A Retrospective View of Swindells Hall

Dan Danielson, AIA, Soderstrom Architects PC
Steve Kolmes, Ph.D., University of Portland

The primary issues of this talk will revolve around the process taken to achieve a highly successful sustainable project prior to the guidelines established by the LEED™ program. These lessons are still applicable today, especially to those who either can't afford the cost to pursue LEED™ certification but wish to have a building that performs at the highest efficiency affordable to their budget as well as maintaining a strong sustainable commitment. This process was an inclusive one which established a working relationship with the Faculty, Administration and Board of Regents.

Labs21 Connection:

The approach Steve Kolmes and I took was unique at the time from the standpoint we maintained a close working relationship throughout the entire process from Programming through Construction Administration. This process was critical in enforcing our strategies throughout the design and construction phases. Without this constant oversight I believe it is nearly impossible to achieve the vision clients wish to achieve. We will discuss this process at length giving advice and anecdotal examples of the many pitfalls that lay ahead in the design process.

Biographies:

Dan Danielson, Managing Partner for Soderstrom Architects, earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arizona in 1978. He has been a partner with Soderstrom Architects for the past 21 years and is a licensed architect in six states. Over the years, Dan has developed particular design specialties in higher education facilities with emphasis in areas of student housing, academic and science design. His design and management expertise has led to long standing relationships with many of his clients, including the University of Portland for which he has been the primary architect for the past 15 years.

Through the course of his career, Dan has also become an authority on environmentally responsible architecture. He has led the design efforts of several award-winning sustainable design projects. He is currently working with the Oregon Research Institute on designs for their new headquarters building in Eugene, Oregon, pursuing LEED™ Gold Certification, and is working with Oregon Institute of Technology to develop a Net-Zero Energy Student Housing facility in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Dan's expertise in higher education facilities and sustainable design has led to numerous guest lecturer engagements at SCUP (Society for College & University Planning) and other conferences across the country.

Steve Kolmes

Education:
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ph.D. major Zoology, minor Entomology, 1984.
University of Wisconsin-Madison, M.S. in Zoology, 1978.
Ohio University, B.S. in Zoology with High Honors, 1976.

Recent Professional Positions:
Rev. John Molter, C.S.C., Chair in Science, University of Portland (1995-present)
Environmental Studies Program Director, University of Portland (1996-present)
Core Science Program Director, University of Portland (1995-2005)
Member of the Technical Recovery Team for Endangered Salmonid Recovery, Willamette River and Lower Columbia River, NMFS (2000-present)
Professor of Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges (1994-1995)
Fulbright Research Scholar, Utrecht University (1991)
Department Chairman, Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges (1988-1990)

Recent Fellowships, Grants and Honors:
-Murdock College Science Research Program grant for summer research by science faculty and undergraduates at the University of Portland, written with Dean Marlene Moore, $350,000 (2004-2006)
-Research Grant from the National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Fisheries Science Center to investigate the effects of contaminants on spring chinook in the MacKenzie River Subbasin, $3,500 (2003-2004)

Other Activities:
I am a member of the Willamette/Lower Columbia Rivers Technical Recovery Team charged with providing the National Marine Fisheries Service with draft delisting goals for salmon species listed under the Endangered Species Act.
I served a member of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Toxics Technical Advisory Committee for surface water contaminant standards (2001-2003).
I was a member of the Steering Committee for the Spirit of the Columbia River Pastoral letter, being prepared on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of OR, WA, ID and MT dioceses bordering the river. (1997-2001).
I served from 1996-1998 as an Issue Editor for the Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly.
I served in 1990 and 1991 as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Apicultural Research, published by the International Bee Research Association.

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