Building for the Pacific Northwest

Me, along with fellow CSI Willamette Valley Chapter members Kayla Bundy (2022-2023 chapter president) and Sydney Mills (2023-2024 chapter president) at the 2023 CSI Northwest Region Conference in Bellingham.

I attended the 2023 Construction Specifications Institute Northwest Region Conference in Bellingham, Washington May 4 through May 6. The Mt. Rainier Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute served as the most gracious host for the conference, which took place at the Hotel Bellwether, idyllically situated overlooking Bellingham Bay. Under the banner of “Building for the Pacific Northwest,” the conference renewed my faith in CSI’s mission and enthusiasm for the future of design and construction. 
 
It had been far too long since I last went to a CSI Northwest Region conference. Of course, COVID-19 threw a wrench in the works for large gatherings (notably resulting in the cancellation of the 2020 CSI Northwest & West Bi-Region Conference that the Willamette Valley Chapter was organizing). So, it was a treat to reconnect with CSI friends from around the NW Region I had not seen in years. The conference was well-attended and chock full of informative, interesting continuing education seminars. The prevailing sentiment was that it had been much too long since everyone had seen each other in person.
 
To merely say I am glad I attended is a big understatement. I was tremendously impressed with the high quality of the educational sessions, the insights of our keynote speakers, and the infectious energy and kind hospitality of the Mt. Rainier Chapter organizers. Most of all, I was thrilled to spend time with fellow members who share my enthusiasm for the Construction Specifications Institute and what it offers to every design and construction professional.
 
Speaking of the educational sessions, I attended the following seminars (there were many more), each of which were an hour in duration and uniformly excellent: 

• La Conner Swinomish Library: A Case Study in Mass Timber
• Panel Discussion: Pushing the Sustainability Envelopes Western Washington University’s new Kaiser Borsari Hall’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building
• The Emergence of Mass Timber in the U.S.
• Firestop Specifications: What Architects Need to Know According to the IBC
• Floodplain Design, Construction, and Impacts on Flood Insurance
• Designing with Hardwood Veneer
• Laser Scanning & Emerging Technologies
• Electronic Moisture Leak Detection Testing, Standards, Science and Practical Applications

Matt Aalfs, AIA of BuildingWork describes his firm's design the La Conner/Swinomish Library.

Beth Stroshane, CDT, CCS, LEED AP, Jesce Walz, and Shanni Hanein, Assoc. AIA, LEED Green Associate discuss how their team pushed the sustainability envelope with the design of Kaiser Borsari Hall on the Western Washington University campus. 

Susan Jones, FAIA was Friday's keynote speaker. She discussed the emergence of mass timber construction in the U.S. 

I returned home convinced more than ever that CSI is the AEC organization best suited to lead the industry as it confronts a transformative and challenging tomorrow. Why? I’ve said it before: It’s because CSI is radically inclusive, welcoming members from all corners of the industry. It’s because it remains the most influential voice across the entire spectrum of construction communications. It’s because construction knowledge is only becoming more complex and necessary to master. It’s most definitely because of the people who comprise its membership. If you were there, you know the 2023 Construction Specifications Institute Northwest Region Conference was the place to renew your faith in CSI’s mission and enthusiasm for the future of design and construction. 
 
Like many other professional membership organizations, CSI has seen its ranks decline precipitously in recent years. The reasons why this is occurring are not entirely clear to me. CSI has so much to offer everyone involved in all facets of design and construction. Hunkering down into discrete silos is anathema to CSI; the members of our organization are preternaturally disposed toward networking, breaking barriers, and crossing lines. If you charted the AEC industry as a Venn diagram, CSI would be located precisely where the intersection of all the sets occurs. Better than any other association, CSI fosters engagement and interaction between the disparate constituents of the building industry.
 
The conference bolstered my belief that CSI members are hands down the friendliest, most generous, and brightest agents of change when it comes to the goal of improving construction communication. The conference also underscored my certainty in the value of building relationships. The personal connections we establish are the most potent tools we can leverage in our professional lives. The key is connecting with those who share the common goals, determination, and chutzpah to make things happen. This spirit is best exemplified by the incredibly special people I have come to know as a member of the Construction Specifications Institute.