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.

From Kaitlin Beatty, Landscape Designer:
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to support a few Lake Oswego co-workers during the design charrette for one of Otak’s latest international projects, Development Regulations Framework for Abu Dhabi. We took a detailed look at four specific block studies located within the Central Business District of Abu Dhabi. We then began to identify issues within the current urban environment and proposed improvements to these blocks, which would be applied to other blocks throughout the city.

For me, a designer only two years out of school, going to Abu Dhabi was an opportunity of a lifetime. I jumped at the chance to go and contribute in any way I could. Just a few short hours after landing I found myself navigating through the Emirates Palace Hotel helping the team with drawings, computer work, and coordination in preparation for the final presentation to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the end of the week. Working in a very fast paced, creative environment was a great experience and I enjoyed every minute of it.