Chapel of the Chimes

On a recent trip to northern California, Christine and Belinda visited the Chapel of the Chimes, a well-known structure that was expanded in 1926 by famed architect Julia Morgan. Ms. Morgan, whose credits include Hearst Castle, was commissioned to design and expand the facility which presently covers 1-1/2 city blocks. She designed an array of gardens, cloisters, alcoves, stairwells, fountains and chapels with vaulted ceilings illuminating the congregation with natural lighting. According to the tour guide, the chapel was the first to employ the usage of electronically controlled movable skylights. This building was designated a Distinguished Landmark by the City of Oakland in 1999 and it is truly worthy of that distinction.

Addition to the PDA Family

PDA is proud to announce the newest addition to our family: Leo Frederick. Our youngest team member arrived on December 16, 2011 at 11:26am weighing 7 lbs 15 oz and measured 20.6 inches. Mom and baby are both doing great and so is dad. We send our love and heartfelt congratulations to the Prescott family!

Food Drive Success

After actively campaigning for the holiday food drive, PDA along with our vendors and Zakian Woo Architects collected 851 lbs of food and personal care items over a period of 2-1/2 weeks which far exceeded our goal of 300 lbs. Thank you to all our friends, families and colleagues for this astonishing accomplishment and contribution. We couldn’t have done this without you!

It’s a Party!

To celebrate another year of teamwork and good cheer, our team gathered together to count our blessings with food, drinks and great company. In the spirit of gift-giving, this year our “white elephant” gift exchange  was design themed – whether it’s a book by our favorite designer/architect or an office/kitchen accessory, anything that inspires creativity and design. The evening was a success as we all toasted the holiday season!

The Holiday Gift of Charity

As is the annual tradition, Pickett Design Associates made a holiday donation to Heifer International with the following gifts from their catalog. Thank you to our colleagues, family and friends for allowing us the chance to give back to others. Happy Holidays!

Cheeses of the World Gift Basket

Many Heifer partner families turn milk from their animals into cheese that they can then store for food or sell for income.

This special holiday gift basket includes the gift of a heifer, a goat, a sheep and a water buffalo – four animals that families around the world will use to make mozzarella, feta and hundreds of local and traditional cheese varieties.

The Buzz About Bees

From Uganda to El Salvador, bees from Heifer International help struggling families earn income through the sale of honey, beeswax and pollen.

Beehives require almost no space and once established, are inexpensive to maintain.

As bees search for nectar, they pollinate plants. Placed strategically, beehives can as much as double some fruit and vegetable yields. In this way, a beehive can be a boost to a whole village.

Although most Heifer partners keep bees as a supplement to family income, beekeeping can be a family’s livelihood. Our gift will help Heifer provide a family with a package of bees, the box and hive, plus training in beekeeping – and this unique gift will be passed on to another family in need.