Talk about efficiency...Eric's working two jobs at once. -Paul
Monday, March 9, 2009
Martha Riley Community Library named ‘Best Community Impact Project’
Martha Riley Community Library named ‘Best Community Impact Project’by the Sacramento Business Journal
We are pleased to be a part of the award winning team that designed this upbeat and contemporary library and gathering space that allows all sectors of the community to come together. From the children’s reading tree to the teen media center, quiet reading areas, spacious meeting rooms, comfy gathering spaces to the Utility Exploration Center, this project truly has something for everyone.
“The library itself is no longer a place where people are going to shush you. People can bring sodas and a cup of coffee into the library. We want it to be comfortable” noted Mike Shellito, City of Roseville. “The library became cool again.”
Lots of awards programs are more like beauty contests – what’s on the outside -- but this one goes beyond outer beauty and judges the impact a project has on bettering the community it serves. And after all isn’t that why we design buildings, to better serve the community?
“The Business Journal award is unique in that judges visit the site and the Owner and Design Team have an opportunity to relate the building’s story. This building’s connection to the community is paramount to the success of the project. To be recognized for it, is the decoration on the cake!” said Naaz Alikhan, Principal, Williams + Paddon Architects + Planners, Inc.
This is the 2nd year in a row that a Williams + Paddon project has received the ‘Best Community Impact’ award by the Business Journal. Our company philosophy Involve // Connect // Delight is why we enjoy doing projects like this so much.
To learn more about the Martha Riley Community Library and Utility Exploration, visit our website.
-Jodie
How we spent our President’s Day Weekend!!!
Over the President’s Day Weekend, Jeff and I went to visit my parents up in Tahoe. We decided to take a leisurely drive down to Mono Lake with my mom. I hadn’t been there since I was little, and Jeff had never been. It was a beautiful drive down and the scenery was spectacular…
…these are right out of Bridgeport and are the backside of Yosemite. To give a small sense of scale, Bridgeport sits at an elevation on 6772 ft., so those mountains are pretty high. Our destination, Mono Lake, was just as I had remembered…very flat with the tufas sticking out of the water.
We took a lunch break, had a nice leisurely walk down to the water’s edge, then headed back home. On the way home, just outside of Walker, we came across this memorial.
It is to commemorate a fire plane accident that happened in 2002, killing all on board and setting the town of Walker on fire. It was a very humbling place…seeing the trinkets that people have left over time and seeing the rows of tee-shirts that other firefighters have left. We saw shirts as far away as New York and Alaska. We took one side trip…up the road to Sonora Pass (I think) and saw the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center…the following is a blurb from their website about what they do…
…these are right out of Bridgeport and are the backside of Yosemite. To give a small sense of scale, Bridgeport sits at an elevation on 6772 ft., so those mountains are pretty high. Our destination, Mono Lake, was just as I had remembered…very flat with the tufas sticking out of the water. 
We took a lunch break, had a nice leisurely walk down to the water’s edge, then headed back home. On the way home, just outside of Walker, we came across this memorial.
It is to commemorate a fire plane accident that happened in 2002, killing all on board and setting the town of Walker on fire. It was a very humbling place…seeing the trinkets that people have left over time and seeing the rows of tee-shirts that other firefighters have left. We saw shirts as far away as New York and Alaska. We took one side trip…up the road to Sonora Pass (I think) and saw the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center…the following is a blurb from their website about what they do…“The Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC) is one of the Corps most remote and isolated post. The center was established in 1951 as a Cold Weather Battalion with a mission of providing cold weather training for replacement personnel bound for Korea. After the Korea conflict the name was changed to the Marine Corps Cold Weather Training Center. As a result of its expanded role it was renamed the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in 1963. MCMWTC operated on a full time basis until 1967 when it was placed in a caretaker status as a result of the Vietnam War. The training center was reactivated to a full-time command on May 19th 1976.
The center occupies 46,000 acres of Toiyabe National Forrest under management of the U.S. Forrest Service. A letter of agreement between the Forrest Service and the Marine Corps permits the use of the area to train Marines in mountain and cold weather operations.
The center is cited at 6,762 feet, with elevations in the training areas ranging to just under 12,000 feet. During the winter season (October - April) snow accumulation can rear 6 to 8 feet. Further, severe storms can deposit as much as four feet in a 12 hour period. Annual temperatures range from -20 degrees to +90 degrees Fahrenheit.
The MCMWTC conducts formal schools for individuals and battalion training in summer and winter mountain operations. The training emphasis on enhancing overall combat capability.
Marines at the center are also involved in testing cold weather equipment and clothing, and developing doctrine and concepts to enhance our Corp’s ability to fight and win in mountain and cold weather environments.”
(My parents have gone jeeping up in those mountains and have come across the troops in full gear, with tents, rifles and anything else they needed.)
All in all…we had a great little trip and I highly recommend it as a day trip to anyone wanting to get away.
The center occupies 46,000 acres of Toiyabe National Forrest under management of the U.S. Forrest Service. A letter of agreement between the Forrest Service and the Marine Corps permits the use of the area to train Marines in mountain and cold weather operations.
The center is cited at 6,762 feet, with elevations in the training areas ranging to just under 12,000 feet. During the winter season (October - April) snow accumulation can rear 6 to 8 feet. Further, severe storms can deposit as much as four feet in a 12 hour period. Annual temperatures range from -20 degrees to +90 degrees Fahrenheit.
The MCMWTC conducts formal schools for individuals and battalion training in summer and winter mountain operations. The training emphasis on enhancing overall combat capability.
Marines at the center are also involved in testing cold weather equipment and clothing, and developing doctrine and concepts to enhance our Corp’s ability to fight and win in mountain and cold weather environments.”
(My parents have gone jeeping up in those mountains and have come across the troops in full gear, with tents, rifles and anything else they needed.)
All in all…we had a great little trip and I highly recommend it as a day trip to anyone wanting to get away.
-Kim N.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Happy Birthday Blog!
This week, one year ago, the blog was created. The idea for the blog was in the works for, well, a few days. It managed to avoid red tape and with the support of the decision makers, was launched on Feb. 29th, 2008. I've enjoyed the wide range of articles that roll across my desk every Monday. Thank you to all who have contributed by either posting or reading, without you this would not survive. As of today we have posted over 200 articles of interest. I hope that it has brought some new ideas, helped you get to know WP, learn who we are and why we rock, and most importantly...laugh. Thank you!
- Brian L.
Tour of California
Over the past few years the interest in cycling has grown exponentially at WP. We now have people who commute regularly on their bikes and many others who ride on lunch breaks and weekends. So, as no surprise to anyone WP was well represented at the Prologue to the Tour of California, which took place in Downtown Sacramento. It was a 2.4 mile time trial and the winner finished in 4 minutes 32 seconds. For those playing along at home, that's fast. Levi Leipheimer finished 1st for the third straight year with teammate Lance Armstrong finishing 7th. This was Lance's return to cycling in the US and did not disappoint. At 37 years of age, and after 3 years off he proved he can still ride with the best in the world.
Spectators were given chalk from Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG team to write inspirational messages on the course.
It seemed everyone came out to cheer on Lance. Over 2 million over the 8 day tour.
Levi pushing towards the finish line.
Spectators were given chalk from Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG team to write inspirational messages on the course.
It seemed everyone came out to cheer on Lance. Over 2 million over the 8 day tour.
Levi pushing towards the finish line.These guys are fast...
- Brian L.
WP University 101b
Last Thursday Professor Jack (Paddon) conducted WP University 101A - a history lesson which covered the evolution of Williams + Paddon Architects + Planners. Jack presented interesting discussion and provided a backdrop of several historical photos and news stories that he incorporated into his presentation. It was a pretty insightful lesson about the firm’s history (summarized within an hour), but most would agree that Jack could have used much more time. After all, he was going back almost 28 years.
As a great follow-up to Jack’s class, WP University 101B was given by Professor Terry (Green), which included a tour of several of W+Ps early projects that have paved the way in establishing Williams + Paddon Architects as one of the leading firms in the region. Terry provided historical information about the ideas and concepts for many of the designs, as we visited many of the significant project locations. Tom, Jeff, Will and I really enjoyed Terry’s relaxed style and appreciated the funny stories he shared.
Here are a few (of the many) photos that I shot while on the tour.
Hollywood Video was one Terry’s very first projects with W+P.
Whitney Oaks Golf Clubhouse was Terry’s first clubhouse.
Sierragate Plaza was one of the first office projects for W+P. It has Jack Paddon written all over it.
SMUD was one the most significant projects for W+P, Its energy efficient design has achieved the highest rating of LEED® Platinum Certification EB.
As a great follow-up to Jack’s class, WP University 101B was given by Professor Terry (Green), which included a tour of several of W+Ps early projects that have paved the way in establishing Williams + Paddon Architects as one of the leading firms in the region. Terry provided historical information about the ideas and concepts for many of the designs, as we visited many of the significant project locations. Tom, Jeff, Will and I really enjoyed Terry’s relaxed style and appreciated the funny stories he shared.
Here are a few (of the many) photos that I shot while on the tour.
Hollywood Video was one Terry’s very first projects with W+P. 
Whitney Oaks Golf Clubhouse was Terry’s first clubhouse.
Sierragate Plaza was one of the first office projects for W+P. It has Jack Paddon written all over it.
SMUD was one the most significant projects for W+P, Its energy efficient design has achieved the highest rating of LEED® Platinum Certification EB.- Rose
Naaz Knows
Our very own Naaz Alikhan was installed as the 2009 Roseville Chamber of Commerce President on January 20, 2009. Two very exciting, life changing events happened that day, but for those of us in the audience, at least we were a lot warmer than the people in DC. Jim Williams served as the MC and as he pointed out, the last time someone from WP was Chamber President we were in an economic recession. I’m not sure they will let anyone else from WP serve as President, but we know if anyone knows how to make it happen, “Naaz knows.” And thanks to Ralph Alsgood from Rudolph and Sletten Contractors for printing the “Naaz Knows” bumper stickers. - Jodie and Rose
