Samples
“Rebecca has been a joy to work with over the past couple of years. When we have a project, she completes it on time, within guidelines, and always blends our goal of the piece with her fluid writing style.” - Sharon Harry, Creative Director, IPCI
Case Studies
The San Francisco Federal Building
Sustainable Paradigm
Hailed as an unprecedented landmark of achievement by the architectural community, the San Francisco Federal building rises on the city skyline as a tribute to the cutting-edge technologies of value-engineering and environmental friendliness... read more
Featured in Environmental Design + Construction
The 18-story San Francisco Federal building’s concrete structure is a Government Services Administration (GSA)-commissioned green building; the project was awarded to the architectural firm Morphosis under the Design Excellence Program, and meets the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program... read more
The California Academy of Sciences
Going Platinum: The Academy of Sciences
The creation of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in the 1860s forever altered local culture for the town’s citizens: over 1,000 acres of formerly bare, brown land was transformed into a lush urban sanctuary, and the effect rivaled New York City’s Central... read more
Renewable Resource sidebar in ED+C
Known as one of the country’s more progressive cities in terms of implementing sustainable strategies across all levels of government, it should be no surprise that the California Academy of Sciences (CAS), in San Francisco, is one of the world’s most innovative museum building programs... read more
Harley-Davidson
Tough as Nails, Polished as Chrome, Hard as Concrete
Bellevue, Washington boasts one new destination where miles and miles of motorcycles gleam in the reflected light of polished concrete floors: the Eastside Harley-Davidson Dealership, located on NE 20th Street... read more
Essays
The Rules of Cell Phones
In April 2003, a Texas Rangers' fan struck right-fielder Carl Everett in the head when he heaved a cell phone at him from several decks above the field... read more
Research Worth the Cost
"You have cancer." With terrifying weight, the words penetrate slowly into your consciousness... read more
Applying Science to Love
The Weather Girls harmonize, "It's rainin' men ... It's rainin' men / every specimen / tall blonde dark and lean / rough and tough and strong and mean," in one of the last great anthems of the Disco Era... read more
World of Woes
Stones rush through the air with dizzying force, striking the face and body of a beautiful young woman. The rocks are hurled by men, claiming to be doing the will of God: Punishing women for fornication they did not commit... read more
Facebook: Check Yes or No
Think back to second grade. You are the lucky recipient of a "Do you like me? Yes or no?(circle one)" note. The message is scrawled by an aspiring Romeo or Juliet and relayed by your best friend... read more
Protect Your Hardware
"Well Ms. Miller, I'm afraid you got this virus because you failed to use proper protection. In the future, you'll need to purchase and properly use two or more methods, but there's no guarantee that this won't happen again.".. read more
Pool Pirates
I have a confession to make. I am a pool pirate. When the forecast is 95 degrees and sunny - in other words, hotter than hell - my pool-going posse and I turn cutthroat in our search for a perfect pool to take over... read more
Life Lessons in Haircuts
April 20 Richland, Wash. - Julie Anderson shot her way into my heart when she held up her hairdresser after a bad cut. In a scene better suited to an old-west saloon than a beauty salon, the gun-wielding grandmother demanded $100 and fired a round into her stylist's rear car window... read more
The Women in the Mirror (.pdf)
I attempt to squeeze into a size XL button-down shirt. When it refuses to fit, I fling it against the wall and crumple to the floor of the dressing room, blinking back tears. The truth in the mirror is crystal clear: at 210 pounds, I am the poster child for the Freshman 15 Gone Wildly Wrong Association... read more
The Woman in the Mirror - Original Version (.pdf)
Precisely at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, I feel the scale gods awaken from months of shuteye. Well-rested and ready for battle, I know they plan to follow me from scale to scale, seeking to devour my determination. I prepare for the coming Resolutionary War like any good soldier trying to shed 75 pounds from a 5’7” coed body... read more
