By Kay Wilson, Rafn Company Project Manager
Piper Village, which is located in the vicinity of 85th & Greenwood in Seattle, has been in the Brunt family since 1885. The various parcels that make-up the 13 acre site are managed by the Greenwood Shopping Center Board and more specifically their representative Gary Brunt. Gary began actively participating in the management, planning, and acquisition of the property in 1981. Piper Village first entered the Rafn project portfolio as a “site” with a variety of optional development paths more than a decade ago. It has been a very fun project to participate in as it has unfolded for the Brunt Family.
The evolution of Piper Village is the family’s legacy designed to transform the old shopping center to meet the needs of a new generation. The work began by soliciting ideas from a number of local design firms as to what to do with the old Fred Meyer, the shopping center and various underutilized small retail shops. Michael Whalen was selected as architect for his innovative approach to protecting the “small shop” and organic growth of neighborhood retail and a pedestrian feel rather than giving way to exclusive big box retail.
While estimating and planning began in 2002, the construction didn’t begin for Rafn until January 2008 with the Sedges – a 3 story, 46 unit mixed-use project. That project included the beginnings of Morrow Lane, a new through street that is key to creating Whalen’s pedestrian access to small, local retail shops.
Barry Leahy, the development consultant and owner’s representative through that early process is also still part of the project team. Barry has been instrumental in helping to plan the project phasing in such a way as to balance the best construction cost with a positive cash flow and a minimal disruption to existing retail tenants.
We will profile the second mixed-use piece known as Buildings 5 & 6, and the balance of Morrow Lane that connects through to Greenwood Avenue, in Part 2 of the series in our next newsletter.
By Halene Sigmund, CITC of Washington President 
Since the Construction Industry Training Council's (CITC) inception in 1985, 31 Rafn employees have graduated from CITC’s programs. “We put people in the first class at CITC,” said Shawn Rhode, Rafn President and COO and CITC board member. “Gregg George graduated then and has been with us more than 30 years.” Gregg George is now a senior superintendent and remembers his start in construction well. “I started working with a demolition contractor that was a subcontractor for Rafn,” said George. “Rafn offered me a carpentry job and I took it. Then they offered me the opportunity to attend CITC. I’d been a carpenter for quite a while so at first it seemed like a step backward. Then I started learning a lot, growing in my job and was promoted to superintendent before I even graduated". George continues “At CITC I learned all facets of construction from beginning to end. It would have taken me years to get this much experience on the job alone.” “Our graduates do much more than carpentry,” said Rhode. “They move up to superintendents, foremen and project engineers which builds strength in the company. The knowledge and continuity of our people provides a lot of capacity for the company to grow over the years.” Tony Beaupre changed from a career in construction bonding to working for Rafn when a friend suggested that he give construction a try. “I started with Rafn as a carpenter/laborer but wanted to be a superintendent,” said Beaupre. “Rafn said I needed training at CITC to do that so I went through the program, became a project engineer, and now will retire soon as a superintendent.” Rafn brings as much value to CITC as our training brings to them. It’s a symbiotic relationship – they train employees here and their employees in turn come back to CITC as instructors, volunteers, and board members. Rafn supports those volunteer efforts and we are both stronger for their steadfast commitment.
By Ryan Meno, LEED AP, Rafn Company Project Manager 
The 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living (http://21acres.org/) project in Woodinville recently submitted it's application for LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council (http://www.usgbc.org/leed/certification). The number of points a project earns determines the level of LEED Certification that the project will receive. Points are awarded in various categories including sustainable site, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. 52 points are needed to achieve Platinum Certification and the 21 Acres project submitted for 55. The project was completed with the following statistics: 48% energy cost reduction over ASHRAE 90.1-2004; 15% of the building energy provided by PV’s.; 100% reduction of building waste water; 84% reduction of building potable water use; and 95% construction waste diverted from landfill. A special thank you to the entire project team including ArchEcology (Architecture), Coughlin Porter Lundeen (Civil Engineering), Michael Nouwens (Structural Engineering), Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr (Land Use), Terracon (Geotech), Solterra (Green Roof), Sunergy (Solar Panels), Kirby Electric, United Systems Mechanical, Clearview Mechanical, Earthheat Geothermal Systems, and AAA Drainfield Design.
