Welcome to the latest GGLO news.

Every place has its hidden stories. In her article for the January/February issue of Edible Seattle, Heidi Broadhead shares one such story about the community gardens at Yesler Terrace. Spread throughout this community are three P-Patch gardens totaling 30,000 sf where Yesler Terrace residents plant and tend a variety of vegetables, many of which aren't available in grocery stores. "The most active gardeners are residents who have immigrated from Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Vietnam," Heidi writes. Within this downtown-adjacent community, urban gardeners grow everything from edible chrysanthemums to fava beans, purslane and arugula. Produce not consumed by the gardeners is shared with neighbors or donated to charity.


In order to meet the needs of community residents for the generations to come, Yesler Terrace is undergoing a multi-year planning and redevelopment by Seattle Housing Authority. While the exact locations of community gardens in the redeveloped site are still undefined, early plans call for new gardens in park areas and rooftops. As our project team works with SHA in initial planning for Yesler Terrace, we are considering how to honor the stories of Yesler Terrace's past and create places where tomorrow's stories will take place.

Today's Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce features an article, by GGLO's own Amy Hartwell, on Seattle Housing Authority's cost-effective renovations of its existing senior housing for greater energy efficiency and resident comfort. SHA is working with RDH Building Sciences and GGLO on several buildings in its portfolio. Based on criteria from Washington's Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard, the renovations focus on improving thermal, air tightness and moisture performance, resulting in greater endurance, better operation and increased comfort. Additionally, Amy notes, the upgrades better equip the buildings to "contribut[e] to the fabric of their communities through thoughtful architectural design and color palettes, and sustainable building practices."

GGLO project Schwabacher House, an SHA affordable senior housing building in Ballard, is one of seven properties that have undergone renovation. Residents are pleased with the "beautiful building" and enjoy living in a place that "looks like an expensive condominium." Job well done!

Pre-renovation, Schwabacher House, built in the 1980s, faced water damage and window failure.
After renovation, Schwabacher House features new siding and windows along with an updated color palette.

Along with our clients, we are celebrating several recently published rankings that place GGLO projects among the top hotels and resorts in the country. All based upon traveler reviews, the following rankings are a testament to the importance of both great hospitality and great design in creating memorable guest experiences:


Cedarbrook Lodge, SeaTac, Washington: No. 1 in United States and No. 17 worldwide, TripAdvisor.com Travelers' Choice Awards 2011. Trip Advisor.com traveler reviews: "In all honesty, the only disappointment was having to come home." "This is one of the best places we have ever stayed in 22 years of worldwide travel."

The Allison Inn & Spa, Newberg, Oregon: No. 9 in Relaxation/Spa Hotels in United States, TripAdvisor.com Travelers' Choice Awards 2011. Traveler reviews: "Our second weekend at the Allison and everything was, once again, perfect." "If you are visiting Oregon wine country, you simply must stay here."

RiverPlace Hotel, Portland, Oregon: No. 12 in United States, TripAdvisor.com Travelers' Choice Awards 2011. Traveler reviews: "...the setting was so lovely, we didn't feel the need to venture out." "Everything about our experience here was positive."

Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, British Columbia: No. 4 in Canadian Resorts, Conde Nast Traveler 2010 Readers' Choice Awards.

The Inn at Langley, Langley, Washington: No. 13 in Mainland U.S. Small Resorts, Conde Nast Traveler 2010 Readers' Choice Awards.

We congratulate the management and staffs of these remarkable properties.