September 2011

Anniversary Party Recap
Last Thursday, hundreds of people came to the EM Fine Art Gallery in the South Lake Union neighborhood to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of O'Brien & Company. 

The event also celebrated an important transition in the company's history. Founder Kathleen O'Brien is now working in a Special Projects role, leaving day-to-day management of the company to three owners who have been co-managing the firm for several years.

(L to R): Donna Trost, Business Manager; Kathleen O'Brien, Founder and Special Projects Consultant; Elizabeth A. D. Powers, Principal; and Alistair Jackson, Principal.

A fundraiser for Sustainable Seattle, guests at the event donated $555, which was matched by O'Brien & Company. John de Graaf of the Happiness Initiative/Sustainable Seattle shared his thoughts about how healthy communities and healthy individuals rely on well-designed, sustainable buildings and places.

As guests entered they were given activity cards to post on the wall to share their thoughts about the future of green building. Read their words of wisdom, below.

"In the next 20 years, how does the green building industry need to evolve?"

• "Make green building the default option." - Anca
• "Make it durable and beautiful" - unsigned
• "More deconstruction. Demo is so 2010." - Noel
• "Keep it real!" - Ida
• "Connections throughout entire communities. Don't forget transportation!" - Donna
• "Stronger links and dialogue between sustainability, history and culture." - Ellen
• "Infiltrate the neighborhood hardware store so every nail and board is green." - Juniper
• "Cities like ecosystems." - Elizabeth
• "Use creativity to engage individuals and communities." - Linda
• "Less talk. More super sustainable building!" - unsigned

Thank you for being part of the success of the green building movement.  We have accomplished much, but there is much more to do.  Here's to another wonderful 20 years!