The Herberger is Back!

Celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of Herberger Theater Center this weekend!

The Herberger Theatre, one of Phoenix’s art assets is re-opening this weekend after months of being closed for renovations. PCA Member Martin Tovrea and Abigail Hoover from Gould Evans revealed some of the changes to the theater at a recent PCA executive meeting. See photos of the construction and some of the enhancements here.

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To celebrate the grand opening, there will be a ceremony with entertainment, cuisine, music, tours, and a champagne toast. Tickets are $100/person and more information can be found at www.herbergertheater.org.

Another re-opening event will be on Saturday, October 2, 2010 from 10am – 6pm, The Festival of the Arts sponsored by SRP (another PCA member) will feature performances in theater and dance, music, art, and children’s activities. Tickets are only $5/person and children 12 and under are free. Free parking courtesy of the Arizona Center. For light rail, closest stations are 1st Avenue and Van Buren or Central and Van Buren.

Click this link to see the Festival of the Arts invitation.

Welcome Kland Civil Engineers!

PCA is pleased to have Kland Civil Engineers as a new 2010 board member. Please welcome Leslie Kland!

Tell us about yourself and your organization:

Kland civil engineers was established in 2003 for the purposes of providing the public and private site development community with Principal focused civil engineering and survey services.  We are not only attentive to the technology of engineering; but understanding the vision to create more meaningful communities. We are an S/W/DBE Certified Firm in Arizona, Colorado and Utah.

Leslie Kland

Leslie Kland, P.E, LEED AP, Principal of Kland Civil Engineers has 19 year experience in civil engineering and understands the complexity of commercial and municipal site development and emphasizes an increased communication with the development team. She is more than just the Principal of the firm, but also the project manager and project engineer of each and every project; focused on experience, dedication and service.

 

Can you share any highlights about your organization or past or current projects?

Kland civil engineers specialize in creating winning schools, libraries, fire stations, parks, retail, office, warehouse, hospitality and multi-family projects in multiple jurisdictions throughout the southwest.  Our past experience in site development has been as diverse as it has been challenging; successfully completing projects with LEED requirements, ADA restrictions, in flood plains, extreme hillside conditions, in-fill projects, and downtown development. A few notable projects many may recognize are, Maricopa County Courts Tower, Rio Salado Audubon, McDowell Mountain Aquatic Center, Troon Park, McDowell Mountain Gateway Access, Scottsdale 101, The Shops at Norterra, Hotel Monroe, and projects for Maricopa County Community Colleges and ASU.

What are crucial issues that affect your business?  

Specializing in the commercial and public site development sectors, the slow economy has had a serious affect on our business as well as many others. This coupled with start up firms that have little overhead and liability and offer below standard prices for civil engineering services is forcing small and mid-size companies to reinvent business plans and strategies, strategies that force additional layoffs and cut backs such as decreased benefits to lower cost. The competition in a down economy, can be fierce. With every layoff a new firm emerges. We think it is important to not compromise quality to have the low price. We believe that when the dust settles quality, professional service is what will have survived.  Off course we are not alone in the struggle to keep our business doors open and we are very grateful to our loyal clients. We are hopeful for the future and expect that most of us will breathe a sigh of relief in the up and coming year as things become more stable.

How can customers and/or other members connect with you?

Customers can connect to us via Facebook or e-mail. Leslie Kland can be reached at LKland@klandeng.com.

RNL and D41E

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PCA is taking our next Buzz meeting on the road.  Join us as we feature PCA member, RNL Design and learn about their design philosophy, Design for One Earth (D41E). Associate Ken Anderson will present an overview of D41E, some local and national projects and provide PCA members, guests, and community friends an inside look at the RNL office space. 

Tuesday September 28, 2010

4:00pm – 5:30pm

100 West Camelback Road

Phoenix, Arizona 85013

RNL is leading the way in designing a new generation of commerical buildings. They are going beyond LEED to design the world’s greenest office building, a net-zero energy building for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, currently under construction. This building, built ”in harmony” with nature, utilizes techniques like natural daylighting and ventilation, a thermal labyrinth, and transpired solar collector to be the most energy efficient building in the world.

 

Ken Anderson will share more about this exciting project as well as local projects including East Valley Business Operations and Glendale Community College North.

We hope you will be able to join us at RNL Design on Tuesday, September 28, 2010. Complimentary wine, refreshments, and light appetizers will be served. Please RSVP your attendance by contacting Tonya Gray at tonya@phoenixcommunityalliance.com or by calling (602) 254-7477. 

Help Preserve Steele Indian School Park

Steele Indian School Park Clean-Up

To see pictures of our last clean-up, click Steele Park Clean-Up

Last December, PCA was the first organization to adopt a City of Phoenix park under the Parks and Recreation Department’s new “My Phoenix-My Park” volunteer program. The program was started in response to the economy and budget cuts that greatly reduced the maintenance of various parks and open spaces.  PCA volunteered to do quarterly clean-ups and improvement projects at Steele Indian School Park focusing on the entry garden, the North perimeter fence line and areas around the lake.

PCA is partnering with HandsOn Greater Phoenix  to kick off this year’s season on Saturday September 11, 2010. Bring your family, friends and neighbors willing to lend a helping hand to keep one of Phoenix’s most beautiful parks well-maintained.

September 11, 2010

National Day of Service

 7:00am to 10:00am

 

To help the City of Phoenix bring additional shade and increase park walkability, PCA and HandsOn Greater Phoenix are helping  plant additional trees along the entry and throughout the park. To raise awareness, the event will commence with a 30-minute training on how to plant a tree properly.  

  
Steele Indian School Park is a 75-acre park located at the northeast corner of Central Avenue & Indian School Road.  The main entrance is off of Third Street.  Just follow the arrows as you drive into the park and they will lead to the parking lot.  We plan to meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Ramada just east of Memorial Hall.

Please wear closed-toe shoes and clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. Also, remember to bring water, sunscreen, and thick gloves (if you have some). Hands-On-Greater Phoenix will be supplying tools and equipment.

 

Please let us know you if you are coming by calling 602-254-7477 ext. 25 or email tonya@phoenixcommunityalliance.com by September 9th. 

If you can’t make September 11th, no worries as we have scheduled more park tree planting and clean-up days! The meeting location will stay the same for all the upcoming events. We hope you plan on participating this season. 

Save the date for these Adopt-a-Park activities:

   

November 13, 2010 at 8:00am

(Phoenix – Day for Downtown)

 

January 22, 2011 at 8:00am

 

March 5, 2011 at 8:00am

 

May 7, 2011 at 7:00am 

 

Our parks are among our most treasured open spaces and in these hard times, helping hands are what will make all the difference to assure that we preserve and maintain our parks for today and for tomorrow!

 

PCA Day At The Ballpark

We had a great day at the ballpark. Diamondbacks swept the San Diego Padres with an exciting win yesterday! Final score was 5 to 2. Newcomer Brandon Allen hit a Grand Slam in the bottom of the 7th Inning which secured the win for the Dbacks! Special thank you to Gary DuBrock, University of Arizona and Austin Commercial for supporting our special day at the ballpark.