Tag Archives: architecture

Bainbridge schools: a design, a resignation and two levies

As expected, the Bainbridge school board gave the green light to two ballot measures aimed at bolstering the district’s technology and operations funds.

The board on Thursday unanimously approved resolutions for a $5.275 million technology levy and a $825,000 operations levy lid lift.

Read more about the November ballot measures HERE.

Also on Thursday, longtime school board member Dave Pollock announced he’d be resigning as of Aug. 26.

Pollock, who was first elected in 2003, said work demands and the fact that he no longer has school-age children factored in to his decision.

The district is asking for applicants to replace Pollock until the next election.

For more information, see my story HERE.

And in the final bit of school news, the district unveiled a design for the new Wilkes Elementary School, which should break ground during the spring of next year.

Design illustrations and models by Mahlum Architects showed a one-story building with a lot of windows and four courtyards.

One of the overall aims of the building is “transparency and links to the outdoors,” said the project’s lead designer.

That’s a model of the school above. See another image and read more info about the design HERE.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

More about mother-in-laws

Last week, I wrote about the attention the first annual Bainbridge Tour of Architects was paying to mother-in-law homes (or “accessory dwelling units,” as architects and city planners call them).

In the backyard or above the garage, mother-in-laws can encourage stronger family connections and greener, more diverse communities, say the tour’s architects. They’re also a good source of revenue, which can be a “lifesaver” in this economy, as tour organizer Liz Gadbois told me.

Read the story here.

And click down below to read an essay about mother-in-laws by Bainbridge architect Peter Brachvogel. The essay appeared on the tour’s website, tourofarchitects.com

Continue reading →

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Architect chosen for new Wilkes school

The Bainbridge school district chose Seattle-based Mahlum Architects to design the new Wilkes Elementary School.

Mahlum’s client list includes Seattle, Tacoma, Edmonds, Olympia and Orcas Island school districts.

The new Wilkes will be built using money from the recently-approved $42 million capital bond.

For more, click here.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

BI architects on HGTV tonight

HGTV’s program “Beyond the Box” is scheduled to feature the home of island architects Matthew and Ruth Coates tonight at 8:30 p.m.

According to Matthew, who got word yesterday that the show is airing today, the program will focus on his and his wife’s three-year effort to design and build their first home using sustainable design elements.

The young couple also put in a fair amount of sweat equity. Besides designing the place, Matthew and Ruth milled their own siding using trees on their Point White property and made their own counter tops.

For more about the Matthew’s island-based “green” architecture firm, go here.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post