Walk into the new offices of Mesher Shing McNutt and you are immediately hit by the almost manic level of creative activity. Creativity is the central value that emanates throughout the environment. It’s reinforced by the firm’s principals, Bob Mesher, Joe Shing and Shannon McNutt. They produce wonderful designs as well as attend to the myriad of details that delight their clients. It is such an adventure to participate in the design process with them. We’ve been fortunate to have worked with this highly regarded firm for many years. Their energy, enthusiasm and great ideas are contagious!

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This summer, we have enjoyed the opportunity to work with the Seattle based architecture and interior design firm Mesher Shing McNutt on two university food court projects: Penn State University and Virginia Tech. Teaming up with a partner like this gives us the opportunity to show off our capacity to manufacture large-scale glass designs that are created for high traffic and heavy use. The Penn State project, called the “Pollock Dining”, was recently completed, and included an etched and back-painted glass entry wall by Glassworks, Inc.

Awards
Examples of award winning designs include the food services at the University of Washington Husky Den, which won the NACUFS award for best multi-platform design for 2003; Food Management Magazine’s 2005 Best Concept Award for Terry Lander Resident Hall and recently the 2008 Project of Distinction award for the Purdue Memorial Union by College Planning & Management publication.

More info on Mesher Shing McNutt:
Mesher Shing McNutt is an architecture and interior design firm specializing in restaurants and food service facilities for clubs, hotels, corporate food service providers, and universities across the country. Clients include nationally recognized food service campanies HMS Host, Bon Appetit, Sodexo, Westin Hotels, Marriott, and Hyatt; corporations such as Startbucks, Microsoft, and Amazon.com; universities including the University of California Berkley, Purdue University, University of Washington, and Princeton University. Completed and current projects include BOKA restaurant in the new boutique Hotel 1000, Seattle Art Museum “Taste” Café, designs for NASA Space Center Houston, Seattle Aquarium for Sodexo, 20 food concepts at SeaTac and Portland Airports for HMS Host and ongoing university projects at UC Davis, Virginia Tech, Pennsylvania State University, and Michigan State.

Mesher Shing McNutt, as the designer and architect of record completed 70,000 square feet of food and dining services at Microsoft’s just completed $1 Billion expansion project on their Redmond, Washington campus. The Block C Commons, consisting of three buildings with retail and food services is the centerpiece and destination for retail and food services for the 40,000 employees on campus. Mesher Shing McNutt conceptualized, programmed and designed 14 distinctive food venues with seating for 1,600 at an estimated cost of over $21 million. Currently Mesher Shing McNutt is creating food service designs for Amazon’s new South Lake Union campus that includes two large cafes and two coffee bars totaling 37,000 square feet with seating for 900, at an estimated project cost food services of $15 million.

More info: www.meshershing.com

Glassworks, Inc. has been in the business of one of a kind, functional glass creations for over 40 years. We are really proud of our custom work and value the relationships we have built with architects, designers, and home & business owners across the United States.

A few months ago, two of our design partners, Urban Development Group (UDG) and MAK Interior Design, contacted us with an opportunity to participate in a HGTV / DIY Network “Bath Crashers” episode filmed here in Seattle. We learned very quickly that “reality” shows like this operate in a very narrow framework with short timelines, requiring much of the planning to occur before we even knew who the “target” was. This project was easily one of the more challenging projects of the season. The episode was first aired on July 4, 2011 and continues to be played in reruns. This episode is titled Teak Tub Retreat.

We had the pleasure of working closely with Carl Baker from UDG and Mariko Kydd from MAK at the beginning of 2010, on the design of the West facing penthouse in the Escala Building on 4th and Virginia. Since we were solely focused on the glass vanity top for this project, we have asked Mariko to help us tell the whole story.

Glassworks: How did the HGTV opportunity come about? How did you get involved?

Mariko: The DIY Network producers found Urban Development Group’s website through an internet search for design-build firms in Seattle, they interviewed us, and chose us to get involved.

Glassworks: Who was in charge of each aspect of the design and construction? How many companies were involved?

Mariko:I was involved with the design and Carl was in charge of the construction. I was the one that chose all the vendors and got them on-board. Here is a list of many of the companies that were involved:

Matt Meunster, host of DIY Network's "Bath Crashers"

• AAA Kartak – Glass Shower Doors
• Builders’ Hardware – Hardware
• Frank Lumber – Doors
• GWB – Framer
• Kohler – Plumbing Fixtures
• Lighting Supply – Downlights and Vent
• LUWA Studio – Tile
• Paramount Mechanical – Plumber
• Pental Granite and Marble – Pebbles
• Pure Flame – Fireplace
• Robern – Cabinets and Light Sconces
• Rocco – Electrician
• Terra Mai - Teak Wood Floor
• Velux /Tam – Skylight
• Wipliance – Sound System
• Wolf Gordon – Scuffmaster Paint
• And Glassworks, Inc. – Custom Glass Vanity Top

VANITY - BEFORE

VANITY - AFTER

“I love how Glassworks’ art glass is custom and
I had the flexibility to choose any color and design I wanted.”
~ Mariko Kydd of MAK Design

Glassworks: Wow! That is an impressive list. We know that we had to move quickly to get our vanity top done in time. How much time did you have to complete the entire project?

Mariko: We saw the space mid February, and we had until end of March to finish the project, giving Carl one week from starting the demo to completing the finished bathroom.

Glassworks: We were very impressed with the level of organization required to accomplish this task with so many unknowns. What is the overarching theme or concept behind the design?

Mariko: I would say the Teak wood that carries from the floor, and travels up the tub deck, and onto the wall. This is how the episode got its title.

Glassworks: Were there any specific design challenges that were unique to this project? How did you overcome these challenges?

Mariko: Many of the design challenges were compounded by short notice with the space, and not having all the details of construction until filming began. For example, we did not know exactly where the beam/column was landing, we had to make several adjustments once they opened up the walls, and there were issues with the plumbing and lighting too.

Glassworks: Why did you choose to include Glassworks’ art glass? How did our glass accomplish your design goals?

Mariko: I love how Glassworks’ art glass is custom and I had the flexibility to choose any color and design I wanted. Glassworks’ glass accomplished my design goals by allowing me to choose the color and style, and size that I desired. Thank you for doing such a great job! It’s always a wonderful experience working with Glassworks.

Glassworks: And thank you Mariko for including us in your fantastic design! We learned a lot and we look forward to working with you again soon.

Click here for more info on this episode and air dates:

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More info on MAK Design:
Mariko Kydd at MAK Design is passionate about interior design and strives to create timeless and harmonious interiors for a wide range of clients. While working closely with you, MAK Design will evaluate your needs and interpret your requirements in order to create your perfect space. I love the quote by Ivan Chermayeff: “Design is directed for human beings. To design is to solve human problems by identifying them and executing the best solution. ” What are some of your most notable projects to date? I would say the Escala Penthouse, Bath Crashers, “Suite” Restaurant in Bellevue Place.

More info: www.interiormakdesign.com

More info on Urban Development Group:
Where art, nature, functionality, and construction coexist. Urban Development Group works with a network of interior designers, architects, and construction contractors. We understand that the ideal solution deserves the freedom of choice. This network provides choices for design, architect and construction venues allowing the right fit and comfort for our clients while emphasizing the largest value received for project costs. Our network has an emphasis on small/medium size business relationships; we believe that the cost structure associated with that range of business model provides the expertise and more important the end value required in today’s economic times. Our integrated work environment allows our partnered companies to expand on traditional internal expertise by partnering within the network.

More info: www.urbandevelopmentgroupinc.com