Otak Blog

From Brad Kilby, Planner:
I’m currently in Abu Dhabi training staff at the Urban Planning Council (UPC) and the Abu Dhabi Municipality (ADM) on the Abu Dhabi Development Code. The code was created by a core team of writers led by none other than our own Joe Dills and Dave Siegel. Otak was asked to imbed a planner, along with UPC staff, within the ADM to assist the integration of the code into existing development review procedures.

The first four weeks were spent training both agencies on the code. Most of the UPC staff are from English-speaking countries around the world, predominantly Canada, Australia, and England; whereas, most of the ADM staff are from Arab speaking countries including Egypt, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. Luckily, Rudayna Abdo from our Abu Dhabi office was there to assist in the training. She was a large help in its success. So, now I am the imbedded planner at the ADM and am working with enthusiastic staff to launch the new development code.

The past few weeks were spent building rapport and observing the processes at the ADM. The next few weeks will include one-on-one training with the reviewers, meetings with agency heads, and a flurry of recommendations to help the ADM implement the code. ADM staff are very excited to launch the new code and see it as a positive tool in transforming Abu Dhabi into a very progressive and conscientious city.

We hope to continue our successes with both agencies and will continue to work with UPC after this testing period to officially launch the development code. The process will include a large public relations campaign with the public, landowners, and their consultants followed by a ratification of the code by the Abu Dhabi executive government.

This past weekend (February 13th) marked the 4th Annual Otak and Friends 10K Run. Twenty Otakians and friends set out in NW Portland for a 6.2-mile loop (unofficial) along the Portland waterfront. Everyone finished without injury, and despite the gloomy weather, spirits were high. Afterwards the group enjoyed lunch and beers at a local neighborhood pub. If you’re interested in joining us for the next 10K, please e-mail sheryl.walsh@otak.com. Folks at all running levels are encouraged to participate, as well as walkers, bicyclists, or just plain beer drinkers. All are welcome!

On January 5, Kirkland’s Otak office sponsored a blood drive for the Puget Sound Blood Center. We had 30 registered donors (which equates to blood products for 90 western Washington recipients). Thirteen (43%) of those that registered were first time donors! Great job donors (and no one passed out)!

Last Saturday morning a group of Otakians and friends spent two hours volunteering at the Oregon Food Bank. Tasks ranged from packaging canned foods and discarding smashed cans to constructing cardboard boxes and loading them onto pallets. As the conveyor belt turned, hands reached out for the food that would help feed hungry Oregonians. Our group packed 12,872 pounds of food (this is enough food to provide 9,901 meals to those in need). Each individual put 330 meals on the table. The rewarding experience left us all feeling like we were “riding on a cloud” for the rest of the day.

Last week at the annual awards banquet, the American Council of Engineering Companies – Washington awarded Otak with two silver awards.

The first award was given to the Swift BRT project in the “Complexity” category. Otak led station design for this BRT project in Lynnwood, Edmonds, Everett, Shoreline, and Snohomish County. Otak provided a design/manufacture package detailing 30 shelters, and a station site construction package for 30 station locations. This provided the design for platform paving and detailing, shelter installation and railing, an iconic tower that provided station identity, ticket vending machines, and passenger information signing. Otak has been working on this project since 2007.

The second award was given to the Boeing Creek Basin Infrastructure and Park Improvement project in the “Social, Economic, and Sustainable Design Considerations” category. This multi-phase project was completed for the City of Shoreline and integrated better stormwater management with park, streetscape, and landscape improvements. These included improvements to the stormwater facility at Boeing Creek Park and three segments of drainage improvements in the Boeing Creek Basin — 3rd Avenue NW Drainage Improvements, Boeing Creek Park Stormwater Improvements, and PanTerra Pond and Pump Station. This project spans approximately nine years of effort for Otak and the City.

Last week Otak received two honor awards at the ACEC Oregon Engineering Excellence Awards ceremony. Below are brief descriptions of the two projects that won.

Washougal River Utilities and Bridge; Camas, Washington – Otak was the prime consultant for the design of over one mile of the City’s regional trail system, a new 24-inch water main, and a new bridge over the Washougal River to carry the trail and water main. The design also provided new force main piping on the bridge for future regional sewer service. In addition to the bid documents and construction administration services for the utilities and bridge portion, Otak provided overall management of the team and design, as well as an alternatives analysis to site the project; civil engineering and utility design; river hydraulic analysis and scour design; survey and mapping; and trail design. Final design for the trail component was provided in Phase 2 following bridge construction.

Cedar Creek Culvert Replacement; Sherwood, Oregon – The existing 9′6″ x 13′6″ structural plate arch culvert was under-sized and a velocity barrier to fish migration in Cedar Creek. A feasibility study evaluated and compared three alternative solutions. The preferred alternative included replacement of the existing culvert with a single span bridge that also accommodated an under-crossing of a regional multi-use trail along Cedar Creek. Project stormwater requirements were met through the design of a stormwater rain garden and a regional stormwater swale that will provide treatment of runoff from off-site areas that originates in older parts of Sherwood. Bike lanes were added to Washington Street through the project limits and the first segment of a regional multi-use trail was constructed with this project.

Otak recently participated in the official launch of Community Transit’s Swift bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which serves Lynnwood, Edmonds, Everett, and Snohomish County. Swift is the first BRT to operate in the state of Washington, and one of 22 nationwide. Dan Dawson, Otak’s lead on the project, was on hand to speak at the opening festivities. The party included Swift bus tours, carnival games, face painting, balloon animals, a photo booth and a visit from Community Transit’s super hero, Oxy Gene.

In addition, a surprise dance party broke out! Click here to watch the video.

BRT projects around the world are gaining in popularity because they provide the frequency and fast boarding of light rail, with the flexibility of a bus system — at a lower cost. Otak’s role in the project was to lead station design and station site construction for 30 station locations. Overall, Otak’s services included project management, surveying, civil engineering, landscape architecture, planning, and construction support services.

Three Otak employees from our Kirkland and Vancouver, Washington offices passed the demanding Professional Engineering exam. Congratulations to our newest PEs: Xiao Wu, Adam Braun, and Ryan Billen.

Otak employees have joined to host a Holiday Shop, selling handmade items that embraces the idea of shopping local. Items for sale include jewelry, handmade cards, holiday decorations, canned vegetables and fruit, and many other goods. The Holiday Shop is donating 10% of total sales to the Oregon Food Bank and is also accepting cash donations unrelated to purchases. At the close of the first week, the total sales were $1,000! The shop is open again this week every day during lunch. Come on by for last minute gifts!

GreenSource online recently posted a video of the award-winning Tempe Transportation Center. Otak served as prime consultant and lead architect on this project, and collaborated with Tempe firm, Architekton.

The new Tempe Transportation Center serves Valley METRO bus and light-rail riders, pedestrians, and bike commuters. This video is narrated by The City of Tempe’s Bonnie Richardson, AIA, and it includes an informative tour of the facility’s interior spaces, public plaza, art installations, and passenger stations. The project is seeking LEED Platinum certification, and has earned nine awards to date — an Otak record!

To watch the video, please click here.