Tag Archives: rice fergus miller

Poulsbo coworking office will open in 2017

A coworking space aimed at serving contractor umbrella companies, telecommuters, freelancers and entrepreneurs is slated to open next year in Poulsbo.

Vibe Coworks has leased a 5,300-square-foot space in the top floor of a new commercial building planned on Eighth Avenue, according to a news release.

The building, designed by Rice Fergus Miller, is expected to be completed by Tim Ryan Construction in the fall of 2017.

Poulsbo native Alanna Imbach and her husband, Marcel Imbach, are the creators of Vibe Coworks. They’ll be relocating from New York City to start the business.

“We’d had phenomenal experiences with coworking communities in NYC, and knew the timing was right to bring something like that to Kitsap,” Alanna said in the release.

Vibe Coworks will provide Kitsap residents a flexible alternative to commuting, working from home or working out of coffee shops. The Imbaches believe Seattle-area employers also may be interested purchasing memberships at Vibe for employees who want to live in Kitsap.

The space will feature conference rooms, offices, individual phone/video booths, event space, a balcony, lockers and a coffee shop-style community kitchen, according to the release.

See the Vibe Coworks website for more information.

Plans submitted for Poulsbo Place assisted living facility

Tad Sooter

A developer filed a site plan review application for a 107-unit assisted living facility on a 2.2-acre property adjacent to the Jensen Way post office.

The Poulsbo Place II complex also would include 24 independent living apartments and a 4,250 square feet of retail space. A garage under the building would provide 145 parking spaces.

The applicant is David Smith of Central Highland, which developed other portions of the Poulsbo Place master plan area. Rice Fergus Miller is the architect.

A public open house for the project was held in March 2015.

According to the notice of application, the applicant is requesting several amendments to the master plan to accommodate the assisted living facility. The changes require City Council approval.

These include increasing height limitations to allow a 45-foot average elevation for portions of the building, and treating assisted living as a “commercial use” to remain consistent with the land use mix outlined in the master plan.

Comments on the application will be accepted through June 3. See the full notice below for more details and click here to view a set of drawings filed with the city.

Newlife sharing plans for Silverdale center

Tad Sooter

The curtains closed for good Jan. 15 at Silverdale’s Regal Cinemas, but the building won’t be left idle for long.

Newlife church will start work in late April on a project to transform the 14,000-square-foot Poplars Avenue building into a gathering space and training center.

Newlife bought the Regal property late last year with plans to create a centralized community hub. The church hired Rice Fergus Miller to draw up plans for the center, and chose Fairbank Construction as its builder.

Newlife’s plans promise to enliven a drab, boxy building.

Inside, the ground floor of the former cinema will be roughly divided in half, with one side will be dedicated to a 4,800-square-foot auditorium. The other side will be converted to classroom and office space.

Upstairs will be an area for kids, and a community conference room with large windows to allow views in and out.

A main entrance will face south, toward the YMCA.

Newlife will hold three open houses at the building in April to give visitors a feel for the existing building and what the church has planned.

“We want people to get a sense of what it could become, and share our vision for that space,” Mark Middleton with Newlife said.

The open houses are scheduled from 7-9 p.m. April 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16, and 2-5 p.m. April 17. Tours will be given.

The property is located at 9923 Poplars Ave. in Silverdale.

Former RFM architects launch new firm

Tad Sooter

After years spent spearheading projects for Bremerton’s Rice Fergus Miller, two architects drew up plans for their own firm this year.

The architects are Robert Guyt and Matt King. The firm, which launched about a month ago, is called Blue Architecture + Interiors.

Guyt said he and King were ready to “chart their own course,” and felt the timing was right with the economy recovering and development picking up.

The architects are pursuing a variety of projects on both sides of Puget Sound. King is based in Seattle, while Guyt works out of Bremerton.

Hospitality is Guyt’s specialty. He led design of the Clearwater Casino Resort hotel and conference center expansion, as well as the Spyglass Hill apartments in Bremerton.

King headed the health care studio at Rice Fergus Miller. His resume includes Harrison Medical Center’s Silverdale orthopedic hospital, and other facilities completed for Harrison, Overlake Hospital and Harborview Medical Center.

The duo often partnered on projects, incorporating design concepts from both industries.

Guyt said they plan to grow their new practice gradually.

“We want to be measured,” he said, “because our intention is to be around for a long time.”

See the Blue Architecture page on Facebook for updates.

Contributed photos