What is the Nature of Your City?

Across the world, cities are bringing back nature to help address urban challenges.  We are healthier when we are closer to nature.  We have a greater respect for the environment that sustains us.  We are more adaptable to change when we let nature do its work.  

Join us for a free presentation by Dr. Timothy Beatley, renowned expert in sustainable city planning and author of the book Biophilic Cities. Dr. Beatley is the Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities, in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for the last twenty-five years.  He will share his experience and knowledge of cities across the world that have made strides to integrate nature into our neighborhoods and communities.

January 18, 2012

6:00-8:00 PM

Portland Northwest College of Art - Swigert Commons

1241 NW Johnson

Portland, OR 97209

This event is free and open to the public.  

Sponsored by the City of Portland's Environmental Services and Office of Healthy Working Rivers, Illahee, The Intertwine Alliance, and The Urban Greenspaces Institute

You're invited to attend a PDH class sponsored by TerraFirma Foundations! 

Thursday, February 16, 2012
Holiday Inn, 25425 SW 95th Ave. Wilsonville, OR  97070

8:30 am - 2:30 pm

*Doors open 30 minutes prior to start time.

Exclusive Opportunity presented by: Jeff Korton, P.E. of Foundation Support Works: www.fsicommercial.com 

•               Helical foundation systems 
•               Helical soil nails 
•               Push pier systems  
•               Typical applications 
•               Design Considerations 
•               Capacity calculations  
•               Verification of capacity  
•               ICC-ES AC358

Please feel free to invite any of your colleagues. The firm that invites the most colleagues will receive a Portland Trail Blazers package that includes, (14) tickets in a catered suite and (3) parking passes. Also the day of the seminar there will be a drawing of individual Portland Trail Blazer tickets. We are looking forward in seeing you at this event.  

Click the link below for details and registration. Hurry!  Limited space: http://www.oregonfoundationrepair.com/training.html

Who should attend?

Please contact Mat Phelps or Dan Holburow with any questions at

(866) 486-7196

You think you know your way around construction documents, but want to up your game? Now is the time to act. Portland Chapter CSI is once again holding our study group for Construction Document Technologist training.

Designed for anyone who works with construction documents, the CDT study group will help you learn more about the documents,

the construction process, and the roles and responsibilities of the parties involved. Participate in the study group, advance your

knowledge, earn some continuing education credits and that's it. Or, you may want to take these classes in preparation for taking the

CDT exam and earning that "CDT " credential after your name.  It will show others your commitment and credibility. We have also established a training group for those seeking certification as a Certified Construction Specifier.

Class registration at "Certification" here: http://www.portlandcsi.org/

Contact Michael Madias for more info: mike@beautifulbuildings.com

Portland State University's graphic design program (PSU GD) is proud to partner with GOOD Ideas for Cities to present a Portland event on February 16.

GOOD Ideas for Cities is a partnership between GOOD Design and CEOs for Cities that hosts live events around the country to facilitate a dialogue about how to make our cities better places to live. The initiative has recently expanded thanks to a grant from ArtPlace. 

The Portland event will pair local creative teams with civic leaders to devise design solutions to pressing urban challenges. The teams will present their findings at a live event on February 16 at Ziba Design.

PSU GD is the local host for this Portland-based event. The event is also sponsored by the Dill Pickle Club, and is made possible with support from Scout Books.

Please contact Nicole Lavelle (nlavelle@pdx.edu) with any questions.

PHnw Spring Conference

Portland State University, University Place Conference Center

310 SW Lincoln Street, Portland, OR 97201

March 2, 2012

Jerry Yudelson, "Godfather of Green" and renowned green building expert will headline Passive House Northwest's day-long educational conference on "Climbing the Summit to Passive and Zero Energy Buildings." Mr. Yudelson has written twelve books in the US and Europe on zero energy buildings and Passive House construction and is a leading authority on the development and marketing of green buildings.

Other presentations on Opportunities and Challenges related to the Passive House Standard include:

• Money: Is Passive House a Good Investment?
• Monitoring: Best Practices in Performance Monitoring Passive House Buildings
• Regional Passive House Project Updates

This event is aimed at seasoned practitioners as well as those just beginning to be interested in green building and low energy buildings. Attendees include builders, developers, architects, engineers, teachers, professors, realtors, investors, media representatives, and interested others. There will be a mix of beginning and advanced presentations and discussions that will enable attendees to advance their knowledge.

For more information and to register please visit: phnw.org

Registration is limited to 250 participants

Competition invites ideas for the next generation of public space  

Urban Intervention: The Howard S. Wright Design Ideas Competition for Public Space invites designers to conceive a fresh vision of environmental, social, and economic opportunities on and beyond a 9-acre site at the heart of Seattle Center.

How must public space perform in the coming century? Ecologically?  Socially?  Economically? How can public space evolve to better meet the needs of our changing social and natural systems? What kinds of public spaces will be needed in the future and how can activation and use be encouraged and accommodated in new and inventive ways? Can we generate ideas today that will inform a new generation of cultural centers and public places?

WHY ENTER?

The competition seeks complex, multidisciplinary design responses from a broad spectrum of innovative designers. The competition is a two-phase process. In Phase 1, the jury will select up to three finalist teams to receive $30,000 to fully develop their ideas. In addition, up to seven projects will be recognized with commendations or merit awards. A broad range of proposals will be recognized through a variety of awards, programs, exhibits and publications. In Phase 2, a Grand Prize Winner will be chosen from the finalist entries, for an additional cash prize of $30,000.  

(Note: a professional design contract will not be awarded on the basis of this competition.)

Jan 27, 2012:    Registration Closes  

More information available here: http://thenextfifty.org/urbanintervention