Sparling Technology Center

Sparling Technology Center

Lynnwood, Washington Client:  Lynnwood Corporate Center 2 LLC. Dates of Service:  2003-2005 Project Summary: This steel-framed building consists of 4 levels of offices over a post-tensioned concrete-framed garage base.  Exterior walls are primarily clad with stone tile, with curtain-wall and store-front window systems. Widespread and persistent leakage began affecting the exterior walls after the building’s completion in … Read more

Primary Personnel Qualifications – Paul Lukes

EDUCATION 1984 – Master of Architecture, University of Washington 1978 – Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, University of Washington REGISTRATION 1990 – Architect, State of Washington WORK HISTORY 2005 – present: Paul Lukes: Building Envelope Consulting Services 1989 – 2005: Building Envelope Consulting Services 1987 – 1989: Mithun Partners Architects 1983 – 1987: Van Horne … Read more

Alaska State Capitol Building

Alaska State Capitol Building

Juneau, Alaska Client:  State of Alaska Dates of Service: 2006, 2010, and on-going Project Summary: Built during the Great Depression, this venerable structure had begun to show its age and the effects of Juneau’s persistently wet, cold climate. Its exterior masonry cladding, comprised primarily of brick, with elements of sandstone, pre-cast concrete, marble, and terra … Read more

Bellevue College Science and Technology Building

Bellevue College Science and Technology Building

Bellevue, Washington Client: Miller-Hull Partnership Dates of Service: 2007-2009 Project Summary: The above-grade portions of the concrete and steel structure of this new Science and Technology building are protected with two different types of metal cladding, curtain-wall and store-front window systems, and a single-ply roof assembly, while sub-grade portions utilize two-layer waterproofing and a sub-slab drainage system … Read more

Sub-Grade Wall Drainage and Waterproofing

Sub-Grade Wall Drainage and Waterproofing

PL:BECS has been designing, specifying, and supervising the installation of sub-grade wall drainage and waterproofing systems for over a quarter-century, including for various exceedingly-challenging situations, such as for highly-finished, moisture-sensitive spaces submerged well into the site water table and supported atop highly-dynamic, expansive soils. Past designs have spanned the full spectrum of products and assemblies, … Read more

The Red House

The Red House

Denver, Colorado Client: Olson Sundberg Architects Dates of Service: 1996 Project Summary:  This 3-story residence in Denver’s urban core posed particular challenges due to its complex construction technologies combined with Denver’s severe climate. Its basic structure included cast-in-place concrete sub-grade walls; pre-cast, pre-stressed concrete floor planks; steel decking with concrete slab floors; steel-framed as well as concrete-block walls; … Read more

Points Elliott and Nautica Condominiums

Points Elliott and Nautica Condominiums

Seattle, Washington Client: Carney Badley Smith & Spellman Attorneys Dates of Service: 2002-2004 Project Summary: Leaks became a major problem quickly after construction was completed at two similar high-end condos. A costly lawsuit was filed against the window manufacturer after an outside consulting firm conducted an examination and placed much of the blame on faulty window units. … Read more

Harrison House Retirement Complex

Harrison House Retirement Complex

Kent, Washington Client:  King County Housing Authority Dates of Service: 2002-2005 Project Summary: This publicly owned, 4-story, block-long retirement complex had been leaking for 12 years before PL: BECS’s participation. The process of fixing this problem had already been started by another consulting firm, but it had grossly misjudged the scope of the problem and the complexity … Read more

Exterior Wall Cladding Systems

Exterior Wall Cladding Systems

PL: BECS has been able to create new systems and components because of its in-depth familiarity with exterior wall claddings. Ten years before “rain-screen” assemblies were prominent in local markets, PLBECS’s self-drying Zephyr Drain-Vented cladding systems were utilized. PLBECS’s publication Zen of Brick has been used as a training resource for masonry schools and as … Read more

Nordstrom Southcenter Store

Nordstrom Southcenter Store

Tukwila, Washington Client: Nordstrom Corporation Dates of Service: 1997 Project Summary: Brick veneer, pre-cast concrete, and glass-fiber reinforced concrete make up the exterior walls of this 12-year-old, four-story shopping mall. These cladding components showed many signs of stress and deterioration, such as cracking, dislocation, and moisture damage. PL:BECS Services: PL:BECS provided its services in two distinct waves.The … Read more