, David Rousseau is arguably the most knowledgeable person in the Northwest when it comes to "green" materials and their specific uses. He is also an accomplished educator and community designer. Beyond the technical, he has an umatched depth of understanding of the spiritual aspects of building. I consider him my mentor and a dear friend. We first met in 1993 when I wrote a review of Environmental By Design for the EcoBuilding Times. David and I collaborated on the design of Medina Courtyard Addition and the Brand Solutions Office. David consults, both officially and unofficially, on almost every project we do. And on a personal note, David officiated at Rob & Frith's wedding in 2002.

 

air-tightening techniques

 

Atmosphere, Inc.

Scott Finley

Seattle, WA

Member, Northwest EcoBuilding Guild

Scott was one of the major developers of the Super Good Sense energy conservation program in the early '80's. He does blower-door tests, and during the process of construction, helps the contractor seal potential air leaks in the building that would be difficult or impossible to get to later. He has consulted on all of the projects we've done. I usually suggest calling Scott in to help during construction. A small investment in his services will reap benefits of reduced operating costs for years to come.

 

indoor air quality

 

Healthy Buildings Associates

Dan Morris

Seattle, WA

Member, Northwest EcoBuilding Guild

Dan developed the air filtration system for the Manned Orbital Space Lab. He now consults extensively and exclusively on issues of indoor air quality, including forensic investigation of "sick buildings." I first worked with Dan on a house for a chemically compromised person in 1992. Dan also helped us with the Medina Kitchen Renovation, another project for a person with multiple chemical sensitivity.