On Wednesday, December 16, attendees of the monthly Breakfast meeting were treated to our 4th annual “Defining Moments” program, which focused on the Development and Land Assemblage of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The breakfast was sponsored by Clark Construction - we sincerely thank them for their continued support. Sharon Coleman gave the assembly an update on the new members. We viewed a wonderful video presentation on the Community Enhancement project at YMCA’s Camp Terry and received heartfelt thanks from the YMCA. We also got an update on the Real Estate Challenge. Our neighbors to the south – Portland State University – will be in the challenge this year, along with University of British Columbia and University of Washington.

The 2016 session of the Washington State legislature will convene on January 11 for a 60-day session. Following a record 172 day session in 2015, expectations for 2016 are that the legislature will complete its business on time.

Davis Property & Investment is pleased to announce that construction is underway for a new 36,237 square foot flex building located at 2750 Williamson Place NW, DuPont, WA. This will be DPI’s 7th building under construction in Washington State in 2015.

On Wednesday, October 21, the Developing Leaders Committee presented a program entitled “Are You Ready for the Next Generation of Leadership?” The breakfast was sponsored by BN Builders and Adolfson & Peterson Construction - we sincerely thank them for their continued support. Incoming NAIOP President John Teutsch began the meeting with a list of new members. Davis Vaughn from the Developing Leaders Committee gave an update on the Mentoring Program. Angelia Wesch, Partner with Oles, Morrison, Rinker moderated a panel that was eminently qualified to address the topic at hand. Panelists included:

This blog post recaps NAIOP Washington State's Sustainable Development Committee Energy Code and Benchmarking Roundtable Presentation, held on October 13, 2015.  Eric Vander Mey, Principal – Director, Rushing, and Christie Baumel, Climate & Energy Advisor, Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment, presented at the meeting and gathered feedback. Their slide presentations are available as PDFs; look for the link following each section.   

Davis Property & Investment & Schuchart-Hutchinson recently acquired a 40 acre+/- site located in Frederickson, WA. The project, called Frederickson 40, is available for build-to-suit lease or sale.

Politics! Can’t live with it or without it. On September 16, NAIOP Breakfast attendees were treated to a Seattle City Council candidate forum. The breakfast was sponsored by Clark Nuber - we sincerely thank them for their continued support. Incoming NAIOP President John Teutsch began the meeting and gave the assembly an update on the new members and conducted the Election of Board Members and Officers. Tim Syverson told us about the Community Enhancement event on October 3 at Camp Terry. Lastly, Gordon Buchan outlined the nominees for the Night of the Stars Event in November.

On August 19, Sellen Construction’s Rooftop Deck was packed with the developing leaders of Seattle’s real estate community. CoreNet Global, Crew Seattle & Sound, Urban Land Northwest Institute and NAIOP came together to organize the Real Estate Emerging Leaders networking event hosted by Sellen. The goal and intent—bringing together four of Seattle’s most prominent real estate organizations in one room and provide the opportunity to network—were hugely successful.

Since the unveiling of the University of Washington Tacoma’s sprawling University Y Student Center last January, a two-story mural adorning the lobby has welcomed visitors with views into Tacoma’s past and present. Completed by Tacoma artist Chelsea O’Sullivan, the painting depicts a modern container ship alongside a much older one, paying homage to the Longshoremen’s Hall union building that previously stood on the project site for 60 years, as well as the union and its members. The title reads: “In Unity There’s Strength.” The collaborative effort behind the design and construction of the University Y Student Center and recent accolades reflect that very theme.

This year was my first time walking the Property Tour with NAIOP. When I registered, I thought, There is no way I could spend my whole day at this event. For sure, I would drop by, have lunch and go back to work. At 4:55 p.m., I looked at my half-drunk glass of wine at Evo’s Happy Hour and wondered where the time had gone.

On Thursday, June 25, NAIOP and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound united to put on the annual BIG Invitational golf tournament at Washington National. The eighth installment of this scramble tournament went off without a hitch, drawing a full course and completely sold-out sponsorships; $75,000 was raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters, the best year yet!

More than ever before, developers are incorporating public art into their projects in the interest of adding both aesthetic beauty and brand distinction to their real estate investments. They realize that art—if done thoughtfully and collaboratively—can serve to draw positive attention to their buildings, particularly in mixed-use buildings that bring together an eclectic mix of urban audiences.