2013 Archives

WALSH Leadership Transition in the Works

When Bob Walsh and his brother, Tom, founded Walsh Construction Co. in Portland 52 years ago, they kept their accounting records in a shoe box and worked out of a 1947 Chevrolet van.

Next month, Bob Walsh will officially step down as president of the company, which now has more than 300 employees and offices in Portland, Seattle and Tacoma, Wash.

Walsh will continue to play a role in the company as board chairman and manager of philanthropic efforts. Longtime Walsh Construction employee Matt Leeding will become president.

Walsh, 68, said he’s ready for the change.

…Read More

WALSH Wins Green Washington Awards 2013

At the mixed-use Greenfire Campus in the heart of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, Walsh Construction Co. embraced an opportunity to push its green building practices to new heights. Already a stalwart of sustainable construction—Walsh has built more than 50 LEED-certified buildings throughout Washington and Oregon—the Walsh team embarked on a “paperless challenge” with other partners on the Greenfire project, including architects, engineers, leasing agents and property managers.

…Read More

Opening of Alma Gardens Senior Housing

Alma Gardens will provide 45 new units of affordable housing for seniors who earn low incomes in Hillsboro, Oregon. The beautiful building will be specifically designed for seniors and built in a setting that includes ample sitting areas, gardens and open spaces. Alma Gardens will be located in the Orenco Station neighborhood and will provide easy access to the MAX light rail, markets, and parks. Watch the constuction of Alma Gardens here!

ArtHouse: Student Housing for PNCA

One of the great historical lessons Portland learned early, and then seemed to forget, is that, in a dark, dreary climate, bright buildings lift the soul. Early century architects such as San Francisco’s Reid & Reid and Portland’s A.E. Doyle proved it with glazed, white terra cotta high-rises like the Yeon Building and Meier & Frank. Pietro Belluschi showed how beautifully aluminum could do the job with the Equitable Building in 1948.

So say a word of thanks to the Powell family and the Pacific Northwest College of Art for ArtHouse, the new student residence hall at NW Park and Couch. Built in collaboration with the development company, Project, and designed by Thomas Robinson of Lever Architecture, it not only reminds us of the lesson, but does it stunningly.

…Read More