AHBL Inc.

Construction is progressing on Lowell Elementary School in Tacoma, Washington — a new 50,000-square-foot replacement facility designed to serve up to 550 K–5 students when it opens next fall. Kalesnikoff supplied the project’s mass timber and provided design assist services, working closely with the design team to detail and optimize the structure for efficiency, constructibility, and performance. Through early collaboration, we ensure mass timber is integrated seamlessly — maximizing material efficiency, reducing coordination challenges, and maintaining schedule certainty. Led by Korsmo Construction (GC) and BCRA (Architect), the $34 million project will also include new playgrounds, playfields, and upgraded infrastructure — creating a welcoming, sustainable space for students and the community. Lowell Elementary is one of several schools being rebuilt or modernized under Tacoma’s voter-supported bond programs, representing the city’s commitment to educational spaces built for the future. Project Partners: General Contractor: Korsmo Construction Architect: BCRA Engineer of Record: AHBL Inc. Mass Timber Supplier & Design Assist Services: Kalesnikoff #Kalesnikoff #MassTimber #DesignAssist #EducationDesign #CLT #Glulam #Tacoma #SchoolConstruction #SustainableBuilding #BuildWithWood #TimberEngineering #SeedlingsToSolutions

Big news from Kirkland, Washington! Both Kirkland 26 and 21 are officially fully operational. TCA is honored to have attended both the Open House and Ribbon Cutting of each respective facility over the last two weeks. The remodel and upgrade of Fire Stations 21 & 26 focused on creating a safer, healthier, and more functional environment for the firefighters who dedicate their service to the City of Kirkland community.

Recognition in the AIA Civic Design Awards (Citation) for the Spokane Falls Community College Fine & Applied Arts Building underscores architecture's role as a catalyst for civic and cultural life. The Fine Arts Center integrates high-performance studios, next-generation photography and digital labs, and professional-quality galleries within a compact, daylit building that extends into the natural bluff. Native landscapes, framed views of Riverside State Park, and a material palette inspired by local geology create a strong sense of place. By pairing environmental sensitivity with accessible, student-focused design, the project establishes a new standard for arts education facilities and community connectivity in Washington State.

What is LEED certification? LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world's most widely used green-building rating system. It offers a proven framework for healthy, efficient and cost-saving buildings across all types, from new construction to interiors to operations. Project teams pick LEED to inform, benchmark, and celebrate their sustainability goals. The process includes choosing the right rating system for your building type, meeting key prerequisites & credits, and tailoring the strategy to your site, region and goals. LEED continuously evolves to keep up with new building types, technologies, and environmental challenges- ensuring it remains a trusted symbol of building leadership. 📷 Pictured here is the Center for Urban Waters, a LEED Platinum-Certified building located along the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma WA. Kudos to the organizations involved! 💥 Steel Fabricator: PNSFA member Precision Iron Works Inc (Pacific WA) 💥 Architect: Perkins&Will (Seattle WA) 💥 Structural Engineer: AHBL Inc. (Tacoma WA) 💥 Erector: Evergreen Erectors, LLC (Lynnwood WA) 💥 General Contractor: Turner Construction Company (Seattle WA) Project information gathered from the American Institute of Steel Construction. #PNSFA #GreenBuilding #Sustainability #LEEDCertified #AISC #LEED #LEEDplatinum #centerforurbanwaters

Construction is well underway on Maritime|253, a new Maritime Skills Center on Tacoma’s Thea Foss Waterway — designed to prepare students for the real-world demands of the maritime industry. Kalesnikoff is proud to supply the mass timber for this landmark educational facility, which will serve students from across the South Sound region through hands-on, career-focused training in the heart of the Port of Tacoma, Washington. The project showcases the successful coordination between mass timber and structural steel within a highly compressed preconstruction window — demonstrating what’s possible through collaboration and precision planning. When complete in Fall 2026, Maritime|253 will provide state-of-the-art learning environments built to inspire the next generation of maritime professionals. The project is part of a joint initiative between Tacoma Public Schools and the Port of Tacoma, with the school and adjacent Port offices reshaping the east side of the waterway into a modern hub for education and industry collaboration. Mass timber’s warmth, sustainability, and precision-manufactured performance make it an ideal fit for a space focused on innovation, skill-building, and community. Project Partners:  General Contractor: BNBuilders Architect: TCF Architecture Engineer of Record: AHBL Inc. Mass Timber Supplier: Kalesnikoff #Kalesnikoff #MassTimber #Maritime253 #Tacoma #EducationDesign #CLT #Glulam #TimberConstruction #BuildWithWood #BCManufacturing #SustainableBuilding #SeedlingsToSolutions