Otak Blog

Last month professionals gathered in Portland, Oregon for the 2010 DOI Conference on the Environment. Several Otak staff members were there to meet other professionals and exchange information on a wide variety of environmental and natural resource topics and issues, such as climate change and greenhouse gases; sustainable practices at DOI facilities; and resource conservation and management.

Kate Schwarzler, landscape architect in Otak’s Carbondale office, presented a poster paper targeted at DOI staff involved in energy and land management activities. The poster described the principles and concepts of the BLM Visual Resource Management program; its importance to land use and activity planning and user sensitivity; and current pressures facing scenic values on public lands.

Kate’s poster for the DOI Conference

On Friday, May 7th about 30 Otak Kirkland staff attended a Mariners baseball game. While the actual game was abysmal, the staff enjoyed the game, ballpark food and beer, and helped support a great cause at the same time. Two Otakians, Stephanie Smith and Charline Fox, are participating in Team Challenge, a half-marathon training program that raises funds and awareness for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). May 7th was CCFA night for the Mariners and a portion of the tickets sales were donated to the CCFA. This helps Stephanie and Charline towards their fundraising goal, while enjoying time with coworkers outside of the office.

On July 18th, Stephanie and Charline will run in the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon. This is Charline’s first time participating with Team Challenge and she is running in honor of 12-year-old Hannah who suffers from ulcerative colitis. Stephanie was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease 14 years ago and this will be her fifth Team Challenge half-marathon since summer 2008. She also volunteers as a mentor for the team, teaching new participants the ins and outs of fundraising.

There is still plenty of time to support their cause. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the CCFA by clicking here.

Last week, a few Otak planners attended the American Planning Association “Oregon Goes for the Green” conference at the Convention Center. The conference was a great opportunity to network with fellow planners within the industry and to attend a series of sessions that focused on current planning issues from around the state. Sessions varied on a wide range of planning topics and while some were a little bit drab, others were quite interesting. Some classes included “Attractions and Attractors: Tourism Placemaking,” “Ethics and Advocacy in Planning,” and “Freakonomics of Planning.” My personal favorite was “Tomorrow’s Leaders…today,” which was a session presented by current Portland State planning students who discussed their capstone projects. The projects varied from eco-district planning to neighborhood planning and everything in between. It was nice to see unbridled creativity in action.

Submitted by Brad Kilby, Otak planner

                                                      Otak’s booth display

Otak’s landscape architects assisted the Bend-La Pine School District with the design and construction of the cutting-edge Miller Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Otak prepared planting and irrigation plans that helped earn the school’s LEED Gold rating. Otak researched and wrote specifications for recycling waste sheet rock from school construction for use as soil amendment. Other sustainable features included using native, drought-tolerant plant material, and an irrigation system designed in sections that could be decommissioned over time as plants become established. Otak also worked closely with a site restoration specialist to develop plans for restoring nearly a third of the 14.6-acre project site to its native, pre-orchard condition.

“The Bend-La Pine School District has done a terrific job in showing leadership in the community by focusing on sustainable construction practices,” said David Haynes, landscape architect at Otak. “They are a forward-thinking and committed group of people that have been great to work with.”

This school year Darrin Stairs, a civil engineer at Otak, volunteered his time to mentor a high school student from the Sabin-Schellenberg Professional Technical Center in all things CAD. For more than 40 years, the Center has provided opportunities to students in the North Clackamas School District to explore career-related electives. A key component to its success is the mentorship program that pairs local professionals with students. Throughout the school year, students meet regularly with their mentor to develop a senior project for graduation.

Darrin mentored a student who designed sidewalk and green street improvements for an actual street in his neighborhood. The experience was rewarding for both parties involved. “It was my pleasure to serve as a mentor,” said Darrin Stairs. “We learn from these experiences right along with the students.”

The April issue of Passenger Transport highlights Swift BRT’s video storytelling campaign. Six videos that each ran less than two minutes were created that feature business leaders, chamber presidents, and the mayor discussing the benefits of the new BRT line.

Otak’s services for the Swift BRT project included project management, surveying, civil engineering, landscape architecture, planning, and construction support.

To view the videos, please click here.