SEI Design Group BlogBlog about news, information, happenings and mojo at SEI Design Group

One of our favorite sites, A Daily Dose of Architecture, had a post about J. Crew including Charles Renfro in an ad campaign showing how different men personalized one of their suits.  As you can see from the picture, it was all about the socks.  Question to all readers:  do you rock your socks?  If so, send us a picture of your socks by 1/31/12 2/6/12.   One lucky winner will get some new socks in this deal.  SEI friends and family may participate in this contest.  Let’s hear it for the socks!

We hope you are enjoying the holidays and preparing for a great New Year.  We thought you might enjoy some moments from the Rochester and Albany holiday parties earlier this month.

The hit of the Rochester party was “Architect Barbie”, as demonstrated by Bill.  Nancy Mountain did the Michael Jackson walk and it got her a visit to Next Door Restaurant.  Jimmi rocked the hat for a while and Karin had to actually bake after attending the party.  Kelly also rocked the hat, but seemed to enjoy air hockey much more, and it looks like Tom Caruso actually went home with the hat.  Last but not least, Office “Mom” (Manager), Paula looking lovely as ever with husband, Chris.

The Albany party was a lot of laughs and it looks like Armand is now working for SEI, or maybe Lisa is?  Matt Schools proclaims world peace, and Russ looks aggravated over whatever the women are enjoying.  Obviously there were also some serious moments (check the last photo).

As usual, you can click the photos to see them larger.

The Albany crew recently had a baby shower for Matt Schools and his wife, Sarah. The Schools are anticipating a new female arrival this February.

Recently, SEI Design Group hosted the first, hopefully to become annual, SEI Chili Cook-Off.  SEI staff brought in their homemade chili recipes and let them simmer all morning throughout the office.  At lunch everyone convened at the second floor conference table to partake in some spicy tastings. There were a variety of entries including a turkey chili, a venison chili, two types of Cincinnati chili, and two traditional chilis with kick!
Cooks included Kurt Vater, Kelly Wobser, Beth McFarlane, Ted Mountain and Brian Cieslinski. Other tasters/judges included Karen Caruso, Steve Staveski, Paula Cisterna, Bill Serow and Jim VanSchaffel.

Prizes were awarded as follows:

Fan Favorite
Prize:  $25 gift card to Chili’s Restaurant went to Ted Mountain with his stewed tomato base chili with Frito chips, sour cream and cheese.

Most Hot
Prize: (3) bottles of hot sauces; Tropical Pepper Co. XXXXtra Hot Habanero Pepper Sauce, Tabasco Chipotle, Tiger Sauce, went to Kelly Wobser with her venison chili and cheese accompanied with corn bread and honey butter.

A good time was had by all, and the jar of Tums is nowhere to be found. 

Thanks to Kurt Vater for organizing the event.

On Saturday, SEI participated again in a really great charity event, Canstruction. This is a design build competition for design professionals and students using cans. All the building materials (canned goods) get donated to food kitchens at the end of the event.   Since 1992, Canstruction has donated over 10 million pounds of food.  In Rochester, the cans are donated to Foodlink after the event.

Our entry ~ GENESEE Fed is on display and the Award Gala is this Friday in the Bausch and Lomb Wintergarden.   (read more)

The SEI Design Group Build Team

SEI: Brad Moreland (Team Captain), Jimmi Van Shaffel, Ted Mountain, Steve Staveski, Kelly Wobser, Kiel Wobser, Brian Cieslinski, Kurt Vater

Rochester City School District: Charles Nash, Andrew Hylton, and their mentors, William Broome (RCSD) and Wayne Williams (Gilbane)

We want to thank our sponsors: Engineered Solutions, M/E Engineering, Watchdog, Campus Construction Management, Walmart, and Genesee Brewing Company for helping us to compete.

Our client, Doug Premo, Superintendent at South Lewis Central School District, had an unbelievable experience.  At left you can see Doug with a little memento which we presented to him at the NYSCOSS convention. Doug attended a Yankee game with his son Jake, daughter and wife.  The following is Doug’s analysis:

“Cost of tickets – $475

Cost of snacks and souvenirs – $200

Time spent before the game trying to explain to Jake we WILL NOT get a ball – endless

A-Rod HR, Jeter HR with 5 RBI’s and the below moment…..PRICELESS!”

At SEI Design Group, we recently celebrated our 5 Year Anniversary!  We had different staff activities during the day and a wonderful dinner at La Luna.

As in 2010, 2009, and 2008, the Rochester office of SEI Design Group participated in the The Chase Corporate Challenge 2011.  Congrats to all who finished the race and thanks to Team Captain Ted Mountain who got us a prime spot for our tent.

The Albany office( and friends) participated in 2 events this spring, the most recent being the Friehofers Run shown here.

Only Apple could think of this creative solution that is only four stories tall.  They are out of space to house staff currently located on their campus and many rental properties throughout Cupertino.  This new plan presented by Steve Jobs himself (watch the video) would solve the current dilemma of housing 12,000 employees in 1 building in Cupertino.

It looks like it is time for another SEI contest.  This time, the prize will be another flying monkey, but with a twist. Our latest pet has a parachute to help with the landing, but it appears from the video below that more is needed. To enter the contest, make your own version of an SEI landing pad for the monkey to help cushion his fall.  Email a digital photo of your entry.

Winner will get a new addition to their family: a flying monkey complete with parachute! This contest is open to all including SEI staff and families.  You can also leave a comment here to “name the monkey”.  While there will not be a parachute involved, the winner of the naming contest will also win a prize.