Rafn Company : Commercial General Contractor : Blog

Mass Timber - Paving the Way to a Sustainable Future

03/25/2021
2021Q1, FUTURE

Mass timber is experiencing a renaissance. Thanks to innovative technology, the old post and beam URM’s in Pioneer Square are being replaced by a newer framing style that consists of using small wood members to form larger solid wood formations to construct walls, floors, and roof systems. C…

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Fab Labs : How to Make (almost) Anything

05/23/2019
2019Q2, FUTURE

I have been interested in Fab Labs for a number of years and am writing to share what they are, my perception of their potential, and why I support and help fund them. Fab Labs, short for fabrication laboratory, offer shared access to digital fabrication tools and prototyping machines, including 3D…

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Construction Industry Associations Offer Leadership Development Opportunities

12/28/2017
2017Q4, FUTURE

Leadership is defined as “the action of leading a group of people or an organization” with synonyms including guidance, direction, management, superintendence, and supervision. But how do you gain leadership experience and skill before you have a group to lead? Can you develop proficiency in gui…

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Using Drones to Survey Existing Conditions

12/21/2017
2017Q4, SAFETY, QUALITY, FUTURE

On a current project in downtown Seattle now undergoing repairs to a 10 story concrete façade, the initial conundrum was to determine the most economical method for the structural engineer to inspect and document the existing conditions. After looking at the costs of two swing stage drops or a …

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How City Policy Contributes to Energy Efficient Buildings

12/07/2017
2017Q4, GREEN, FUTURE

Though we may take different paths to get there, we are all headed toward the same goal: reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment as we build for the future. In this article we will look at how Brussels, Belgium, Vancouver, Canada, and Seattle have implemented code changes to promote…

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