The FoPo (as in the Foster-Powell neighborhood) Addition is underway.  The project is to enlarge an existing small breakfast nook adjacent to the kitchen into a larger formal dining room overlooking on and opening to the backyard.  The foundation has been poured, new floor joists and subfloor in place.  The existing breakfast nook wall, windows, and door were removed.  The bedroom to the north of the new dining room is to remain so the new roof was built over it and the new dining room.  The new roof is being built to current energy codes and will be insulated to R38, an improvement on the previously (leaky) roof.  Next the windows and door will be installed, exterior siding and trim to match the house, and interior drywall installed.  The clients will be installing the flooring and completing interior trim and painting to help keep costs down on the project.

Check out more about the project here.

The VALS Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is moving along with completion in sight.  On the exterior, the windows and front door have been installed.  Exterior siding and trim complete.  The front porch is in place awaiting trim and soffit finish installation.  On the interior, electrical and plumbing rough ins are complete and the walls / ceiling / roof have been insulated.  The roof insulation is a flash and batt system where the first three inches are spray foam with the remaining cavity filled with batt insulation.  Since construction began, the client decided to install a wood burning stove.  The concrete base has been poured and the stove / chimney installed.

Next up will be tackling interior finishes, plumbing and electrical fixture installation, spiral stair installation, and painting.  Shooting for end of May completion!

First of two trips to the Big Island of Hawaii this winter/spring.  Trip two just completed, photos soon.

This is a small addition to a 1922 bungalow in the Foster-Powell (FoPo) neighborhood of SE Portland to expand a small breakfast nook in to a formal dining room on the back of the home.  The breakfast nook shares an existing addition with one of the bedrooms on the back of the house.  While enlarging the floor plan for the new dining room, the new roof will be expanded over the existing bedroom to bring the roof to current energy code.  On the interior, a vaulted ceiling will add volume to the dining room while a band of new windows on the east and south facades will allow a flood of light.  The exterior door will be relocated to the back (east) facade for direct access to the back yard.  The permit has been approved and construction begun.

Framing, exterior sheathing, skylight installation, and roofing are complete on the VALS Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU).  Exterior weather barrier and siding installation are in process with window installation up next.

X-Country at Teacup on the east side of Mt. Hood.

Also, you are now at the new home of the Mitchell Snyder Architecture (Blog).  I have painstakingly disassembled it from Blogger and reassembled here so it is integral to the MSA website.  With the exception of a few outdated posts I’ve backlogged all previous posts and from now on all new posts will be made here.

If you kindly linked to any specific content (projects, etc) on the previous MSA website or the MSA Blog the links have changed.  I can tell you the updated link if needed.  I’ve left the old blog in place for now with the links in each post noted so the post can be found in its new home.

MSA is still on Facebook, can be found at Google+, and will be regularly adding random imagery on Tumblr.

Thanks for checking in!

The Vals Accessory Dwelling Unit project is out of the ground and under construction.  The foundation and main floor framing are complete with main floor wall framing underway.  Despite the tight quarters of the back yard site and the endless line of storms moving through the Pacific Northwest the contractor has been moving forward.  The project is utilizing advanced framing techniques, most notebly the twenty four inch on center stud spacing (vs. sixteen inch on center).  This reduces unnecessary framing material and allows a higher overall R-Value for the envelope.

Deep in the heart of Texas in support of vitrifiedstudio at the recent Feliz Sale.   Many walks up and down South Congress Ave, downtown, east side, Zilker Park, a canoe trip along Barton Creek, multiple mexican food finds, and seeking out the jams along 6th St.

Here’s some progress on the Ankeny ADU project.  It has been framed, sheathed, roofed, weather resistant barrier added, sided, and trim is almost complete.  The client is building the ADU as much as possible himself as a retirement project (with assistance from subs where necessary…ex. electrical).  He has made a few modifications along the way, and using as many reclaimed products as possible including leftover windows found at local rebuilding stores.  They plan to move into the ADU when it is complete and rent the main house.