Absher and GGLO are proud to share that the Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center won multiple honors at the 2018 Design-Build Institute of America’s annual awards dinner. DBIA’s National Project/Team awards are given annually to projects that exemplify the principles of Design-Build Done Right™.

The awards the Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center won included:

Chairman’s Award
The Chairman’s Award for Community Impact and Social Responsibility recognizes design-build teams which have shown extraordinary commitment to triple bottom line success — economic, environmental and social — which have improved the communities they’ve engaged.

Excellence in Design–Architecture

Merit Award in Educational Facilities

https://dbia.org/awards/project-team-awards/2018

Additionally, it was also nominated for the Excellence in Teaming Award.

Challenge Design-Build Project Delivery Addressed

In order to avoid the high cost of running steam to the center, which is at the edge of the campus, the team proposed installing a boiler, to which the client agreed. On discovering basalt rock underlying the site, the team was able to adjust the design to push landscaping and parking into areas that had more challenging bedrock depths to avoid costly blasting and removal. And, by negotiating a price per cubic yard rate for the rock that was removed, the team saved 33% of the assigned value. Honoring late Washington State University President Elson Floyd, this 16,000 SF marquee facility was designed to celebrate the cultural diversity of the campus and heritage of the land. Cultural awareness and acceptance, a celebration of heritage, restoration of native landscapes and sense of place are expressed through the unapologetic, primal form of the building. The building not only celebrates diversity but also honors the site as the native land of the Nez Perce Tribe. Its organic shape and unique undulating

Project team
Owner: Washington State University
Architect, interior design and landscape design: GGLO
Design-builder: Absher Construction Co.
Structural engineer: PCS Structural Solutions
Civil engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers
Mechanical and electrical engineer: MW Consulting Engineers
Mechanical contractor: Apollo Mechanical
Electrical contractor: M&M Harrison Electric
Roofing: Cobra Roofing
Roof superstructure: Cascade Joinery
Cultural programming lead: Donald I. King
Cultural design lead: David M. Harmon
Artists: Nakia Williamson-Cloud, Barbara Earl Thomas, Alfredo Arreguin, Andres Barrioquinto, Caldwell Sculpture Studio, Kendall Design Studio

GGLO team
Mark Sindell, principal-in-charge, design
Donald Caffrey, project manager
Tiina Ritval, project architect
Sean Cahalin, architectural designer
George Valdez, interior designer
David Marshall, landscape architect
Kiwon Suh, landscape designer
Justin Schwartzhoff, sustainability advisor

PCS team
Brian Phair, principal-in-charge
Luke Heath, project manager
McKell Bowen, design engineer
Absher team
Dan Absher, principal-in-charge
Rich Wells, project executive
Aaron Binger, project manager
Steve Sanislo, superintendent
Sebatian Kalilikane, project engineer
Ryan Sours, lead estimator