The Berger Partnership is joining with Big Brothers Big Sisters this holiday season in their Companies That Care program. These donations are one of the non-profit’s biggest earners. We encourage all clients and friends to drop their new or used clothing items at our office. BBBS will drop off a collection bin on November 27 and will pick up the bins on December 1. Thanks to Fred for connecting us!

The Berger Partnership always encourages the personal and professional growth of its employees. In the past few weeks we have seen a lot of it.

Jeanette Benton, Rachael Watland and Whitney Spoonhour become LEED^® Accredited Professionals. Joining the ranks of Jason Henry, Jud Youell, Jan Satterthwaite, Brent Chastain and Jonathan Morley. LEED Accredidation proves that the professional has passed an exam testing knowledge and understanding of LEED requirements, resources and processes, as well as green building practices and principles.

Katie Bang has also had a big month, becoming a registered Landscape Architect in Washington State. Taking the firm’s total to 13 registered landscape architects!

Architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne discusses “the lowly roof“ in monday’s Los Angeles Times. Hawthorne states that the growing prominence of the roof and a top-down perspective is “one of the most dramatic shifts to hit the architecture world in decades…” Much of this change has been influenced by Google Earth and other Web-based programs. Hawthorne goes on to discuss that this interest in top-down perspective may increase the use of green roofs; on the down side it may “tempt architects to play to their growing virtual audience at the expense of a building’s day-to-day users.”

Hawthorne also discusses the benefits of Google Earth and the addition of SketchUp to designers and clients. Google Earth allows the public to obtain an overhead photograph of a building, which was once much more difficult and expensive to obtain, and move quickly to a 3D digital rendering of it.

Programs such as Google Earth and SketchUp greatly enhance The Berger Partnership’s design and communication process. It allows us to look at the context of a site before we visit it, to show the client the intent of a complex design, to give a “fly-through” view of the site and so much more. Google Earth is helpful for showcasing our work in a specific area, such as South Lake Union, Seattle; it also allows us to show an understanding of potential project areas, as pictured below.

The Berger Partnership has also worked on multiple rooftop terraces and green roofs over the years including 170 King Street in San Francisco, 1700 7th Ave and 2201 Westlake Ave in Seattle, Medina Residence Boat House, Clinton Beach Park Shelter on Whidbey Island and the Threshold Building in Gig Harbor.

A recent article in the Seattle P-I takes a look at pocket parks in the city of Seattle, and how design elements within each park can be used in a reader’s private garden. Someone might default to thinking of play equipment, picnic tables and benches when considering components of local parks. But, Seattle parks offer design, use of art and plant materials as inspiration for gardeners. An example of garden inspiration, is Linden Orchard Park & P-Patch, designed by The Berger Partnership with Andy Mitton leading the effort. Linden Orchard Park & P-Patch offers areas for gathering and play without large play structures. Low water-use plants, well-prepared soil and good-quality mulch were used in the park, addressing the subject of minimal watering, which is important to many home gardeners.