Portland Chapter CSI Newsletter

October 2013

Volume 53 Number 10

In This Issue

October Chapter Meeting

President's Message

Release the Kraken

Upcoming CSI Events

NW Region Conference 2014

Recent Events

Education

Industry Association Dates

Certification

New LTTR Values

Intitute and Region News

Membership

Resources

Allied Organizations

Institute & Region Chapters

ADVERTISE HERE

Portland CSI has many ways that you can advertise, sponsor events or host a student. Please email us for more information at [email protected]

OCTOBER CHAPTER MEETING

Zidell Yards: Past, Present, Future
October 8, 2013

Located in the heart of Portland's South Waterfront District, the Zidell family's 33-acre riverfront property is the largest undeveloped site in the city. For generations the land has been home to the family's industrial businesses. Now, after extensive environmental restoration, the site is prepared for redevelopment. As barge operations continue on a portion of the Yards, the family has launched an ambitious plan to transform the land into a mixed use district complete with parks, plazas and river access.

Schedule

5:30 PM - Social hour

6:30 PM - Dinner

7:00 PM - Presentation

Cost

$40 - Members

$50 - Non-Members

$10 - Students (Only 5 spots available)

$320 - Table of 8

$10 - Additional late fee if registering after Thursday, 10/3

Sponsored by: Husqvarna Hiperfloor

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

By Chris Irwin, CSI

The seasons appear to be changing and the Portland Chapter is changing also. Our new home for chapter meetings from October through December will be Courtyard by Marriott, Portland City Center, 550 SW Oak Street, Portland, OR.

October Meeting & New Member Orientation

The October meeting will feature Dennis Allen, ZRZ Director of Planning and Development will be presenting a look at the past, present and future of the Zidell Shipyard Property at South Waterfront. Prior to the October Chapter meeting, we will be hosting a New Member Orientation from 5:00 - 5:30 PM. It is good way for us to get to know you, and for you to get to know us. Take this opportunity to meet your Board, Committee Chairs, and other officers of the Portland Chapter CSI and to receive your new member pin. Invitations have been sent for this event. If by some reason you have joined within the past year and were not included, please contact Brian Nelson. After the New Member Orientation, we hope you stay for the Chapter Meeting.

CONSTRUCT 2013

I'm adjusting to the time change and have had to turn on the heat for the first time in a long while. Yes, I have just returned from CONSTRUCT 2013. What an opportunity! It was a chance to catch up with old friends and meet new people who became friends over the course of the week. The chance to meet so many like-minded people, dedicated to the construction industry and CSI was amazing. Nearly everyone was open, friendly and willing to exchange ideas. I quickly got into the habit of asking everyone "What was your best chapter meeting of the year?" The answers were all very different and interesting. Many were tours of projects in their local areas and some were presentations by some of the most knowledgeable in our industry.

(Pictured: Tana Baker, President - Willamette Valley Chapter, Georgia Spencer, President-Elect NW Region, Gene Fosheim, Everett, WA & Chris Irwin, President - Portland, Chapter)

Increasing opportunities for education and involvement at the chapter level was a theme that resonated among everyone I spoke with. There is a great concern that younger members and emerging professionals are not joining CSI and ideas were shared in both formal and informal sessions on how to increase the involvement of the next generation. Education seems to be the key and fits in with the 2013/2014 Portland Chapter focus.

Many opportunities for education were available at CONSTRUCT for both professional development and leadership. Institute President, Casey Robb, spoke about the "Trusted Advisors" program, which will take CSI to the next level. Watch for more information in the future.

To check out photos from CONSTRUCT 2013, courtesy of Joy Davis, click here.

CSI Lecture Series 1

Troy Lowell of Interface Engineering was the first presenter for our new lecture series held on September 19th. His presentation on the design-build delivery system was very thought provoking. He explored the term's history, its most popular current definition, and a possibility of the term's definition on the fringe of a revolutionary change. A big thanks to Troy for stepping up to be our first presenter. More of these lectures are being planned with LinkedIn and Twitter for dummies coming up in November.

We also hope to begin a lunch series that will showcase new products and changes in the building industry. If you are interested in being a part of this, either by presenting or providing a venue that can accommodate up to 35, please email Cherise Schacter.

Northwest Region Conference 2014 & Industry Forum

The Portland Chapter will be hosting the Northwest Region Conference in conjunction with the 2014 Industry Forum. From May 8 - 10, the Downtown Hilton will be the headquarters for our colleagues from around the area. Skip Brown and Cherise Schacter have been busy booking and confirming the educational speakers for the event. Co-chairs Russ Pitkin and Erica Bitterman-Ryon are organizing the schedule and planning activities. The rest of the committee is hard at work and would love to have some help. This is a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful city and all it offers. We would love to have your input as we move forward with our planning. We will respect your schedule and even if you just have an hour or two to devote to conference activities, please email Erica Bitterman-Ryon if you would like to get involved.

RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

Are you a take-charge person? Do you let nothing stand in your way? Do others know that if a task is given to you, you will get it done no matter what? Odds are, you are a CSI Kraken! A new movement is afoot starting here at the Portland CSI Chapter and is quickly spreading across the country. Consider supporting this effort and proudly wearing your Kraken colors by ordering your very own CSI Kraken Committee apparel. The t-shirts and sweatshirts have been flying off the shelves and were worn with pride at the recent CONSTRUCT 2013 conference.

This is a limited edition item for a long-term movement. Learn more here >>

UPCOMING CSI EVENTS

October 8th - New Member Orientation

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM, preceding the October Chapter Meeting

November 12th - November Chapter Meeting

LEED v4 Panel and Presentation
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

LEED Version 4 was approved in July by a vote of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) members. Approval of LEED v4 as the next version of the LEED Rating System clears the way for its launch during the GreenBuild Conference in November 2013. This newer version will have higher standards, changes in key requirements and new topics such as a focus on disclosure of ingredients in building products.

Green Building Services will present overall LEEDv4 changes and then focus the panel specifically on LEEDv4 for LEED-CI, LEED-NC, and LEED-EBOM. We'll have three panelists; each will have expertise in the LEED rating system (LEED-CI, LEED-NC, and LEED-EBOM) they're going to represent.

December 10th - December Chapter Meeting

Holiday Dinner and Silent Auction
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

The Portland Chapter of CSI is proud to present our second annual silent auction. Join us for this fun fundraising event. Once again proceeds will be spilt with the Portland Chapter CSI Scholarship program to assist Senior and Graduate Students in Design or Construction Programs in area schools as well as supporting emerging professionals in their pursuit of CSI Certification and ReFIT, a local nonprofit volunteer organization providing home modification services for physically and financially challenged individuals who wish to remain in their homes. Register here >>

Download donation form here >>

January 14, 2014 - January Chapter Meeting

Economic Forecast
Once again, in January we will address the subject of the upcoming economic forecast for our industry. Please join Cliff Brewis, McGraw-Hill Construction's Senior Director of Editorial Operations, as he reviews the construction outlook. Register here >>

CSI NORTHWEST REGION CONFERENCE 2014

BUILDING BRIDGES TO THE FUTURE

David "Skip" Brown III, AIA, CSI

May 8th-10th, 2014 at the Portland Hilton, 921 SW Sixth Avenue

Each month leading up to the NWRC, we will profile a few of our scheduled speakers and the topics they will cover. Teasers to get you excited about the upcoming event!

Learn more about our keynote speaker and others here >>

RECENT EVENTS

Kiley Ford, ZGF Architects

The September Chapter Tour and Dinner Meeting focused on the OHSU Collaborative Life Sciences Building currently under construction at South Waterfront. The project was a fascinating structure to visit. From the moment the tour began, you could feel a sense of camaraderie amongst everyone involved with the construction of this building. The building is grand in size, scale and innovation. This place has been designed for success, and there was clearly a great amount of time and attention that went into the vast details of the structure.

There were many complexities to the built structure itself, as well as to the business aspect of the building. One challenge that stood out to me was the building will be utilized by a wide variety of educational disciplines. The idea of creating a space where students work side-by-side in various medical specialties is remarkable. I predict it will change the way education takes place. Now, not only are the professors educating the students, but the students are teaching each other as well. All of the open areas where students are able to connect will really allow them to communicate about the different things that they are learning. This circulation of knowledge, whether it is medical or perhaps dental, is what will keep students excited and thirsty for knowledge.

Regardless of your medical specialty, it is important to know about the energy and learning that takes place amongst your peers. This is something that has not really happened yet, and I think that it will be interesting to see the quality of education emerge as these young professionals begin to enter into the workplace.

EDUCATION

Cherise Schacter, President-Elect, Education Committee Chair, Institute Education Committee

CONSTRUCT 2013

The education sessions at CONSTRUCT were unparalleled. I attended everything from "What Spec Writers Need to Know About BIM" presented by Brok Howard of HOK, to "Speaking the Same Language: Government and Private Sector Construction Terms" presented by a panel including Sheryl Dodd-Hansen and outlining the ongoing, forward moving effort to implement the CDT-G certification, a CDT certificate specifically geared toward government needs and work. The sessions were outstanding, informative and cutting edge and it was very difficult to choose which ones to attend. Read more >>

Institute Education Committee
The Institute Education Committee is hard at work refining the study materials and tests for the certification programs. We have a big workload this coming year, but the improvements will be well worth it for our upcoming certification candidates.

Twitter & LinkedIn for Dummies
Keep your eyes peeled for an announcement soon on the Portland Chapter "Twitter/LinkedIn for Dummies" class to be held in November. I will be co-teaching this class with our amazing Jaci Amend to help anyone who is interested get involved in social media in the most painless way possible. Join us and get all the easy tips and tricks to get up to speed and to find out just how valuable a resource Twitter and LinkedIn can be.

Portland Chapter Education Committee
We need your help and would love to have your participation. We have some aggressive goals this year to provide a wide variety of educational opportunities to our members. Some of our goals are as follows:

A low cost CSI Lecture Series on any number of topics related to the built environment
Reigniting the Specifiers Share Group and restarting the Contractor and Product Rep Share Groups
Providing a first class educational event at the 2014 Region Conference hosted by the Portland Chapter
Emerging Professional education sessions and events
Hands-on technical/product demonstrations and classes
Videotaped presentations for a CSI Portland YouTube channel

In my opinion, the very best thing about CSI is that all areas of our industry are represented equally as members. We bring everyone to the table to develop the standards and processes that make sense and work for the entire project team. Each member has unique qualities and skills to share. Do you have an interesting topic or skill to share? Showcase your talent and share your expertise with our members. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Student Rates at Events
We offer a limited number of drastically reduced registration fees for chapter meetings to local design industry students. We also offer the opportunity for our members to sponsor student involvement in chapter meetings and events. If you are interested in hosting a student for meetings, send us an email for more information.

CSI National Practice Groups
Join the discussion! CSI offers several web-based practice groups focused on issues in construction industry communication. Most practice groups meet monthly via webinar and encourage group discussion. Group members often make presentations. Join a CSI Practice Group today!

Contract Administration Practice Group
Sustainability Practice Group
Specifiying Practice Group
Product Representation Practice Group
BIM Practice Group

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION DATES OF NOTE

AIA Portland

Oct. 11, 8A-12P - Post Occupancies and Occupant Behavior - Registration opens in September.

Architectural Foundation of Oregon

Oct. 9 - AFO Annual Honored Citizen Dinner. This year's Honored Citizen: Benson Industries.

International Facilities Management Association

Nov. 20 - Psychology of Sustainability: Ecopsychology

Associated General Contractors - Oregon Columbia Chapter

Nov. 2 - Black Tie Blue Jeans Dinner Auction

CERTIFICATION

Kathy Hempel, CSI, Certification Committee Chair

Are you interested in furthering your professional education and providing better services to your clients? Then get started by obtaining your CDT (Construction Documents Technologist) certificate in the spring of 2014 with the support of Portland's CSI Chapter. We offer classes with experienced instructors to help you understand the material needed to pass the CDT exam in April.

Spring 2014 Exam Dates
Exam Administration: March 31 - April 26, 2014
Registration Opens: December 2, 2013
Early Registration Closes: January 31, 2014
Final Registration: February 28, 2014

CDT Preparation Classes

CDT classes will start on January 23rd, 2014 and will meet every Thursday for seven weeks at Ankrom Moisan Architects, unless weather or other circumstances warrant changes. Assistance for advance certification exam preparation will also be made available as needed.

CDT Scholarships Available

CDT Scholarships are available to emerging professionals within the following guidelines:

Must either become a CSI member or be an existing member
Must be an emerging professional with less than ten years experience in your field
Must make a one-year commitment to participating in a CSI committee of your choice

The scholarship will cover the following items:

Membership fee (if needed) after the first $100
Cost of Portland Chapter CDT class
Cost of Project Delivery Practice Guide and Study Workbook
Exam cost will be reimbursed upon passing

You can apply for this scholarship by sending an email to [email protected] including:

name
address
company
discipline
brief statement explaining why you are interested in becoming CDT certified

CSI's CDT certificate is a prerequisite to CSI's advanced certifications--Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA), Certified Construction Specifier (CCS), and Certified Construction Product Representative (CCPR). Through CSI's Certification Program, you can develop a conceptual understanding of the entire project delivery process including:

Construction documentation development and administration
Specification writing and enforcement
Product research and sourcing
Communication with the design and contracting teams
And much more!

We can help you prepare for any of these exams. Contact me at [email protected] or 503-284-6799 today for more information. For CDT Study Notes on Twitter: Follow #CDTStudyNotes

NEW LTTR VALUES TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2014

In June, the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) announced its QualityMark-certified R-value program is being updated to incorporate a new test method for determining long-term thermal resistance (LTTR). As a result, new LTTR values are going to decrease from current values. If you are involved in the design, procurement or installation of roof systems that include polyisocyanurate insulation, you should be aware of these upcoming changes. Learn more here >>

INSTITUTE AND REGION NEWS

CSI Academies, March 27th to 29th, Indianapolis

For more than 60 years, CSI has focused on improving construction communication between architects, specifiers, product reps and others to save money, time and stress for all the parties. The CSI Academies teach construction industry skills that can improve your performance. Learn more >>

CSI's CDT Exam Now Offered in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (August 13, 2013) - Beginning this fall, CSI's Construction Documents Technology program (CDT) exam is available to candidates in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Learn more >>

RENEWED & NEW MEMBERS

Lee Kilbourn, FAIA, FCSI, CDT, Membership Committee Chair

Renewed and new members August 2013

Mark J. Atteridge, CSI; Deamor; member since 2007
Mark E. Booth, CSI, CDT; ZGF Architects LLP; member since 1991
Roland Marcus Carlson, CSI; Orepac Building Products; member since 2013; Reinstated
Tony R DiVincenzo, CSI, LEED GA; Ideate Inc.; member since 2012
Ken L. Dzioba, CSI, CDT; Parex USA Inc.; member since 1996
Hans O. Ettlin, CSI, NCARB; Peck Smiley Ettlin Architects, Inc.; member since 2013; NEW
Caleb J. Ewing, CSI; Coastal Specified Products; member since 2012
Aric R. Goe, CSI; Interface Engineering; member since 2013; NEW
James L. Helton, CSI; Murray, Smith & Associates; member since 2000
Martin Joseph Houston, CSI, CDT, AIA, LEED AP; Walsh Construction; member since 2011
Dennet W. Latham, RA, CSI, CCS, RA, LEED AP; CH2M HILL; member since 1980
Erik D. Lawrence, CSI, AIA; RDH Building Sciences, Inc.; member since 2013; NEW
Christopher C. O'Brien, CSI; Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.; member since 2013; NEW
Logan Raivio, CSI-EP; Pacific Architectural Products; member since 2013; NEW
Patrick T. Ravins, CSI; Maxxon Northwest; member since 1982
Candace L. Robertson, CSI, CCS, AIA; Candace Robertson; member since 1981
TJ Loring Shannon, CSI; Bain Associates, Inc; member since 2013; NEW
Stan Vande Bergh, CSI; Portland Bureau of Water; member since 1993
Richard Wickizer, CSI, CDT; Wickizer & Associates; member since 2012
James B. Wilson, CSI, CCS; SRG Partnership, P.C.; member since 1989
Nick Wutzke, CSI; Halfen USA; member since 2012