GEMKOW CONSTRUCTION SOLI/TERRY ARCHITECTS PO Box 1267, Langley WA 98260 Skinner Bldg. 1326 5th Ave., Seattle WA 98101 • 206.322.5016 360-321-6414 526A Camano Avenue, Langley WA 98260 • 360.221.6557 gemkow@gemkow.net tsoli@soliterry.com • eterry@soliterry.com www.gemkow.net www.soliterryarchitects.com

P R E S S R E L E A S E For details, please contact Kim Tinuviel

info@tinuvielcreative.com or 360 639 4299 GEMKOW AND SOLI/TERRY COLLABORATION NAMED 2009 OVERALL PROJECT OF THE YEAR Whidbey Island, September 29, 2010

The Clinton residence of Patrick Johnson and Elizabeth Axford was recently identified by the Skagit/IslandCountiesBuildersAssociation(SICBA)asits2009BestOverallProjectoftheYear.TherecipientofthiscovetedawardisWhidbeyIsland’sGemkowConstruction,whocollaboratedwithSoli/TerryArchitectsofLangleyandSeattletodesignandbuildthisbeautifulhome.

Anon‐profittradeassociationofbuildersandassociatedbusinesses,SICBApromotesprofessionalisminthebuildingindustry,inpart,byorganizingthisannualawardsevent.Thecredibilityoftheawardisenhancedbythefactthatwinnersaredecidedbyapaneloftradeprofessionalfromotherpartsofthecountry.Theseindependentjudgesreviewlocalprojectswithanobjectiveeyeforqualityandcreativitybeforeselectingtheprojectsthatstandoutaboveandbeyondtherest.

SICBAExecutiveOfficerWayneCriderstated,“ASICBAProjectoftheYeardemonstratestopqualityconstructioninourregionforagivenyear.Icommend[GemkowConstruction]fortheirhardwork.Theyaretrulydeservingofthishonor.”

HomeownerLizAxford,herselfformerlyanarchitect,commentedthatuponseeingSoli’sdrawingssheexpectedthattheirnewhomewouldgarnerrecognitionandthattheyhadselectedtherightarchitect.WhenaskedwhatmadethemselectGemkowConstructiontobuildtheirdreamhome,thehomeownerssaidtheyfeltan“instantconnection”withEdGemkowandhisteam.Oncethedecisiontohirethegeneralcontractorwasmade,Gemkowcontinuedtoimpressbycoordinatingandmanagingtherightmixofspecialistsandcraftsmen,bothfromwithinGemkowConstructionand

Photo © 2010 Michael Stadler

GEMKOW CONSTRUCTION SOLI/TERRY ARCHITECTS PO Box 1267, Langley WA 98260 Skinner Bldg. 1326 5th Ave., Seattle WA 98101 • 206.322.5016 360-321-6414 526A Camano Avenue, Langley WA 98260 • 360.221.6557 gemkow@gemkow.net tsoli@soliterry.com • eterry@soliterry.com www.gemkow.net www.soliterryarchitects.com

beyond,tobringthebestskillsandtalentstotheproject.Goodvalue,greatprojectmanagement,firmschedules,excellentrelationshipsandimpeccableorganizationalskillsallcombinedtomaketechnicallydifficulttasksappeareasy.WhenaskedtodescribetheGemkowandSoli/Terryteamapproach,clientPatJohnsonsaid,“Toddbroughtfreshideasandinnovationtotheproject,andEdcreatedperspectiveandvaluearoundthoseideasbyprovidingarangeofoptionsforeachconcept–proposingalternatematerialsandtechniquestogiveusmorecontroloverthebottomlinecosts.”

ProjectarchitectToddSoliofSoli/TerryArchitectswasbroughtonboardasaninnovativearchitectwithgreatrespectfortheclients’vision.Soliwasintriguedbytheslopingbuildingsite,whichwouldrequireauniqueconstructionfootprintanddrainagesolution.Theopportunitytoworkwithatalentedarchitect/clientwasalsoappealing,andtheclientsagreedtothearrangement.Solicommented,“Thisappearedtobeagreatopportunitytoworkonachallengingprojectwithwonderfulclientsandaveryskilledandcapablecontractor”.

EdGemkow,co‐ownerofGemkowConstructionLLC,agreed,andaddedthatoneofthesecretstosuccessistheclient’sperceptionofvalue:thebenefitsmustoutweighthecosts.Inordertodeliverthatperceivedvalue,GemkowConstructionpromisestomakethebuildingprocesseasyfortheclient.Keycomponentsofthatpromisearetooffertherightproductsandservices,respondinatimelyfashion,andguaranteesatisfaction.AccordingtoGemkow,everyoneonhisteamembracesthegoalofbuildingclienttrustandconfidence,andasaresultGemkowConstructioncontinuestobeoneoftheleadersinthebuildingandconstructiontradesonWhidbeyIsland.

Collaborativeworkandtheperceptionofvaluearebigpiecesofthecurrentconstructionanddesignparadigm,andearningthe2009BestOverallProjectoftheYearawardconfirmsthatforbothGemkowandSoli.Bothmenexpectthesedynamicstodefinemuchoftheirfutureinteractionwithclients,andtheyeachlookforwardtocontinuingtodemonstratetheircommitmenttoclientsintheirindividualproactiveandengagingstyles.

For additional information about Gemkow Construction and Soli/Terry Architects, please visit www.gemkow.net and www.soliterryarchitects.com.

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